Mono Lake Committee

05/03/2026

What can the clues that wildlife leaves behind teach us about our environment? Learn about animal tracks and signs from wildlife biologist and expert tracker Phil Johnston on a field seminar this weekend! Register at monolake.org/fieldseminars
📸: Phil Johnston

03/26/2026

The LA Times covered last week's State Water Board meeting, where the board heard several key messages: 1. LADWP water diversions are the primary cause of Mono Lake's low level. 2. Reducing those diversions will boost the lake's rise, even in the era of climate change.

Decades after a landmark decision called for Los Angeles to limit its taking of water to raise the level of Mono Lake, California regulators are reexamining why it still hasn’t rebounded and what should be done.

03/20/2026

Happy vernal equinox from , where it feels almost more like summer than spring during this heat wave in the Western US! 📷 Richard Erb

03/18/2026

Yesterday, the UCLA Center for Climate Science presented its new report to the State Water Board. One key takeaway: LADWP water diversions are the primary cause of today’s dangerously low level of . Another: Reducing those diversions will boost lake rise, even in the era of climate change.

The presentation was followed by urgent calls for State Water Board action—from the Kootzaduka’a Tribe, Mono Lake Committee, state agencies, hydrology modeling experts, LA community and civic leaders, wildlife biologists, a host of witnesses from the historic 1994 hearing, and more.

📷 Geoff McQuilkin

03/07/2026

Action Alert: Help us send 500 letters to the State Water Board in support of Mono Lake by March 12! Learn more and use our quick letterwriting tool here: https://www.monolake.org/today/action-alert-state-water-board-needs-to-hear-from-you/
📷: Santiago M. Escruceria

02/17/2026

8.5 inches of snow in 24 hours means lots of shoveling! Committee staff work hard to keep the Information Center & Bookstore open in any weather, but be sure to check the latest road conditions on the CalTrans QuickMap before heading out. Lee Vining is currently under a Winter Storm Warning through Wednesday night, and much more snow is expected.

📸: Brendan Peralez

02/12/2026

A walk around town... Lee Vining received 5 inches of snow yesterday. This is the first major precipitation since January 8. And there is more to come! A larger storm is expected next week ❄

📷: Brendan Peralez

02/06/2026

Snowy roads won’t stop Committee staff from measuring Mono Lake’s level every month! ❄️ Mono Lake has risen just under a tenth of an inch since the New Year—on the low end of typical winter gains. Even in winter, the lake is always evaporating, as evidenced by our infamous poconip fog. Check out photos of the February lake readings over the past three years. 🌊

📸: Robbie Di Paolo, Maureen McGlinchy, Andrew Youssef

02/01/2026

Explore the Mono Basin with the experts! 2026 Field Seminar offerings are up on our website. Check out the trip itineraries from experienced trip leaders spanning a variety of environmental topics, skills workshops, and naturalist excursions. Registration opens February 15 at 8AM on our website.

📸: Hannah Ashby, Robbie Di Paolo, Sarah Lampley

01/27/2026

If you are inspired by the uniqueness of the Mono Basin and want to help protect in your free time, then the Mono Lake Volunteer Program is for you. The program contributes to the important work agencies and organizations are doing in the Mono Basin to protect and restore Mono Lake. For more information please visit monolake.org/volunteer. 📸 Janet Carle