Western mono on the west side in the southcentral foothills of the sierra nevada near mono lake as well as in the mono basin have been known throughout recorded history as mono, mona, monache, or northfork mono, as labeled by e. Having worked in the water engineering sector for many years and several in socal, the eastern sierra is a regular subject of discussion. The lakes recent restoration is here to show the world that, through collaborative efforts, intelligent. Mono lake and its surrounding watershed encompass a unique region in california. Route 395 and california state route 167, at an elevation of 6,768 feet 2,063 m. The natural history of the lake is described and explained in a onemile selfguided nature trail at south tufa.
In the 1970s, as the city shipped more water down the aqueduct, mono lake s water level fell sharply. The south tufa trail is a 1 2 mile round trip hiking trail. Word preceded their approach, and all chinese americans were put aboard the steamer rocket and ferried out to paoha island in mono lake. It is distinguished by having many small points or. The mono lake battle and the california water future berkeley. The mono lake committee, a sciencedriven nonprofit, runs a bookstore in the lakeshore community of lee vining. Explore outdoor recreation at mammoth mountain and june mountain. University of california press, 1996, by john hart framedependent html with commentary at uc press filed under. At the visitor center just off us hwy 395, you can see exhibits about the areas history.
University of california press, 1996, by john hart framedependent html with commentary at uc press. The center is located just off highway 395, north of lee vining and includes a variety of exhibits about the natural and human history of the mono basin. Thankfully there have been numerous books written to describe the many aspects of this scenic area, its geography, geology. It is known for its turquoiseblue water, the dramatic mountains including mount morrison that surround it, the trout fishing it affords, and its unusual history.
As water levels fell, the salinity increased, drastically changing the ecology of the lake. Mile 511 84 miles through the high country of yosemite national park, past pristine alpine lakes and granite behemoths that cast shadows on the road, mono lake glints blue in what mark twain once called a lifeless, treeless, hideous desert. Warren, located in the sierra nevadas within sight of mono lake, is over a mile higher in elevation than the surface of the lake. The small, but scrappy, mono lake committee along with california trout and others used their dogged persistence to protect one of the more unique ecosystems in all north america. Mono lake, salty and alkaline and california s secondlargest lake, became the center of controversy in the 1970s. Under david gaines leadership, the mono lake committee grew to 20,000 members and gained legal and. Jul 03, 2012 mono lake, salty and alkaline and californias secondlargest lake, became the center of controversy in the 1970s. The following is a brief history of the mono lake litigation.
A basket history of the indians of the yosemite mono lake area bates, craig d. California yellowlegged frog, rana boylii boylii baird, resident throughout the upper sonoran zone of central california, was found at pleasant valley and thence eastward to near feliciana mountain and to smith creek, east of coulterville. Hoffman comes an enjoyable and wellresearched book on the modern history of mono lake and the surrounding basin. The best person to describe the lake water is nora livingston, naturalist and canoe boat tour guide with the mono lake committee, an environmental organization based in lee vining, california. The society will make open to the public its collection. Although it is probably too simplistic to say that david gaines saved mono lake, it is close enough to the truth to warrant consideration.
Mono lake in the eastern sierra of california foster. Follow that road one mile to a parking area at the trailhead. This is just a short list of things to do near mono lake. Mono lake basin, california images of america series by.
As well as the geology, mining, commercial and recreational topics, he presents an overview of the hydropolitics that threatened to change this beautiful ecosystem into a dry lake. It is endorheic, meaning that it does not connect with the sea. By 1981 it was 46 feet below where it had been in 1940. It supported the worlds secondlargest breeding colony of california gulls and was habitat to other bird species. In addition the water contains chlorides, sulfates, and carbonates. An ecological study of mono lake, california edited by david w. Mono village is located 15 miles from bridgeport california in the eastern sierra mountains.
Book your tickets online for mono lake, california. Mono lake simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Alkali flies swarm the shores and even enter the water, encased in air bubbles, to lay their eggs. My first novel, new garden 20, opens in the high sierra. The highest remnant shoreline, called a strandline, can be seen along the steep slope west of mono lake at 2,188 m 7,180 ft, 143 m 471 ft above the mono lake visitor center putnam, 1950. Mono lake camping free dispersed camping near lee vining. Before water was diverted from the lake s tributaries, mono lake had a surface area of 55,179 acres.
Mono lake committee information center lee vining 2020. Title, date, and subjects provided by the photographer. Mono county tourism info hotels, events, things to do and. Vg with light wear to back cover no markings or other faults. Russell, quaternary history of the mono valley, 1889 print out brochures about mono lakes natural history in english, spanish, french, or italian. Visitor center staff stand ready to help you plan your explorations of mono lake and the eastern. This is the best place to visit if you have time for only one stop. Mono lake in the eastern sierra of california is noted for its tufa spires, which are otherworldly limestone deposits. A stop at the mono basin scenic area visitor center about a halfmile north of lee vining is even better, offering a photo op of the lake as well as a wonderful array of amenities, including exhibits, literature.
The 10 best things to do near mono lake, california. In the 1920s, she produced fancy threerod woven baskets for nonindian markets and continued making them until her death. Mono lake is believed to have formed 760,000 years ago, making it one of the oldest lakes in north america. But mono lake and its bizarre animals are more than. Mono lake is a saline lake on the east side of the sierra nevada, in the u. Mono lake committee members get access to the expanded weather information and graphs below. Mono lake in the eastern sierra of california foster travel. Winkler for the mono basin research group institute of ecology publication, no. Subsequently, a band of white men traveled the 21 miles to mono lake by foot, horse, and buggy to confront chinese workers grading the railroad line. The results of this development boom became evident as more of california s agricultural land was converted to urban uses.
The lack of an outlet causes high levels of salts to accumulate in the lake. A boardwalk ada trail below the mono lake county park allows access to the north shore tufa area and wetland. F or lovers of literature, the northern california landscape reads like a book, its pages filled with some of the most celebrated authors in modern history. The visitor center, the history, the geology and the tufa spires are all amazing and interesting. May 29, 2018 mono lake in the eastern sierra of california is noted for its tufa spires, which are otherworldly limestone deposits. Mono lake, in eastern california, is a strange, salty place. Quaternary history mono valley california abebooks. My second novel, a standalone sequel to new garden that should be available by march 2015, includes one major. Nov 24, 2008 authors don banta, a 75year lee vining resident, and david carle, a mono lake ranger for 19 years, present here a collection of vintage mono lake photography. The sierra nevada mountains are to the west of the lake. This is a salt lake with an area of 60 square miles 155 km 2 at an elevation of 6,400 ft 2,000 m, and mountain waters have flowed to it for at least the past half million years, making it one of the oldest lakes in north america.
The lake, known to the paiute as witsanap, was renamed by settlers after an incident on. At the monday, february 3rd meeting of the mono basin historical society, caltrouts eric huber will present an illustrated talk about june lake s rich legacy of fishing recreation, the natural history of whitebark pines and what that has to do with fishing, and the history of lower rush creek natural resource protections. The center is also the best place to find out about current conditions and get some expert advice. Mono city is a censusdesignated place in mono county, california.
Due to covid19, mono county is currently discouraging visitation from outside the area because our small, rural healthcare facilities cannot withstand an influx of visitors who may need care. Authors don banta, a 75year lee vining resident, and david carle, a mono lake ranger for 19 years, present here a collection of vintage mono lake photography. There is a lot to see at mono lake, along california s highway 395 near june lake and lee vining. Monthly meeting programs and special events mono basin. Fellow hikers at tuolumne meadows recommended we visit the center to learn more about mono lake. The purposes of the southern mono historical society are the enhancement of public knowledge of the history of the southern mono county region and the collection, interpretation and display of artifacts pertaining to such history and culture. General information on mono lake is available, as well as detailed displays on mono lake s political history and the current efforts of the mono lake committee, and a free 27minute film called the mono lake story. It has an unusually productive ecosystem, and is a critical nesting habitat for several bird species.
All proceeds support the important work the committee does to protect and restore mono lake. History the end of world war ii saw california experiencing a tremendous population increase, which resulted in the sporadic formation of cities and special service districts. By 1962 the lake s level had dropped almost 25 feet. This book tells the history of mono lake, where environmental concerns played a decisive role in reallocating california water, and gives us hope that these goals are not incompatible. Deprived of its freshwater sources, the volume of mono lake halved, while its salinity doubled. Convict lake is a lake located in mono county, california, united states, situated in the sherwin range of the sierra nevada mountains. If you have questions or are interested in a product, please call 760 6476595. Visit mono lake come visit mono lake, located on highway 395, miles east of yosemite national park, near the town of lee vining, california. The bodie hills to the north and the cowtrack mountains on the east side of the.
The water feeds semiarid, sagebrush covered mono basin and, at the basins heart, majestic mono lake. An innovative weaver, she incorporated materials and motifs that were not common in the mono lake paiute basketweaving tradition. Where else can you see the historical bodie ghost town, famous crowley lake and. It lies north of mono lake at the base of the sierra nevada at the junction of u. The zip code is 93541, mail to mono city should be addressed lee vining. In the 1880s, she married young charlie, a miwok man from yosemite. Due to the high level of protection of mono lake, our sampling was likely far from saturated. 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.
Lake conservation california mono lake storm over mono. The most dramatic tufa towers are on the south shore. The bookstore is filled with guides, maps, and books on mono lake, and the surrounding mono basin. Bohdee is a ghost town in the bodie hills east of the sierra nevada mountain range in mono county, california, united states about 75 miles 121 km southeast of lake tahoe, 12 mi 19 km eastsoutheast of bridgeport, at an elevation of 8379 feet 2554 m. A california state historic marker indicates the location of the town site and summer visitors are reminded to be aware of the reptiles that inspired the canyons name. The mono lake committee was established in 1978 to save the lake s ecosystem from the effects of increasing salinity. The bookstore offers a comprehensive selection of books on natural and local history, indigenous peoples, and environmental writing. It is fed by streams flowing off the east side of the mountain range, including rush creek, lee vining creek and mill creek. David gaines was the most important environmentalist to come from the ranks of the hardcore california birders. To reach the trailhead from highway 395, drive 5 miles east on highway 120 to the signed turnoff for the south tufa area mono lake tufa state reserve. Gifford, an ethnographer studying people in the vicinity of the san joaquin river in the 1910s. Mono lake lies in a tectonic basin surrounded on all sides by mountains.
Working with archival materials from local families and the mono lake committee, carle and banta show the lake, its environs, and its history through stirring imagery, including the. Mono lake panum crater hiking, bird watching, boating. A basket history of the indians of the yosemite mono lake area. In this video, we share some of our exploration of the lee vining california area off highway 395. By 1962 the lakes level had dropped almost 25 feet. Mono lake is home to one of the largest california gull rookeries in north america great salt lake is the largest. Behind it, a small staff inhabits a rabbits warren of offices lined with court. Oct 02, 2011 johnny threw his crackers on the water and all of a sudden we had all these seagulls around us. May 01, 2020 the mono basin scenic area visitor center is a great place to start your visit to this area. Newly identified nematodes from mono lake exhibit extreme. The young history of extreme conditions at mono lake 7, 11 makes this particularly surprising and suggests that nematodes in the naive lake may have been preadapted for subsequent changes. Over time, the lake will return to a healthy condition.
The book presents guidelines to visiting 42 different volcanoes around the world. John hart integrates natural, social, and political history into a story that is a source of hope for anyone concerned about the environment. With june lake and mammoth lakes near by, there is plenty to explore and see in the area. Mono lake rhymes with oh no is the largest natural lake wholly within the state of california. When i traveled california route 395 to yosemite from reno 14 years ago for a family vacation, i had no idea that mono lake and the sierra nevada would serve as the setting for a major segment of a future novel. Learn about the history of the area and take in incredible views of mono lake.
Lee vining creek has its headwaters near tioga pass, near yosemite national park. John hart recounts this critical conservation battle in american history with the greatest of precision and detail real, highstakes stuff with a happy ending. Due to staffing restrictions because of covid19, we have temporarily disabled our online store. This is the third vlog episode of our travels through california. The tenuous revival of mono lake the tenuous revival of mono.
We drove over after hiking mono pass and were so glad to see the center was open late and they offered to start the movie for us as soon as we asked. Studies in the quaternary history of lake mono taken from a usgs survey from 1889 facsimile of pages 267394 with maps, illustrations, charts, data. Really happy we ended up staying an extra day and able to visit the tufa towers and walk to the mono lake visitor centre along the. Latest earthquakes near mono lake volcano mono lake. Mono lake is one of the largest lakes in california, and californians have been using it, enjoying it, and abusing it since nomadic northern paiutes began hunting the lake s vast bird populations. Mono lake california all you need to know before you. Mono lake, california is an alkaline and hypersaline lake in mono county, california.
By late spring anywhere from 44,000 to 65,000 california gulls arrive to breed on monos lesserknown islands. The lake teems with trillions of brine shrimp but no fish swim in the salt water. Witness the pure natural wonder of the eastern sierra in yosemite national park and mono lake. Mohnoh is a saline soda lake in mono county, california, formed at least 760,000 years ago as a terminal lake in an endorheic basin. Lessons from mono lake tells one of environmental activisms greatest success stories. Mono lake is one of the largest lakes in california, and californians have been using it, enjoying it, and abusing it since nomadic northern paiutes began hunting the lakes vast bird populations. Smooth jazz chillout lounge smooth jazz saxophone instrumental music for relaxing, dinner, study duration. Summary of mono lake litigation and legislative designations. Mono lake is an alkaline and hypersaline lake in mono county, california. Its water contains three times as much salt as is found in the ocean. Researchers estimate that at the time of the last ice age, the lake was 900 feet deep. Vlog 3 rv travel in lee vining california area mono.