Events

Wild horses further impact South Tufa at Mono Lake

Last winter wild horses overwintered along the south shore of Mono Lake throughout South Tufa and Navy Beach. Record winter snow and poconip fog dramatically reduced public access and between 30 and 200 horses lingered in the area until spring.…

Wild horse activity at South Tufa

Last winter, wild horse activity sharply increased at and around South Tufa, with upward of 100 horses regularly seen on the trail to Mono Lake, near Navy Beach, and at the freshwater spring along the shoreline. Wild horses used to…

Fire restrictions take effect Monday, June 6

Fire restrictions for the Inyo National Forest and Bureau of Land Management will take effect on Monday: 🔥 No campfires, briquette/charcoal barbeques, or stove fires are allowed outside of agency-provided fire rings or barbeques at designated developed recreation sites. Dispersed…
Thin electrified fence stretched along the shore of Mono Lake.

Dusting off the gull protection fence

California Gulls at Mono Lake can’t catch a break. Another drought year and a legacy of excessive water diversions are increasing the threat of coyotes crossing the emerging landbridge to Twain Islet and reaching vulnerable eggs and chicks during the…
Tufa along the shore of Mono Lake with bright green marsh vegetation in the foreground.

Inyo National Forest has reopened

The Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region, which includes the Inyo National Forest, has announced that it will reopen most forests on Thursday, September 16. On Thursday, all lands, trails, and roads will open on the Inyo, including South Tufa and…
Tufa against hazy skies, small waves roll into the shore.

Inyo National Forest temporarily closed

The Inyo National Forest, including sites at Mono Lake, is closed as of 11:59pm on Tuesday, August 31, and will remain closed through at least September 17, 2021. The closure includes all campgrounds, all day-use sites, all trails, all roads,…
People looking through binoculars in a boat surrounded by smoke.

Pulling weeds at Mono Lake: It’s for the birds

On a recent August morning Mono Lake Committee staff boated out to Twain Islet to hand-pull invasive Bassia weeds to protect critical California Gull nesting habitat at Mono Lake. This was the second season, after a prescribed burn in 2020,…
Artwork of a forest burning.

Increased fire restrictions in Mono County

Due to the serious fire activity throughout California, the Inyo National Forest has issued Stage II fire restrictions. Other Mono County fire restrictions are also in effect. This means: No campfires, wood fires, or charcoal fires Campfires and charcoal grills…
A paved road lined by pine trees, a yellow sign warning of horses is on the right.

Wild horse herd reaches South Tufa

Wild horses, previously seen rarely and only in remote parts of the Mono Basin, have experienced rapid population growth in the past five years—so much that they have expanded far beyond their home territory near the Nevada state line and…