Monday, May 7th, 2012 by Elin, Communications CoordinatorcloseAuthor: Elin, Communications CoordinatorName: Elin Ljung Title: Communications Coordinator About: Elin's job consists of some of her favorite things: finding typos, experimenting with layouts, and figuring out how best to communicate the Committee's work to the world. She also oversees the Field Seminar program. Elin is an EMT on the Lee Vining Fire Department, loves sitting at Latte Da Coffee Cafe immersed in a good book, and watches English Premier League football (soccer) at any opportunity.See All Posts by Elin (133) Contact Elin
After almost the shortest winter closure in history, Tioga Pass (Highway 120) opened through Yosemite National Park at noon. The road closed for the winter on January 17, 2012 just before the first substantial snowstorms finally arrived. After such a dry winter summertime will come quickly to Yosemite’s high country. As you drive through, make sure to watch for wildlife and visitors near the road. Enjoy your trip to Yosemite!
Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012 by Arya, Communications DirectorcloseAuthor: Arya, Communications DirectorName: Arya Degenhardt Title: Communications Director About: Arya oversees the Committee's communications program, which includes the Mono Lake Newsletter. She loves her job because she gets to share the inspiring work of the Mono Lake Committee with members and visitors alike. When she's not in the office you might find her running with her dogs Dublin and Poco, volunteering with the Lee Vining Fire Department, listening to any music with a banjo in it, or willing the plants in her garden to grow. Her favorite things to do in the Mono Basin include ice skating on nearby lakes, skiing the Mono Craters, and getting to smell the sagebrush when it rains.See All Posts by Arya (91) Contact Arya
From the May 2, 2012 Yosemite News Release:
Yosemite National Park Superintendent Don Neubacher announced today that the Tioga Road will open for the season on Monday, May 7, 2012 at 12:00pm for all vehicle traffic. The Tioga Road, bounded on both sides by State Highway 120, is the popular east-west crossing of the Sierra Nevada (more…)
Monday, April 30th, 2012 by Arya, Communications DirectorcloseAuthor: Arya, Communications DirectorName: Arya Degenhardt Title: Communications Director About: Arya oversees the Committee's communications program, which includes the Mono Lake Newsletter. She loves her job because she gets to share the inspiring work of the Mono Lake Committee with members and visitors alike. When she's not in the office you might find her running with her dogs Dublin and Poco, volunteering with the Lee Vining Fire Department, listening to any music with a banjo in it, or willing the plants in her garden to grow. Her favorite things to do in the Mono Basin include ice skating on nearby lakes, skiing the Mono Craters, and getting to smell the sagebrush when it rains.See All Posts by Arya (91) Contact Arya
With the Tioga road open to the high gate over the weekend and a clear forecast in the days ahead, it looks possible that Tioga Pass could open this week.
There are lots of rumors out there, and given the warm weather and sparse snow year, it makes sense. Here at the Committee we’ve heard that the official word is May 15. That being said, we (more…)
Friday, April 20th, 2012 by Bartshé, Education DirectorcloseAuthor: Bartshé, Education DirectorName: Bartshé Miller Title: Education Director About: Bartshé directs the Committee's Outdoor Experiences Program, Canoe Program, and Interpretive Programs, and manages the Mono Basin Field Station. He has been an Eastern Sierra resident since 1993.See All Posts by Bartshé (30) Contact Bartshé
As of Friday, April 20 there is no official date on when Tioga Pass will open, and there is no update on where the park crew is along the road. However, CalTrans has cleared all the way to the Tioga Pass gate, and there is 3–4 feet of snow along the road depending on where and how you measure. Much of the snow is from the recent, significant storm of April 12–13. We have not heard when the lower gate will be open, but today I saw several groups of skiers making the trek by foot up and down the road. The recent stretch of warm temperatures brings a unique Tioga Road experience: tree rrogs singing in a ditch just below the blue slide.
Two views of Tioga Pass on April 20, 2012. Photos by Bartshe Miller.
Thursday, April 12th, 2012 by Greg, Information & Restoration SpecialistcloseAuthor: Greg, Information & Restoration SpecialistName: Greg Reis Title: Information & Restoration Specialist About: Since his Committee internship in 1995, Greg has been involved with Mono Basin stream restoration and with maintaining the Committee's computers, Websites, and Research Library, and researching and compiling information for our programs. His B.S. degree from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in Forestry and Natural Resources with a concentration in Environmental Management and a Senior Project in Hydrology reflects his interest in natural resources management, administration, planning, environmental analysis, and restoration. He is a member of the California Association of Environmental Professionals and the California Society for Ecological Restoration.See All Posts by Greg (134) Contact Greg
As of April 1, the winter precipitation in Lee Vining added up to 45% of average, and Mono Basin snowpack measured 47% of average. The forecast for April–July runoff is 50% of average.
An average March for precipitation in the Mono Basin brought to an end the 2011 Runoff Year (April 1, 2011–March 31, 2012). The preliminary runoff total for last year is 142% of average. (more…)
Sunday, April 8th, 2012 by Elin, Communications CoordinatorcloseAuthor: Elin, Communications CoordinatorName: Elin Ljung Title: Communications Coordinator About: Elin's job consists of some of her favorite things: finding typos, experimenting with layouts, and figuring out how best to communicate the Committee's work to the world. She also oversees the Field Seminar program. Elin is an EMT on the Lee Vining Fire Department, loves sitting at Latte Da Coffee Cafe immersed in a good book, and watches English Premier League football (soccer) at any opportunity.See All Posts by Elin (133) Contact Elin
Last week the Mono Basin Visitor Center reopened for the year. Stop by and see their exhibits, visit the bookstore, and enjoy the beautiful view of Mono Lake from the back patio! The Visitor Center is open Thursday–Monday from 9:00am until 4:30pm.
The Mono Basin Visitor Center. Photo by Arya Degenhardt.
Friday, April 6th, 2012 by Elin, Communications CoordinatorcloseAuthor: Elin, Communications CoordinatorName: Elin Ljung Title: Communications Coordinator About: Elin's job consists of some of her favorite things: finding typos, experimenting with layouts, and figuring out how best to communicate the Committee's work to the world. She also oversees the Field Seminar program. Elin is an EMT on the Lee Vining Fire Department, loves sitting at Latte Da Coffee Cafe immersed in a good book, and watches English Premier League football (soccer) at any opportunity.See All Posts by Elin (133) Contact Elin
The road to Bodie State Historic Park opened yesterday at noon, just in time for the holiday weekend. Bodie’s museum is not yet open (opening May 1), but you can visit the park during their open hours of 9:00am–3:00pm.
As you travel to Mono Lake this weekend be sure to stop by Bodie as well—you won’t be disappointed!
Sunday, March 18th, 2012 by Carolyn, Former Project SpecialistcloseAuthor: Carolyn, Former Project SpecialistName: Carolyn Weddle Title: Project Specialist About: Graduated from Humboldt State University with a degree in Environmental Policy, Carolyn loves the outdoors and the Eastern Sierra and is known to make forays in the Nevada hills for further exploration. After spending summer 2011 as a Retail Assistant in the Information Center & Bookstore, Carolyn stayed through winter 2012 as a Project Specialist.See All Posts by Carolyn (22) Contact Carolyn
When I went to bed on Friday night, the wind had calmed and the streets were completely dry here in Lee Vining. When I awoke Saturday morning I was pleasantly surprised to see that there was almost a foot of snow at my doorstep!
The Mono Lake Committee stays open in all sorts of weather. Come by and celebrate the snow with us!
Policy Coordinator Morgan Lindsay, Information Center & Bookstore Manager Jessica Horn, and I started off our day here at the office shoveling snow. We got about a foot and a half of snow overnight and it continued to snow all morning and into the afternoon.
Tuesday, March 13th, 2012 by Greg, Information & Restoration SpecialistcloseAuthor: Greg, Information & Restoration SpecialistName: Greg Reis Title: Information & Restoration Specialist About: Since his Committee internship in 1995, Greg has been involved with Mono Basin stream restoration and with maintaining the Committee's computers, Websites, and Research Library, and researching and compiling information for our programs. His B.S. degree from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in Forestry and Natural Resources with a concentration in Environmental Management and a Senior Project in Hydrology reflects his interest in natural resources management, administration, planning, environmental analysis, and restoration. He is a member of the California Association of Environmental Professionals and the California Society for Ecological Restoration.See All Posts by Greg (134) Contact Greg
The March 1st snow surveys in the Mono Basin found 33% of average snow water content to date. This is only 28% of the April 1st average, when the snowpack usually peaks. There is still much less snow in the Rush Creek drainage:
Rush Creek March 1 2012 snow course water content
Gem Pass 7.9″ (6.7 in 1977, 2.0 in 1991)
Gem Lake 7.4″ (4.8 in 1977, 3.4 in 1991)
Lee Vining Creek March 1 2012 snow course water content
Tioga 8.6″ (7.5 in 1931, 8.2 in 1976, 7.6 in 1977, 0 in 1991)
Saddlebag 9.0″ (7.1 in 1977, 3.2 in 1991)
Ellery 8.8″ (8.2 in 1976, 7.0 in 1977, 2.6 in 1991)
Based on these snow surveys, April–July runoff for the Mono Basin has been forecasted at 39% of average. This is an average (more…)
Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012 by Greg, Information & Restoration SpecialistcloseAuthor: Greg, Information & Restoration SpecialistName: Greg Reis Title: Information & Restoration Specialist About: Since his Committee internship in 1995, Greg has been involved with Mono Basin stream restoration and with maintaining the Committee's computers, Websites, and Research Library, and researching and compiling information for our programs. His B.S. degree from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in Forestry and Natural Resources with a concentration in Environmental Management and a Senior Project in Hydrology reflects his interest in natural resources management, administration, planning, environmental analysis, and restoration. He is a member of the California Association of Environmental Professionals and the California Society for Ecological Restoration.See All Posts by Greg (134) Contact Greg
In January Mono Lake rose 1/4 foot, and it has continued rising at a slower rate in February to today’s level of 6383.9 feet above sea level. This brings it to within 0.06 feet of the mid-August 2011 highpoint (the highest level since 2007). It should keep rising for another month before it begins dropping in April due to the dry year. Dave Marquart with the Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve says he will probably have to reroute a section of the South (more…)
