The Mono Lake Committee submitted the 51-pages of comments below on March 30th to the State Water Resources Control board. The comments are regarding the draft “Synthesis Report” which was released (more…)

The draft “Synthesis Report” included winter flow recommendations for Rush Creek that had not been adjusted for gains and losses below the release point (the MGORD- Mono Gate One Return Ditch). The Stream Scientists today released the revised (more…)

The Committee’s policy team is pretty much working around the clock to compile comments on the draft synthesis report. If you’re curious to see what the report entails you can download the PDF report (4.8 MB) and appendices (70.4 MB), or read the report below. You can also visit the State Water Board’s website for more background information. The Mono Lake Committee has been reviewing the documents and will be submitting our comments to the State Water Board on Tuesday.

What is the synthesis report? Check out Geoff’s recent post for some background information on this important Mono Lake milestone. And be sure to visit the Streamflow Center for updates. (more…)

State Water Board, stream scientists, DWP, Mono Lake Committee, Mammoth Flyrodders, and Caltrout representatives at a meeting in Sacramento where the "Synthesis Report" was presented. Photo courtesy of Bob Vestal.

Mono Lake Committee staff and experts are hard at work reviewing the recently released draft “Synthesis of Instream Flow Recommendations” report.

The report is based on over a decade of supporting studies, monitoring, and detailed field work by the State Water Board-appointed expert stream scientists. The recommendations are a critical (more…)

Mono Lake
On April 1st, 2009 (the beginning of this Runoff Year), Mono Lake was at an elevation of 6382.5 feet. It dropped about a foot by the end of the calendar year, and in January and February it rose half a foot, for a net loss of 0.6 feet since last April 1st. The half-foot rise in January and February is the largest 2-month wintertime rise since a 0.6 foot rise in January and February 2006. Mono Lake usually rises 0.1 foot in March–if it does that this month, we should be looking at an April 1st level of about 6382.0 feet. Click here for more on Mono Lake’s levels.

Lee Vining Precipitation
Here in Lee Vining, from October through February we’ve received 11.72 inches of precipitation, which is 108% (more…)

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…)

Even though the snow continues and summer seems a long way off, Mono Lake Committee staff are busy planning for the California Society for Ecological Restoration Annual Conference, which will be held in Mammoth Lakes, May 19–22, 2010. Plenary speakers will include David Nahai, former General Manager of Los Angeles Department of Water & Power and our Executive Director, Geoff McQuilkin. Don’t miss (more…)

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…)

Beautiful aspens line the Lee Vining Creek Trail. Photo by Arya Degenhardt.

This Mono-logue post comes to you from Intern Claire Skinner.

Fall is a magical time in the Mono Basin—sunny days, crisp weather, and lots of fall color. Lundy Canyon and the June Lake Loop are wonderful places to watch quaking aspens shedding their green for leaves of yellow, orange, and red.

It’s also the perfect time to discover the lovely Lee Vining Creek Trail—Lee Vining’s best kept secret! Aspens grow abundantly along (more…)

The Mono Lake Committee found out this past week that the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (DWP) is forecasting 88% of average runoff for the 2009 Runoff Year (April 1, 2009–March 31, 2010) for the Mono Basin. Currently, the Mono Basin snowpack ranges from 89–102% of average.

Last year, DWP forecasted 86% of average runoff, but actual runoff turned out to be much less—about 64% of average based on preliminary numbers. This huge discrepancy was due to (more…)