Green grasses line the still pond water, which reflects the light blue and pastel pink sky.

DeChambeau Pond #2 makes a full recovery

Throughout August, DeChambeau Pond #2 had a low water level, limiting its value to the wildlife that enjoy the US Forest Service (USFS) managed DeChambeau Ponds.

A piece of wood with a white measuring device attached to it is sticking out of the ground at the water's edge. Algae grows under the pond water and tall green bushes surround it.
This staff gauge is used to measure the relative depth of DeChambeau Pond #2. Photo by Robbie Di Paolo (8/29/20).
Rippling pond water is surrounded by green grasses and the drier sage brush can be seen in the background.
A half-full DeChambeau Pond #2 on August 29, 2020. Photo by Robbie Di Paolo.

On September 1st, USFS staff discovered that an unauthorized adjustment had been made to the water source for pond #2, which had prevented all water from reaching the pond for an undetermined period of time. Once these adjustments were corrected, pond #2 filled and spilled in less than five days.

A graph shows the Staff Plate Reading (ft) over the months of August, September, and October including a line to mark where the infrastructure was corrected. A clear upwards trend can be seen following this line on August 3rd 2020, and the pond is full and spilling into pond #3 by September.
DeChambeau Pond #2 is considered full when the staff plate reads a water depth of 3.05 feet. Once Pond #2 is full, it starts to spill into Pond #3. Data collected by local individuals, Mono Lake Committee staff, and USFS staff. Graph by Robbie Di Paolo.
The same wooden and white plastic measuring device as above can be seen now partially underwater. A brown pipe cuts through grasses into the green pond water.
The staff gauge for pond #2 reading 3.05 feet, the level at which pond #2 spills into pond #3. Photo by Robbie Di Paolo (9/5/20).

It has now been over two months since the flow of water to pond #2 was repaired and we’re happy to see that the pond has stayed more than full during that time. The Tundra Swans are grateful for this fact as well.

Four white birds seen from a distance float in the rippling blue water of the pond. Yellow and brown grasses and plants surround the water.
Four Tundra Swans enjoying pond #2. Photo by Robbie Di Paolo (10/25/20).

For more background information about the DeChambeau Ponds, check out my article, It takes a village to raise a pond, on page 7 in our Fall 2020 Mono Lake Newsletter.

Top photo by Robbie Di Paolo.