March 26th, 2009 by Geoff, Executive DirectorcloseAuthor: Geoff, Executive DirectorName: Geoffrey McQuilkin Title: Executive Director About: Geoff's goals for the Committee are: ensuring Mono Lake's continuing protection, restoring Mono Lake's tributary streams, developing a permanent education program, and ensuring that the strong tradition of scientific research at Mono Lake continues. A graduate of Harvard in the history of science, Geoff has worked for the Committee since 1992 and was an intern and volunteer before that. He's happy to live close to the lake with his wife Sarah and their daughters Caelen, Ellery, and Cassia.See All Posts by Geoffrey (154) Contact Geoffrey
Updated on March 30:
Today President Obama signed the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act, making the new wilderness designations official. Both Obama and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar spoke eloquently on our national heritage in these lands and our duty to protect them for future generations. Good excerpts are here on the White House blog.
Now, would you believe that a measurable percentage of the Lee Vining population was in attendance? That’s right, local friends Tim Alpers, of Alpers Trout, and Sally Miller, of The Wilderness Society, joined President Obama and other dignitaries at the White House for the signing. That represents 0.5% of Lee Vining!
We’re awaiting all their stories but already have a photo back of them with Buck McKeon, our local Congressman and a champion of the bill (that’s him on the left). Congratulations Sally, Tim, and everyone who has worked for years to make this bill a reality.
March 26 post:
Yesterday’s public lands bill designating new wilderness areas in the Eastern Sierra passed with strong bipartisan support. Here in the Mono Basin there’s a lot of excitement that more than 50,000 acres of public land near Mono Lake were included. It’s great news for protection of Mono Lake and nearby watersheds and great news for these outstanding scenic and ecologically valuable areas to the west in the Sierra and to the east as well.
March 25th, 2009 by Herley Jim, Los Angeles Education CoordinatorcloseAuthor: Herley Jim, Los Angeles Education CoordinatorName: Herley Jim Bowling Title: Los Angeles Education Coordinator About: Herley Jim has been with the Committee since 1997 as Los Angeles Education Coordinator. He loves working with students, their parents, teachers, administrators, and community-based organizations in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. He is the scheduler for the Committee's Outdoor Education Center programs. Additionally, he is a founding member of A Cappella Jam, ONE Santa Monica, and the Fancy Dress Swim to Make Poverty History. Herley Jim is grateful for the relationships that make it all glorious and possible, especially Mollie, his wife and partner of many years.See All Posts by Herley Jim (1) Contact Herley Jim
I had a good day Sunday, March 22, representing the Mono Lake Committee at March for Water, the Los Angeles celebration of World Water Day. It was organized by Miguel Luna, (Executive Director of Universidad del Agua, Urban Semillas, and several other organizations), and featured David Nahai (DWP General … more »
March 25th, 2009 by Geoff, Executive DirectorcloseAuthor: Geoff, Executive DirectorName: Geoffrey McQuilkin Title: Executive Director About: Geoff's goals for the Committee are: ensuring Mono Lake's continuing protection, restoring Mono Lake's tributary streams, developing a permanent education program, and ensuring that the strong tradition of scientific research at Mono Lake continues. A graduate of Harvard in the history of science, Geoff has worked for the Committee since 1992 and was an intern and volunteer before that. He's happy to live close to the lake with his wife Sarah and their daughters Caelen, Ellery, and Cassia.See All Posts by Geoffrey (154) Contact Geoffrey
This morning the House of Representatives passed the long-awaited wilderness bill, which is now on its way to President Obama for approval.
The bill includes outstanding lands in the Mono Basin and overlooking Mono Lake, including … more »
Spring is officially upon us which means once again I am interested in the osprey arrival dates. Please let me know the first date you see an osprey and the general location. One was spotted in Bishop yesterday, so they are arriving! Feel free to pass this request on to anyone else you think might see an osprey.
March 24th, 2009 by Arya, Communications DirectorcloseAuthor: Arya, Communications DirectorName: Arya Harp Title: Communications Director About: Arya oversees the Committee's communications program, which includes the Mono Lake Newsletter and the Mono Lake Calendar. She loves her job because she gets to share the inspiring work of the Mono Lake Committee with members and visitors alike. Her favorite things to do in the Mono Basin include ice skating on nearby lakes, skiing the Mono Craters, and getting to smell the sagebrush when it rains.See All Posts by Arya (197) Contact Arya
The country of South Africa.
According to my flight itinerary it took me 31 hours, 10 minutes and 11,311 miles to get from San Francisco to Durban, South Africa, leaving me with just about enough energy left to cringe at the thought of the carbon footprint of the trip. … more »
March 23rd, 2009 by Geoff, Executive DirectorcloseAuthor: Geoff, Executive DirectorName: Geoffrey McQuilkin Title: Executive Director About: Geoff's goals for the Committee are: ensuring Mono Lake's continuing protection, restoring Mono Lake's tributary streams, developing a permanent education program, and ensuring that the strong tradition of scientific research at Mono Lake continues. A graduate of Harvard in the history of science, Geoff has worked for the Committee since 1992 and was an intern and volunteer before that. He's happy to live close to the lake with his wife Sarah and their daughters Caelen, Ellery, and Cassia.See All Posts by Geoffrey (154) Contact Geoffrey
Visit LandLines today!
Today’s quick note is about our friends at the Eastern Sierra Land Trust. They are working hard to protect vital lands throughout the region and they’ve completed a number of important projects, including several of note here in the Mono Basin.
They have a new blog — LandLines — on their website, so when you are browsing for the latest news, be sure to make a visit!
It was fun to see quite a few California Gulls back around down at the lake – maybe 30 or so. It always feels like summer is not too far once they arrive!
Posted in Birds | Comments Off on California Gulls
March 20th, 2009 by Greg, Information & Restoration SpecialistcloseAuthor: Greg, Information & Restoration SpecialistName: Greg Reis Title: Information & Restoration Specialist About: Since his internship with the Mono Lake Committee in 1995, Greg has been deeply involved with Mono Basin restoration and research. He studied Forestry & Natural Resources at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and has followed
the thalweg of hydrology, resource management, watershed management, and habitat restoration ever since. Greg lives in the Bay Area with his wife and two kids, where he also works for The Bay Institute's Rivers and Delta Program.See All Posts by Greg (186) Contact Greg
Today is the Vernal Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere. The days are now getting longer than the nights, the sun continues to move higher in the sky, and the snow line continues to move uphill. Our homepage has changed–winter photos are gone and spring … more »
March 16th, 2009 by Arya, Communications DirectorcloseAuthor: Arya, Communications DirectorName: Arya Harp Title: Communications Director About: Arya oversees the Committee's communications program, which includes the Mono Lake Newsletter and the Mono Lake Calendar. She loves her job because she gets to share the inspiring work of the Mono Lake Committee with members and visitors alike. Her favorite things to do in the Mono Basin include ice skating on nearby lakes, skiing the Mono Craters, and getting to smell the sagebrush when it rains.See All Posts by Arya (197) Contact Arya
This afternoon I’m traveling to South Africa to visit one of the lakes in the international Living Lakes network, St. Lucia. Funded by a private grant secured together with the Wildlands Conservation Trust, I am going to St. Lucia in support of connecting people at non-profits–the people who do the on-the-ground work of lake protection around the world. This is both a dream come true and the opportunity of a lifetime. Armed with my trusty notebook I will be posting to The Mono-logue as opportunities arise in the next seven days of work and travel. … more »
