Forty years ago, in 1984, Congress established the first Scenic Area designation in the country—the Mono Basin National Forest Scenic Area. This weekend we’re celebrating these important four decades of protection for Mono Lake and the Mono Basin!
On Saturday, September 28, join us at the Scenic Area Visitor Center in Lee Vining for a full day of activities to mark the 40th anniversary of the Scenic Area. It’s also National Public Lands Day, which makes the celebration that much more fitting.
Notably, in the afternoon, folks involved with the Scenic Area’s establishment, building of the Visitor Center, and who continue to steward the Scenic Area today will share their stories, history, and memories about the luck, perseverance, and victories over the last 40 years.
Schedule of events on Saturday
8:00-9:00am | Volunteer welcome hour
8:30am–1:00pm | Tabling: Meet conservation partners working in the Mono Basin including the Mono Lake Committee, Eastern Sierra Interpretive Association, Friends of the Inyo, Whitebark Institute, and more
8:30-9:30am | Meet Smokey Bear!
9:00am-12:00pm | Service projects: trail maintenance, lop back bushes in parking lot, repaint Visitor Center signage
12:00pm | Tamales
2:00-4:00pm | Panel celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Mono Basin National Forest Scenic Area
Scenic Area’s lasting importance
The Scenic Area is 118,000 acres of land surrounding Mono Lake that is managed by the Inyo National Forest with an emphasis on protecting “geologic, ecologic, and cultural resources” and providing recreational and interpretive facilities. For 40 years the Scenic Area has balanced protecting the Mono Basin ecosystem with supporting visitation so that people can enjoy Mono Lake without causing undue damage to this unique place.
The Scenic Area was one of the earliest public recognitions of the ecological, geologic, scenic, and cultural value of the Mono Basin, coming just two years after the establishment of the State Park, the Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve. The Scenic Area was designated and began protecting Mono Lake well before the California State Water Resources Control Board amended the water licenses of the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power in 1994 to ensure that Mono Lake could rise to its healthy, mandated level. Though the lake has yet to reach that level, the State Park, Scenic Area, and State Water Board decision have all played important roles in protecting the Mono Basin over the years.
Top photo courtesy of Robb Hirsch.