After missing the last major snowstorm while visiting family for the holidays—only to return to a freshly blanketed Sierra … and lots of poconip—there was no chance I was going to miss this mid-February storm. After mostly living in Southern California, this is my first true winter, and I…
It’s not every day that your dreams and scientific research converge, but sometimes the stars—or the grebes—align, and something magical happens. That’s exactly what happened on September 20, 2025, when I had the unique opportunity to join one of the…
Winter started out wet, but January was dry. In Lee Vining, there were only 3.7 inches of new snow measured in January, and none fell since January 8. The Mono Basin was blanketed with snow and then covered in poconip…
On Sunday, February 1, Eastern Sierra students from two counties participated in the Experience Ambientalia program for World Wetlands Day. In partnership with the Mono Lake Committee, local high school teachers, and our colleagues at Laguna Mar Chiquita in northern Argentina, these students…
The Mono Basin has been mired in fog since late December 2025. Everyone is always quick to wax poetic about the beauty of the snow blanketed Sierra. They speak fondly of cozying up to warm fires on chilly winter nights.…
To understand how Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (DWP) stream diversions affect Mono Lake in the era of climate change, the California State Water Resources Control Board commissioned UCLA’s Center for Climate Science to conduct a major study.…
Last week Wilson’s Phalaropes, the small shorebirds that rely on saline lakes like Mono Lake, inched toward protection under the Endangered Species Act. The US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) released a “positive 90-day finding,” which advances the birds to…
This post was written by Caelen McQuilkin, Project Specialist, and Teri Tracy, Eastern Sierra Policy Coordinator. After months of wet weather, Californians are embracing some welcome news. According to the US Drought Monitor’s five-level scale, there are no areas of drought in the state for the first time in 25…
The list of 2026 Mono Basin Field Seminars and their itineraries will be posted online on Sunday, February 1. In addition to some familiar favorites, keep an eye out for new itineraries—you might find yourself tracking wildlife, wading through waterways, or keying plants this summer! We will…
Come join our awesome team in the Eastern Sierra’s beautiful Mono Basin! We are seeking two people who are excited to spend a season learning about the ecological, cultural, and historical significance of Mono Lake and sharing its importance with many thousands of visitors. Working in the Information Center &…
