The California State Water Resources Control Board has announced two public workshops to collect information on the condition of the Mono Basin’s Public Trust resources. The State Water Board announced the workshops following compelling testimony at its March 17 meeting.
The workshops should be fascinating for folks interested in the state of Mono Lake’s ecosystem health. Both workshops are being held virtually and the public must register to be able to tune in and listen.
The first workshop is Thursday, June 4 from 10:00am to noon, and the agenda includes presentations on water quality and salinity as well as the state of brine shrimp and alkali fly populations. Register for the June 4 workshop here.
The presentations on June 4 will be made by Dr. John Melack and Dr. David Herbst. Speaker biographies, presentation summaries, and related information are available here, under the 2026 Public Workshops and Meetings section of the webpage.
The second workshop is Thursday, June 25 from 9:00am to noon and will focus on California Gulls, phalaropes, waterfowl, and other lake-dependent birds. Register for the June 25 workshop here.
The purpose of the workshops is for the Board to collect information needed to evaluate future water diversion management options; the workshops are designed for informational presentations by experts. Public comment is possible subsequent to the conclusion of each workshop, although chat-based questions can be posed for the experts during the presentations. No decisions will be made during the workshops.
Registering and tuning in helps show the State Water Board widespread support for its attention to Mono Lake and its focus on finding solutions to raise Mono Lake. Once registered, you will be sent a Zoom link to watch the workshops. A recording will be available for viewing afterward.
Top photo courtesy of Joaquín Baldwin.