In addition to a wide range of educational programs, the Mono Lake Committee hosts a number of special events and award ceremonies.
Annual Events
Mono Basin Bird Chautauqua
Not your ordinary bird festival, this is a three-day celebration of birds, art, and science in the Mono Basin each June organized with California State Parks and local agency and organization partners. Learn more about the Mono Basin Bird Chautauqua here.
Andrea Lawrence Award Dinner
Each spring, we gather to celebrate the legacy of Andrea Lawrence—Olympic double gold medalist and visionary environmental leader—and to present the Andrea Lawrence Award for passionate engagement in community and the land. Learn more about the Andrea Lawrence Award Dinner here.
Tioga Pass Run
No event in 2026: We are putting a pause on the Tioga Pass Run in 2026 to focus on the upcoming State Water Board hearing to raise Mono Lake. In September athletes run or walk starting at the Mono Lake Committee Information Center & Bookstore and crossing the finish line 12.4 miles later and 3,200 feet higher at Tioga Pass, elevation 9,943 feet above sea level. The 44th Tioga Pass Run took place on Sunday, September 7, 2025.
Biennial Events
Defender of the Trust Award Dinner
No event in 2026: We are putting a pause on the Defender of the Trust award dinner in 2026 to focus on the upcoming State Water Board hearing to raise Mono Lake. The Mono Lake Defender of the Trust Award Dinner is a celebratory evening in the company of fellow champions of Mono Lake. The Mono Lake Committee gives the Defender of the Trust Award to individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to champion Mono Lake, its tributary streams, wetlands, and the public trust. Learn more about the Defender of the Trust Award here.
Awards
The Mono Lake Committee presents the following awards:
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Top photo courtesy of Janice Gardner.