CalClim: California Climate Data Archive

CALIFORNIA CLIMATE WATCH
CURRENT ISSUE: June 2005

Read the full newsletter here: Word Format or PDF format

Saving Mono Lake...And More

By Laura Edwards
Western Regional Climate Center

In the evening shadow of the Sierra Nevada range lies a unique landscape, north and east of Lee Vining. Tufa, California gulls, brine shrimp and alkali flies call this place home in the water that is saltier than the ocean. The place is Mono Lake, in a basin between the Sierra Nevada and White Mountains. It is peaceful and quiet here compared to the hustle and bustle of Yosemite National Park on the west side of the 10,000 foot Tioga Pass through the Sierra.

Figure 1. Sunset viewed from above South Tufa. http://www.monolake.org/photogallery/_photos/ph8.htm

Mono Lake and the its basin together create a one-of-a-kind ecosystem. The high salinity of a terminal lake is a condition under which freshwater fish can not survive, but brine shrimp do, in large numbers. Alkali flies feed off of the same algae as the shrimp, and both connect the food chain as prey for the birds and ducks that migrate over and live at the lake. Tufa are created by calcium carbonate, or lime, deposits. They are formed when freshwater mixes with the lake water, which can occur anywhere. Tall towers are found where underwater springs cause lime to form on contact. In areas where the lake waters have receded, you can walk up to these abandoned towers.

The water and environmental battles that have been fought here are not far from the lake's surface. Not long ago, there was a 16-year legal fight between the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP), and Mono Lake Committee, CalTrout, and National Audubon Society.

The Mono Lake story has a long history before any lawyers or courts became involved. Many begin telling the story with the draining of Owens Lake, south of Mono, to supply water to the growing metropolis of Los Angeles early in the 20th century. A pipeline had been built to divert water away from Owens Lake, converting a thriving farm-based economy and ecosystem into a dry, dusty lake bed, destroying life within the lake and creating hazardous air quality for humans. DWP began creeping slowly upstream, extending their reach to the Mono basin, diverting streams that flow into Mono Lake.

The Mono diversions began in 1941, and by 1978 the lake had lost almost 50 vertical feet of elevation. This is when residents really took notice, and action, and formed the Mono Lake Committee, led by David Gaines. The efforts of the Committee went towards educating the public and fighting the legal challenge. The two broad categories they pursued were 1) the protection of the lake through the enforcement of the Public Trust Doctrine, and 2) the protection of fisheries in the streams feeding the lake through the enforcement of California Fish and Game codes. There is an extensive chronology and document clearinghouse on the Mono Lake website (1).

In September of 1994 a decision was reached, for the benefit of the lake, habitat and wildlife. It called for DWP to maintain a lake level elevation of at least 6,390 feet, up from the low of nearly 6,372 feet. This encouraged habitat restoration in the basin's rivers and streams as well as the well-being of wildlife and tufa at the lake. As of July 11, 2005, the current lake level is at 6382 feet, a net rise of 7.6 feet since the decision on September 24, 1994.

The result of "saving" Mono Lake has also contributed to greater awareness of water conservation in the Southland. In 1998, the City of Los Angeles used 100,000 acre-feet less water than in 1990 (2). This happened despite a 30% larger population and the reduction of water diversion from Mono. The drought in 1990 forced authorities at the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California to impose water restrictions that reduced demand by over 1 million acre-feet of water by 1993. The upshot is that getting our hands on more water alone can not alleviate California's thirst, but that public knowledge of water conservation and recycling measures can help ensure that there will be enough for the future. With California's growing population, ongoing education will be essential to maintaining water resources for future generations.

References:
1. Mono Lake web site, http://www.monolake.org.

2. Davis, Martha. Stepping outside the box: water in southern California. http://www.monolake.org/waterpolicy/outsidebox.htm

3. Hart, John, 1996. Storm over Mono. University of California Press, 211 pp.

4. Carle, David, 2000. Water and the California dream. Sierra Club Books, 235 pp.

Page last updated 7/13/05.

HOME	Data & Products	Monitoring & Forecasts	Related Research	Links	Site Map
Contact Us/Data Request Form	© 2004-2008 WESTERN REGIONAL CLIMATE CENTER. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

California Climate Watch Archive All data in the Climate Watch is provisional and subject to change. Please contact us for updated and quality-checked data. For 2005 stories, click here For 2004 stories, click here Monthly Weather Summaries 2005 2004	CALIFORNIA CLIMATE WATCH CURRENT ISSUE: June 2005 Read the full newsletter here: Word Format or PDF format Saving Mono Lake...And More By Laura Edwards Western Regional Climate Center In the evening shadow of the Sierra Nevada range lies a unique landscape, north and east of Lee Vining. Tufa, California gulls, brine shrimp and alkali flies call this place home in the water that is saltier than the ocean. The place is Mono Lake, in a basin between the Sierra Nevada and White Mountains. It is peaceful and quiet here compared to the hustle and bustle of Yosemite National Park on the west side of the 10,000 foot Tioga Pass through the Sierra. Figure 1. Sunset viewed from above South Tufa. http://www.monolake.org/photogallery/_photos/ph8.htm Mono Lake and the its basin together create a one-of-a-kind ecosystem. The high salinity of a terminal lake is a condition under which freshwater fish can not survive, but brine shrimp do, in large numbers. Alkali flies feed off of the same algae as the shrimp, and both connect the food chain as prey for the birds and ducks that migrate over and live at the lake. Tufa are created by calcium carbonate, or lime, deposits. They are formed when freshwater mixes with the lake water, which can occur anywhere. Tall towers are found where underwater springs cause lime to form on contact. In areas where the lake waters have receded, you can walk up to these abandoned towers. The water and environmental battles that have been fought here are not far from the lake's surface. Not long ago, there was a 16-year legal fight between the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP), and Mono Lake Committee, CalTrout, and National Audubon Society. The Mono Lake story has a long history before any lawyers or courts became involved. Many begin telling the story with the draining of Owens Lake, south of Mono, to supply water to the growing metropolis of Los Angeles early in the 20th century. A pipeline had been built to divert water away from Owens Lake, converting a thriving farm-based economy and ecosystem into a dry, dusty lake bed, destroying life within the lake and creating hazardous air quality for humans. DWP began creeping slowly upstream, extending their reach to the Mono basin, diverting streams that flow into Mono Lake. The Mono diversions began in 1941, and by 1978 the lake had lost almost 50 vertical feet of elevation. This is when residents really took notice, and action, and formed the Mono Lake Committee, led by David Gaines. The efforts of the Committee went towards educating the public and fighting the legal challenge. The two broad categories they pursued were 1) the protection of the lake through the enforcement of the Public Trust Doctrine, and 2) the protection of fisheries in the streams feeding the lake through the enforcement of California Fish and Game codes. There is an extensive chronology and document clearinghouse on the Mono Lake website (1). In September of 1994 a decision was reached, for the benefit of the lake, habitat and wildlife. It called for DWP to maintain a lake level elevation of at least 6,390 feet, up from the low of nearly 6,372 feet. This encouraged habitat restoration in the basin's rivers and streams as well as the well-being of wildlife and tufa at the lake. As of July 11, 2005, the current lake level is at 6382 feet, a net rise of 7.6 feet since the decision on September 24, 1994. The result of "saving" Mono Lake has also contributed to greater awareness of water conservation in the Southland. In 1998, the City of Los Angeles used 100,000 acre-feet less water than in 1990 (2). This happened despite a 30% larger population and the reduction of water diversion from Mono. The drought in 1990 forced authorities at the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California to impose water restrictions that reduced demand by over 1 million acre-feet of water by 1993. The upshot is that getting our hands on more water alone can not alleviate California's thirst, but that public knowledge of water conservation and recycling measures can help ensure that there will be enough for the future. With California's growing population, ongoing education will be essential to maintaining water resources for future generations. References: 1. Mono Lake web site, http://www.monolake.org. 2. Davis, Martha. Stepping outside the box: water in southern California. http://www.monolake.org/waterpolicy/outsidebox.htm 3. Hart, John, 1996. Storm over Mono. University of California Press, 211 pp. 4. Carle, David, 2000. Water and the California dream. Sierra Club Books, 235 pp. Page last updated 7/13/05.