Mono Lake Committee

Phone:
(760) 647-6595

Address:
Corner of Highway 395 & Third Street, Lee Vining, CA 93541

Mono Lake is a large, shallow saline soda lake in Mono County, California, formed at least 760,000 years ago as a terminal lake in an endorheic basin. The lack of an outlet causes high levels of salts to accumulate in the lake. These salts also make the lake water alkaline. This desert lake has an unusually productive ecosystem based on brine shrimp that thrive in its waters, and provides critical habitat for two million annual migratory birds that feed on the shrimp and alkali flies. Historically, the native Kutzadika'a people derived nutrition from the Ephydra hians pupae, which live in the shallow waters around the edge of the lake. When the city of Los Angeles diverted water from the freshwater streams flowing into the lake, it lowered the lake level, which imperiled the migratory birds. The Mono Lake Committee formed in response and won a legal battle that forced Los Angeles to partially replenish the lake level.
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Mono Lake Committee Videos

Mono Lake: Surviving California's Water Wars

Mono Lake has existed for almost 760,000 years, but it nearly vanished during the early 20th century thanks to the city of Los Angeles.

When the Los Angeles Aqueduct opened in 1913, it was hailed as a modern marvel and became part of LADWP Superintendent William Mulholland’s legacy. The aqueduct allowed Los Angeles to grow into the major city it is today and sustain its massive population. Unfortunately, the project nearly destroyed Mono Lake which plays a critical role in the local ecosystem. Had it not been for the valiant efforts of people like David Gaines and the Mono Lake Committee, Mono Lake would have disappeared for good and become a dry lake like Owens Lake.

I was super excited to travel to Mono Lake to produce this video and share with you what I learned. I hope you enjoy it! Please like this video, subscribe to this channel and leave a comment down below letting me know where I should go next!

Explore Always is produced by Kyle Frager.

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Mono Lake, California, United States1999

Mono Lake, California, United States1999
Mono Lake is a large, shallow saline soda lake in Mono County, California, formed at least 760,000 years ago as a terminal lake in an endorheic basin. The lack of an outlet causes high levels of salts to accumulate in the lake. These salts also make the lake water alkaline.
This desert lake has an unusually productive ecosystem based on brine shrimp that thrive in its waters, and provides critical nesting habitat for two million annual migratory birds that feed on the shrimp and blackflies (that also feed on the shrimp).
The human history of Mono Lake is associated with its productive ecosystem. The native Kutzadika'a people derived nutrition from the pupae of the alkali flies that live in the lake. When the city of Los Angeles diverted water from the lake, it lowered the lake level, which imperiled the migratory birds. The Mono Lake Committee formed in response and won a legal battle that forced Los Angeles to partially restore the lake level.

Mono Lake California

Mono Lake Film - Promo 2

Our second promo of the new Mono Lake Film, due to be released this winter! Please donate to help us bring this spectacular film to the public!

Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve - South Tufa Area

It's one of the grand landscapes of the American West —an ancient lake cradled by volcanoes, glacier-carved canyons and snowy peaks. Visitors marvel at the 8 mile long (north to south) and 13 mile wide (east to west) lake and its unusual tufa towers, remarkable limestone creations that rise from the lake in magniﬁcent knobs and spires.

Mono Lake has been called California's Dead Sea, but it's actually a life-support system for great numbers of birds. California gulls ﬂy in from the coast to nest on the lake's isles. An estimated 90 percent of the state's population of this gull is born on Mono Lake.

Some 800,000 eared grebes, duck-like diving birds, have been tallied. Mono's summertime winged visitors include Wilson's and red-necked phalaropes, species that commute from wintering grounds in South America.

Primary bird food is the brine shrimp which, like other organisms dependent on Mono's waters, has evolved over the last million years or so to adapt to an extremely saline habitat.

While Mono is anything but a dead sea, it was, until recently, a dying lake. Beginning in 1941 and continuing for more than a half-century, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power diverted most of the major creeks and rivers that had sustained Mono Lake for centuries. Such diversions caused the lake level to drop 40 feet and its waters to double in salinity.

The resultant damage to the lake's ecological integrity and to Mono Basin's wildlife habitat prompted the Mono Lake Committee and National Audubon Society to take legal action to stop this drastic drain. After 16 years of conservation efforts and legal challenges by citizen activists in numerous courts and forums, the State Water Resources Control Board agreed to raise the lake level in 1994.

Theoretically and legally at least, Mono Lake has been saved. Much shoreline and wildlife habitat restoration will be necessary, however, to return the lake to ideal environmental health. Learn more about the lake and conservation efforts at the Mono Basin National Forest Scenic Area Visitor Center located on the outskirts of Lee Vining. The Mono Lake Committee maintains an information center and gift/bookstore in downtown Lee Vining.

Travelers with limited time can get a quick look at the lake and some tufa formations with the help of two boardwalk trails located at Old Marina on the west shore and Mono Lake County Park on the northwest shore.

The best place to observe Mono's most compelling natural attraction— its tufa towers—is the South Tufa Area, explored by a short interpretive trail. The trail's shoreline segments will no doubt need to be relocated periodically as the lake rises and reclaims its ancient bed.
Tufa towers are formed when calcium-rich freshwater springs bubble up into the carbonate-saturated alkaline lake water. This calcium-carbonate comingling results in limestone formations—the magniﬁcent tufa spires.

Trailside interpretive signs explain more than most hikers will want to know about the lake's food chain of algae, billions of brine ﬂies, trillions of shrimp, as well as gulls, grebes and other migratory birds. Some visitors, overwhelmed by the lake's majesty, might be disappointed to learn that Mono is the native Yokut word for brine ﬂy.

South Tufa Trail leads past some landlocked tufa formations, then skirts the lakeshore for a look out at those protruding from the midst of Mono. Loop back to the parking area if you wish, or extend your hike by continuing on to Navy Beach, the lake's best swimming area.

Directions to trailhead: From Highway 395, about 5 miles south of the hamlet of Lee Vining, turn east on Highway 120 and drive 5 miles to the signed turnoff for the South Tufa Area/Mono Lake Tufa State Reserve. Turn left and proceed a mile on good gravel road to a parking area near the trailhead.

David Gaines Memorial Boardwalk on Mono Lake, California

This boardwalk takes you right up to the water's edge of Mono Lake in California's eastern Sierra. Like most other natural features in America's west Mono Lake is always being threatened in some way or another. Luckily the Mono Lake Committee and others have worked hard at protecting it - thank you!

Here's a link to my personal page on water and related issues:

12-02-2006

Tioga Pass Run 2010

30th Annual Tioga Pass Run Ryan Hall sets a new World Record for the run. Starting at the Mono Lake Committee Visitor Center in Lee Vining California and ending at the Eastern entrance to Yosemite National Park on California state highway 120 West, the Tioga Pass entrance station. This is a 3,200ft climb in elevation from around 6,700 to 9,945 feet in elevation. Tioga Pass is California's highest paved road. Around 100 people ran is this years race. Ryan Hall set a new world record for the run with a time of 1 hour 20 minutes and 57 seconds. It was his first time running up this road and said, It's my favorite run. Thanks for putting it on. Sage to Summit, located in Bishop California, put on the race. Other sponsors included Footloose Sports in Mammoth Lakes, California. Ryan Hall is one of the United States best marathon runners and an Olympic caliber runner. Ryan placed in the top ten is this years Boston Marathon. He is currently training in the Mammoth Lakes area and loves to run up the Rock Creek Road. Look for Ryan Hall in the next Summer Olympics, he may win a Gold Medal.

The South Tufa area at Mono Lake, California...2017

Mono Lake is a large, shallow saline soda lake in Mono County, California, formed at least 760,000 years ago as a terminal lake in an endorheic basin. The lack of an outlet causes high levels of salts to accumulate in the lake. These salts also make the lake water alkaline.

This desert lake has an unusually productive ecosystem based on brine shrimp that thrive in its waters, and provides critical nesting habitat for two million annual migratory birds that feed on the shrimp and blackflies (that also feed on the shrimp).

The native Kutzadika'a people derived nutrition from the pupae of the alkali flies that live in the lake. When the city of Los Angeles diverted water from the lake, it lowered the lake level, which imperiled the migratory birds. The Mono Lake Committee formed in response and won a legal battle that forced Los Angeles to partially replenish the lake level.

Tioga Pass Run.mov

Mono Lake Life

Mono Lake is an extremely productive ecosystem. Its waters nourish millions of birds and trillions of brine shrimp and alkali flies. It is also home to a new form of life discovered by NASA. This video captures the many moods and elements that come together to make Mono Lake a truly special place.
bristleconemedia.com

Please support the Mono Lake Committee:
monolake.org

Second Life for Ghost Towns and Surreal Lakes - Bodie, Mono Lake

We all love second chances. To start fresh, gain more perspective, or try again for the win always boosts the confidence. In this travelouge, the Ramblin' Bears visit places on the east side of the Sierra that have had second chances to thrive. (Bodie, Mono Lake). We also ponder our own second chances and hope to revisit the Mono Lake Committee soon and bring you more insight on this beautiful, odd, and surreal lake and more spectacular scenery from the Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve and Mono Basin National Scenic Area.

Tufa - magical towers of carbonate rocks:

Park closures information and action:

Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve (SNR):

Bodie State Historic Park (SHP):

(more detail on Bodie to come!)

More Ramblin' Bears videos:

Environmental Conservation and Spherical Canoeing on Mono Lake

Bartshe Miller discusses the unique chemistry of Mono lake, California and tells the story of the fight to protect the lake from water diversion by the city of Los Angeles.

Old Marina Boardwalk , Mono Lake, CA

A walk on the park so to speak

Mono Lake

Yosemite National Park | Wikipedia audio article

This is an audio version of the Wikipedia Article:
Yosemite National Park

00:03:33 1 History
00:03:42 1.1 Ahwahneechee and the Mariposa Wars
00:06:56 1.2 Early tourists
00:09:47 1.3 Yosemite Grant
00:12:36 1.4 Increased protection efforts
00:14:48 1.5 National Park Service
00:17:38 2 Geography
00:18:48 2.1 Rocks and erosion
00:20:27 2.2 Popular features
00:22:05 2.3 Water and ice
00:25:24 2.4 Climate
00:29:16 3 Geology
00:29:25 3.1 Tectonic and volcanic activity
00:31:26 3.2 Uplift and erosion
00:32:55 3.3 Sculpting by glaciers
00:34:26 4 Ecology
00:34:35 4.1 Habitats
00:37:51 4.2 Management issues
00:41:34 4.3 Wildfires
00:42:21 5 Activities
00:44:13 5.1 Hiking
00:45:31 5.2 Driving destinations
00:46:15 5.3 Climbing
00:46:52 5.4 Winter activities
00:47:47 5.5 Other
00:48:37 6 In popular culture
00:49:02 7 See also

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- Socrates

SUMMARY
=======
Yosemite National Park (, yoh-SEM-i-tee) is an American national park located in the western Sierra Nevada of Central California, bounded on the southeast by Sierra National Forest and on the northwest by Stanislaus National Forest. The park, which is managed by the National Park Service, covers an area of 747,956 acres (1,168.681 sq mi; 302,687 ha; 3,026.87 km2) and sits in four counties: centered in Tuolumne and Mariposa, extending north and east to Mono and south to Madera County. Designated a World Heritage site in 1984, Yosemite is internationally recognized for its granite cliffs, waterfalls, clear streams, giant sequoia groves, lakes, mountains, meadows, glaciers, and biological diversity. Almost 95% of the park is designated wilderness.On average, about 4 million people visit Yosemite each year, and most spend the majority of their time in the 5.9 square miles (15 km2) of Yosemite Valley. The park set a visitation record in 2016, surpassing 5 million visitors for the first time in its history. Yosemite was central to the development of the national park idea. Galen Clark and others lobbied to protect Yosemite Valley from development, ultimately leading to President Abraham Lincoln's signing the Yosemite Grant in 1864. John Muir led a successful movement to have Congress establish a larger national park by 1890, one which encompassed the valley and its surrounding mountains and forests, paving the way for the National Park System.Yosemite is one of the largest and least fragmented habitat blocks in the Sierra Nevada, and the park supports a diversity of plants and animals. The park has an elevation range from 2,127 to 13,114 feet (648 to 3,997 m) and contains five major vegetation zones: chaparral and oak woodland, lower montane forest, upper montane forest, subalpine zone, and alpine. Of California's 7,000 plant species, about 50% occur in the Sierra Nevada and more than 20% are within Yosemite. The park contains suitable habitat for more than 160 rare plants, with rare local geologic formations and unique soils characterizing the restricted ranges many of these plants occupy.The geology of the Yosemite area is characterized by granitic rocks and remnants of older rock. About 10 million years ago, the Sierra Nevada was uplifted and then tilted to form its relatively gentle western slopes and the more dramatic eastern slopes. The uplift increased the steepness of stream and river beds, resulting in the formation of deep, narrow canyons. About one million years ago, snow and ice accumulated, forming glaciers at the higher alpine meadows that moved down the river valleys. Ice thickness in Yosemite Valley may have reached 4,000 feet (1,200 m) during the early glacial episode. The downslope movement of the ice masses cut and sculpted the U-shaped valley that attracts so many visitors to its scenic vistas today.The name Yosemite (meaning killer in Miwok) originally referred to the name of a renegade tribe which was driven out of the area (and possibly annihilated) by the Mariposa Battalion. Previously, the area had been called Ahwahnee (big mouth) by indigenous people.