Sunrise light on a grove of tufa towers emerging from the water of Mono Lake with soft green and dusty-red wild grasses in the foreground, Canada geese in the shallow water with reflections of the rocky towers, and desert hills in the distance.

Refreshing ‘Ologists: Tuolumne River ecology below Hetch Hetchy Reservoir with Jeff Holmquist

Sunrise light on a grove of tufa towers emerging from the water of Mono Lake with soft green and dusty-red wild grasses in the foreground, Canada geese in the shallow water with reflections of the rocky towers, and desert hills in the distance.

This post was written by Molly Casey, 2017 Mono Lake Intern.

When considering the ecological effects of the Hetchy Hetchy Reservoir, we tend to think of the initial flooding of Hetch Hetchy Valley. But are there also ongoing ecological consequences downstream of the dam?

Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. Photo by Noel Morata.

This week’s Refreshing ‘Ologist, Dr. Jeff Holmquist, will compare conditions below the dam, above the reservoir, and in reference sections of the Merced River to help answer that question. Along with the ongoing effects of the reservoir, he will also discuss river-wetland linkages and the ways in which river flows have been manipulated in order to mitigate effects on wetlands.

If you’ve ever been curious about how Hetch Hetchy continues to affect the Tuolumne River area, join us in the Mono Lake Committee theater and gallery for this free lecture and free snacks on Wednesday, August 30 at 4:00pm.

Here’s our line-up for the rest of the ‘Ologists season:

  • September 6—Mike McDonald: topic to be announced
  • September 13—Mary Clapp: Investigating the Impacts of Introduced Trout on the Native Bird Community at High-Elevation Lakes
  • October 11—Craig Jones: Geology, Water Laws, and Mono Lake