Beavers were introduced into Lundy Canyon long ago, and in recent years have been spreading to other nearby creeks such as Wilson Creek and DeChambeau Creek. Dead beavers have been seen more than once in the last several years along Mono Lake between Old Marina and Lee Vining Creek.

About three weeks ago we were informed by Dr. Roland Knapp of beaver sign along Lee Vining Creek below the diversion dam. Friday morning I took the photos found here–click on a photo to (more…)

"Lundy Canyon Fall" is one of the images on display in the Committee gallery. Photo courtesy of Robb Hirsch.

Field biologist by trade, naturalist by heart, and photographer by passion, Robb Hirsch has traveled through Africa, Central America, and the Western United States. He enjoys spending extended periods of time in the backcountry to experience the natural history of the ecosystem at hand; his photography is an extension of this love for the natural world. Scouting locations incessantly, Robb attempts to combine alluring locations and complementary illumination. His images are known for their compelling subjects, careful compositions, and fine light.

Robb’s exhibit in the Committee gallery focuses on Mono Lake, the Eastern Sierra, and Yosemite. Stop by and take a look!

We are all getting bulked up on the white stuff. Yesterday I spent six hours shoveling between my roof and the berm left by the snow plow. It’s a pleasure to see this much snow, and it’s the first time in a while that this much has fallen around Mono Lake. We measured 33.2″ from Monday to Friday this week at our weather station here in Lee Vining. Thursday’s storm (1-21-2010)  set all-time low barometric pressure records for the San Joaquin Valley, to Reno, to Las Vegas. I don’t know if there’s an official barometer for Lee Vining, but the pressure dropped to just above 983 millibars/29.04 inches on one local weather station, the the lowest I’ve ever seen it.

A view to the north from the south-bound lanes of Highway 395, through the middle of Lee Vining.

Yep, the snow is still falling—sometimes fast, sometimes with big heavy flakes, but always, falling. It’s beautiful, and exciting, and the roofs are shedding like little avalanches and here in the office we’re taking turns outside with shovels. Greg said it looked like there was one hour around lunch when it snowed 3 inches just behind the office. Santiago said in one 45 minute period we got 2 inches in front of the store. I got the lucky shovel shift with our awesome town plow driver: shovel out a pile, swipe with big plow blade, repeat.

Here are some photos (more…)

Lee Vining-ites woke from last night’s clear starry skies to slow encroaching snow this morning. The snow started coming down around 9:00 am, and now at 10:30, it’s definitely sticking and starting to accumulate. I went out and shot a couple of photos … we’ll see if this storm is worth doing before-and-after shots!

If you are traveling in the area please, please drive carefully. We’ve had two bad accidents close to town in the last week … and that was before the snow even started to fall. As I took these photos out in the street just now people were flying by way too fast—I try to remind myself that we carry our most precious cargo, the people we love and care about, in our cars.

10:30 am on Monday, January 18---Highway 395 looking north from the Mono Lake Committee.

When the temperature drops close to zero, some interesting things happen to the flowing water in Mono Lake’s tributaries. I shot this video on December 8th at Rush Creek right after measuring the flow in a side channel. Ominous cracking noises in the silent below freezing air preceded this dramatic burst (more…)

It’s Sunday afternoon at the Mono Lake Committee office here in Lee Vining and I just got back from a mission to photograph what looks like it could be another airborne particulate matter (dust storm) record-breaker of a day. While out photo-documenting at various promontories around the basin it occurred to me that monophiles might actually be curious about what the strong wind gusts we experience in the Mono Basin are like.

The Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District measures dust storms at Mono Lake, and their monitoring stations have the most accurate data. But here’s more of a personal account of what it’s like.

When Geoff calls to say that you can’t see Paoha Island from the stretch of Hwy 395 along the lake, I grab the camera (more…)

Photo by Robert Glenn Ketchum.

For those of you in the Sacramento area, a treat is coming your way on Friday, November 13 from 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm. That evening, the Viewpoint Photographic Art Center will be opening a new photographic exhibit by artist Robert Glenn Ketchum. The new show, titled “Southwest Alaska and Bristol Bay: A World of Parks and Wildlife Refuges at the Crossroads,” will be on display until (more…)

Canoes for the climate at Mono Lake

This morning 18 boats and almost 50 people gathered at Navy Beach under cloudless blue skies for a brand new paddling adventure. The Mono Lake Committee and friends participated in the international grassroots campaign dedicated to creating an equitable global climate treaty that lowers carbon dioxide below 350 parts per million by forming a three, five, and zero with canoes and kayaks on Mono Lake.

Joining the photos already posted at 350.org from around the world, we got out our paddles for this important action. Inspired by the journey to protect Mono Lake, and the positive outcome, we add our hopeful voices and energy to this important movement. Just like with Mono Lake, climate change needs our perseverance and the courage to do what’s necessary for a livable future. Climate change is important everywhere around the world, including at Mono Lake, and the Committee is keeping up on the latest science affecting the Mono Basin.

In December, government leaders will be convening in Copenhagen, Denmark, for the United Nations Climate Change Conference, in order to create a new climate treaty. The International Day of Climate Action on October 24, is the best chance the global public has to influence the treaty before negotiating positions solidify. Today more than 5200 groups are gathering in over 181 countries to draw attention to the need for a dramatic international agreement to reduce carbon emissions and set us on a rapid path to 350.

Many thanks to everyone who volunteered their time and energy to be a part of this day.

Have you ever wondered how all of those pipes, ditches, and lakes along Highway 395 connect, or how a rain drop that falls on the east side of Mt. Dana might get to Los Angeles? Well, you’re not alone, (more…)