Category: Restoration

Rush Creek’s required flows still delayed

Nearly 13 years have passed since the Mono Basin Stream Restoration Agreement promised an outlet for the Grant Lake Reservoir Dam to reliably deliver downstream flows to Rush Creek. Today, the wait for a reliable outlet continues. At the end…

Mono Basin snow survey results

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…

A summer on the streams

On my first visit to Rush Creek in May of this year, with my field supplies of a backpack, clipboard, and GPS, I followed Restoration Field Technician Robbie Di Paolo through dense willow thickets and freezing streams on the inaugural…

An update about the Inn Fire near Mono Lake

The Inn Fire near Mono Lake is now 70% contained at 728 acres in size thanks to the diligent efforts of more than 500 fire personnel who responded quickly after it ignited last Thursday, May 22 at 3:30pm. The cause…

Inn Fire near Mono Lake started Thursday

Last Thursday, May 22 a wildfire started along Highway 395 near Mono Lake. Named the Inn Fire, it began at approximately 3:36pm and spread rapidly on both sides of the highway. Local Lee Vining and Mono City Volunteer Fire Departments…

DWP withdraws petition for Rush Creek flow waiver

Thank you, letter writers! Thank you to the Mono Lake Committee members and supporters who sent many hundreds of letters to the State Water Board spotlighting DWP’s short-sighted plan. DWP ended up withdrawing its flow waiver request because of the…

Broken Grant valve threatens restoration

Mono Lake Committee proposes reasonable mitigations to achieve required Rush Creek flows Since 1941, the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (DWP) has used Grant Lake Reservoir to collect, store, and divert fresh water from Mono Basin streams to…