Number 1 on our Top Ten highlights list is the remodeled Committee storefront—a multi-year process culminating in the construction and grand re-opening this past summer!

The crowd gathered for the storefront grand re-opening in August! Photo by Arya Degenhardt.

Among the many highlights and wonderful moments (more…)

Number 2 on our Top Ten highlights list is the intensive process of planning for a 21st century aqueduct that can deliver restoration flows to Mono Lake’s tributaries at the times they need it the most, deliver water to Mono Lake so it can rise to the management level of 6392 feet above sea level, as well as efficiently export water to Los Angeles.

An aerial view of Rush Creek, the Rush Creek return ditch, and Grant Lake Reservoir, which are key to the 21st century aqueduct discussions. Photo by Geoffrey McQuilkin.

If you’ve been following the Mono Lake Newsletter, you’ll know that the Committee has been working intensively on this process for nearly two years. (more…)

We missed winter last year. There was little snow in the Mono Basin during the 2011/2012 season, and sometimes you forgot that it was winter. Hikers freely roamed the high country in December 2011, and Tioga Pass remained open well into January 2012. One year later: a week’s worth of winter storms have nearly erased our memory. Now there is snow to play in and a dramatic, new landscape to discover. If you drop everything to see Mono Lake and her snow-dressed mountains, don’t forget your skis, snowshoes, tire chains, and budget some extra time to get around. You will not be disappointed.

Poconip fog lingers in Lee Vining Canyon as a Christmas Day storm breaks over the Sierra Crest. Photo by Bartshe Miller.

Number 3 on our Top Ten highlights list is the solution that is keeping Mono Lake’s state park open and operating.

Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve Interpretive Specialist Dave Marquart at Old Marina explaining how the new parking fee keeps the park open. Photo by Arya Degenhardt.

A little more than a year ago, we found out that the Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve had been removed from the state’s closure list. The next day we began working on a plan for keeping the park open—the solution is a modest parking fee at Old Marina of only $3.00 per vehicle. An “iron ranger” for collecting fees was installed in May, and visitors to Old Marina have been dropping their fee envelopes in ever since!

Number 4 on our Top Ten highlights list is a compendium of things that have made this year particularly memorable. One of the great things about living in the Mono Basin is that life is infused with the happenings of the natural world.

Since pictures are worth a thousand words….

Dry years can mean cold temperatures without precipitation, which makes good conditions for ice skating. We rang in the year with some seriously memorable ice skating on very-frozen lakes such as Lundy Lake Reservoir shown here. Photo by Arya Degenhardt.

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Number 5 on our Top Ten highlights list is the the Trail Chic fashion show fundraiser for the Committee’s Outdoor Experiences program.

Mono Lake Intern Max Henkels walked the runway as the invasive weed, sweet clover. Photo by Lynette Villagomez.

This is really one of those events that you’ve got to see to believe. The Mono Lake Committee pairs up with Barefoot Wine & (more…)

Number 6 on our Top Ten highlights list are all the local kids who explored their Mono Basin backyard with the Committee’s Outdoor Experiences program.

OE Instructor Jessica Francois (in hat) teaches Lee Vining Elementary students about Lee Vining Creek. Photo by Santiago Escruceria.

Between creek walks, watershed studies, watering trees, sketching wildlife, planting saplings at school, and birding, Lee Vining’s students really got out there! Take a look: (more…)

Number 7 on our Top Ten highlights list is the first ever Los Angeles Wild & Scenic Film Festival.

Members mingle with Committee Board and staff at the Wild & Scenic Film Festival. Photo by Arya Degenhardt.

Last March, the Mono Lake Committee brought the Wild & Scenic Film Festival to LA—featuring our film, The Mono Lake Story, in its Southern California premiere. The evening brought together local members, the filmmakers and composer, many of our partners in the area, and Committee Board and staff, all celebrating Mono Lake at (more…)

The Committee aspen tree will draw its water from the new greywater system. Photo by Elin Ljung.

Number 8 on our Top Ten highlight list are the great strides we made toward efficiency and reducing our ecological footprint.

In February, Sierra Watershed Progressive installed a greywater system that connects the public restroom sink and our swamp cooler with the landscaping out front. It’s only the fourth commercial project in California, and this summer visitors and staff watered the trees by washing their hands!

After the busy remodel summer, we squeezed in one more project before the snow arrived: adding 33 photovoltaic solar panels to the south-facing roof of the bookstore. Sierra Solar came back to help us max out our solar panel capacity after installing 9 panels on the ice house roof back in 2010. Making use of our high-altitude, consistent sun, our 42 solar panels will help us cut our grid electricity consumption by more than 50%.

Sierra Solar staff installed 33 panels on the Committee's bookstore roof in October. Photo by Bartshe Miller.

A view of the Mono Craters from the lake's north shore. Photo by Arya Degenhardt.

As the year draws to a close, our thoughts have turned toward 2013 and all the exciting work we’ll be doing for Mono Lake. No doubt you’ve seen many requests for year-end donations these days … please keep us in mind as you make your gifts.

Donations from members and friends are what power the Mono Lake Committee’s successful protection, restoration, education, and science programs.

Today—right now—is the perfect time to make a year-end gift to benefit Mono Lake. We make it easy to do online, plus we have fantastic limited-time thank-you gifts.

Please make your year-end donation for Mono Lake today!