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Ecoloqists fret over Mono Lake—a ‘solemn sea.. . , . . , . • . . i.. - ...........r . ... .i. in wuxiBy Tom Ardenst-rVV !•'*'MONO LAKE, Mono. Co. — Mark Twain didn’t think much of Mono Lake, warning its venomous water” would “eat a man's eyes out like fire, and burn him out inside, too.1Twain saw Mono Lake for the first time — and perhaps the last — while “roughing it” in the 18Gbs. He wrote that the lake had such strong alkaline properties that it could take the bark out of a dog; it would lather up like soap and it would clean laundry after a brief soaking under the lake's surface.The noted author called Mono Lake “a solemn, silent, sailiess sea.” Formed more than 20,000 years ago - by descending glaciers, the lake is the third largest natural body of water entirely in California.Mono Lake, 25 milts south of . Bridgeport, bounded on the west by . the rugged Sierra Nevada and on the east by the California-Nevada state line, once covered an area of 86 square miles and reached a maximum depth of 150 feet.Some reference books refer to Mono Lake as the “dead sea of America” and environmentalists are worried that it will not be too many years before it will be known as “Alkali Flats.”Mono Lake is drying up — its future darkened by droughts and the diversion or fresh water streams nature had designed to flow into the lake. 1ms Angolas exports alxtut 100,000 acre feet of water a year from the Mono Basin — water that nor-; mally would feed the Sake.The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has rights to divert from Lee Vining, Walker, Parker and Rush Creeks. The water is taken out of Mono Basin by a high level canal which runs it into Grant Lake, a source of supply for the Los Angeles Aqueduct.Los Angeles applied for Mono Basin water rights in 1924. Immediatelythere were cries of protests from landowners but later the protests were withdrawn as the city purchased land and water rights for more than $5 million. At first the state, according to the water Resources Control Board in Sacramento, granted Los Angeles a permit for the diversions but a firmer right, a license, was given in 1973 when the city proved it was making full use of the water for beneficial purposes — municipal and power generation.Los Angeles began taking water out of the Mono Basin in the 1940s and now records show it is at the lowest levelviroomental organization, Mono Lake Research Group, that within four e; five years Negit Island in Mono Lake will become connected with the mainland if Los Angeles continues draining water from the lake.1 his is considered dy ecologists as a disaster to die nesting ground on Negit Island for the California sea gulls. With Negit a peninsula rather than an island, coyotes, bobcats and other predators, including man, couid disturb the gulls which nest there from April to October.The DWP. recognizing this problem, has purchased a large pieceSacramento \ *Modeilo.105 ANGELES'See Mopsince first measurements were made in I860.Duane L. Georgeson, Los Angeles Department of: Water and Power engineer, says the diversion of water from Mono Basin streams is decreasing the lake level at the rate of one to two feet a year. Others say il is three feet a year.“Based on a continuation of recent hydrologic conditions, the lake level is projected,to stabilize in about 80 to 100 years at an elevation approximately 50 to 60 feet lower than its present level of 6.377 feel elevation, Georgeson says. It then will have a surface area of about 30 square miles —about half its present size.”Georgeson agrees with an en-of the other island in the lake. Paoha, as a possibly rookery for the gulls when Negit Island becomes a peninsula.Also under consideration by state officials and DWP is dredging a channel to prevent formation of a land bridge but, according to the DWP. frequent redredging would be necessary and would become infeasible as the lake level recedes to lower elevations.The obvious solution, according to environmentalists, would be to stop water exports from Mono Basin to allow it. to flow into the lake. This would protect the sea gull nesting grounds, the scenic and recreationalattractions ui the lake ana -:e •.•ti.y fish life, a s-malI brute sr: :::.p.And, it is pointed jut. n may reeu-.e the increasing hequency of iV.iri.ng clouds of dust erupt.r.g from the dried-up Mono lake shores. O'.dtur.ers recall in years past there have Deer, dust storms but their intensity has increased as the lake level continues to lower.A study by the DWP has indicated evaporation al Mono could be i educed 15 or 20 per cent by applying an evaporation retardant to the water surface — saving about 25,000 acre feet a year. There are no plans by DWP to start such a program in the near future, however. Georgeson says the cost couid be about $2 million a year and there are technical problems associated with making frequent chemical applications on a lake the size of Mono.DWP had planned a emud-seeding project in the 1974-75 winter but it was postponed indefinitely. Georgeson reported, due to objections of residents and others, largely because of the possible impacts resulting from increased snowfall.'•There are no environment ally-easy solutions to stabilizing the present level of Mono Like. he said. “Decisions affecting Mono lake must be evaluated in terms ot environmental trade-offs, costs and considerations of the most beneficial use of the high quality waters of the Mono Basin.“Water diverted from the Mono Basin is used for multiple purposes, including domestic water supply, power generation, recreation and lish and wildlife protection and enhancement. Little beneficial use was made of these high quality waters prior to completion of the Mono Basin Project in 1940.The direct cost of purchasing lOO.OOOacre feet of replacement water either from the State Water Project or the federal Colorado River would be 58 million a year to start and stillare GrvigcvjriCger is the ■:i to thi lowering of those who live in the ■e Yn::vc. the nearest :xi e.ei.g the lake S shore on Huihw jy Vo.Lee '.'-.King's three restaurants, set era: motels and gasoline stations, a general store and a vjj\ emr gilt erve must!'.’ the needsF: _-f.'. genera, r-. Mono Lis.e tiny town _■snepoltravelers coming from or going to Yoseir.iteNatien.il Park.Residents think of ihmr town and lake as more than just a stopping place for weary travelvis. iiiey say the Mono Basin has a unique beauty of its own and they have settled there to enjoy the quiet and open spaces.They point with pride to the picture postcard:- of Mono Like oil display throughout the town. The cards do not. show the growing ring of salt residue around the lake as the shoreline continues to shrink.Many tourists driving by Mono LaKe are curious about the white flats along the shore and strollhiug out toward the islands. For those who decide to investigate, the experience is not always pleasant. One family strolled nut into the interesting white flats. Parents and children found..iem.se:'.-.s sat/tmg in mud and salt residue. A '.r.ey cleaned off their iW,. the father observed. The plate srne.! h*e a sewer — what a mess!”Lif.e other resident s of the area. Merit Warren is troubled by what is happening to the lake. But WaTen. owner of a -.mail gift souvenir shop and gasoline store, feels, like others, they cannot change things.We re all very cuiicerned about it here. he said.' “But that doesn't matter, because we don't have any political clout.Jim Hathaway, who operates the Tioga Lodge, three miles north of Lee Vining on Mono Lake s shore, said there is a tremendous amount of bitterness” over diversion of water from Mono Basin.Los Angeles doesn't even need that water any more.” Hathaway declared. “They just use it for powering hydroelectric plants. Everywhere there's a source of water. Ids Angeles has bought it up.The recreational potential of the lake has diminished because uf the heavy salt deposits and marshes. Hathaway said. The difficulty in launching boats, he pointed out. makes the once iwpular sport of water skiing on the lake impossible.“A reasonable compromise would solve this problem.” Hathaway claimed. He suggested that DWP release enough water to raise the lake level five to 10 feet, or enough to protect the sea gull habitat on Negit Island and increase recreational uses.Hathaway's wife. Dot, does net share the anger of her husband and others in the area. 1 moved here eight years ago from L. A. so I don't begrudge them the water. she said. But S certainly do hate to see the lake go down so low,” Mavhe. it was suggested, if Mark Twain were to visit Mono Lake now he would have a different feeling about the 2i!,0(XI-year-old solemn, silent, soilless sea.
Newspaper Details
Modesto Bee
Modesto, California, US
Tue, Sep 14, 1976
Page 95
Full Page
Clipped by
Hsiu L.
NA, NA 30 Apr 2025
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