So you have learned about an issue, and you want to make your voice heard. Or you know a little bit about something, and you want to find out more. This page lists the various agencies involved in Mono Basin issues, and contact information so you can be an informed and involved citizen. Consider this your "phone book" for Mono Basin agencies.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) - The federal BLM is an agency in the U.S. Department of the Interior that has jurisdiction over non-National Forest federal lands in the Mono Basin. The federal lands immediately around Mono Lake were BLM land before becoming part of the Mono Basin National Forest Scenic Area. Most BLM lands occur around the north and east parts of the Mono Basin. Contact: Bureau of Land Management, 351 Pacu Lane, Suite 100 Bishop, CA 93514, (760) 872-5035.
California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) - The DFG is a state agency responsible for wildlife management in the Mono Basin. They regulate hunting, fishing, and activities affecting non-game wildlife. Contact: California Department of Fish and Game, 407 W. Line St., Bishop, CA 93514, (760) 872-1171.
California Department of Transportation (CalTrans) - CalTrans is the state agency responsible for maintaining state and federal highways in the Mono Basin. They also are in charge of new highway projects, such as the widening along Mono Lake and 4-laning south of Lee Vining. Contact: CalTrans District 9, 500 S. Main St., Bishop, CA 93514, (760) 872-0601.
California Highway Patrol (CHP) - CHP patrols the state highways in the Mono Basin and assists Mono County with law enforcement. Contact: California Highway Patrol, 469 S. Main St., Bishop, CA 93514, (760) 873-3531 or (760) 932-7995.
California State Lands Commission (SLC) - The State Lands Commission holds in trust for the people tidelands and the land underlying navigable waterways--in other words, the bed of Mono Lake. The exposed lakebed, or "relicted lands," are managed by either the Mono Lake Tufa State Reserve or the U.S. Forest Service (see below). Contact: California State Lands Commission, 100 Howe Ave Suite 100 South, Sacramento, CA 95825-8202, (916) 574-1900, FAX (916) 574-1810.
California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) - The Water Board is the state agency that administers water rights and regulates water quality in California. In 1994, the Water Board issued Decision 1631, an administrative decision which provides protection for Mono Lake and its tributaries. They recently approved plans for restoration of the streams and waterfowl habitat in the Mono Basin. The 5-member board (one qualified in water quality, one registered professional engineer, one attorney, one public member, and one registered civil engineer with expertise in water rights) is appointed by the governor. Regarding Mono Basin Water Rights, Contact: Jim Canaday, California State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Water Rights, 1001 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814, (916) 341-5250.
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) - The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is an independent regulatory agency within the Department of Energy that regulates the transmission and wholesale sales of electricity in interstate commerce; licenses and inspects private, municipal and state hydroelectric projects; oversees related environmental matters and administers accounting and financial reporting regulations and conducts of jurisdictional companies. Contact: Ms. Magalie R. Salis, Secretary, 888 First St., NE, Washington, D.C. 20426 (Regular mail is routed through Ohio where it is irradiated and takes about a month to arrive). www.ferc.gov (You must subscribe and get an account to file comments electronically). John Smith at (202) 502-8972 or John Katz at (202) 502-8082.
Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District (GBUAPCD) - Great Basin is a regional division of the California Air Resources Board and regulates air quality in Alpine, Mono, and Inyo Counties. They regulate any air pollution emissions, including dust storms arising from the exposed bed of Mono Lake. Contact: APCO - Dr. Ellen Hardebeck, Deputy APCO and Business Assistance - Duane Ono, District Counsel - Brian Lamb, Great Basin Unified APCD, 157 Short Street, Suite 6, Bishop, CA 93514-3537, (760) 872-8211, Fax: (760) 872-6109.
Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board (LRWQCB) - The State of California is broken up into nine regions, under the State Water Resources Control Board, for regulating water quality. The Lahontan Regional Board is in charge of regulating water pollution and water quality in the Mono Basin. Contact: South Lake Tahoe Office, 2501 Lake Tahoe Blvd., South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150, (530) 542-5400.
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) - DWP operates the Los Angeles Aqueduct facilities and manages the lands owned by the City of Los Angeles in the Mono Basin. Their state-issued water export licenses require them to maintain minimum flows in some of the streams and restore stream and waterfowl habitat that was damaged by excessive water diversions. Contact: Mark Hanna, Mono Basin Environmental Issues, LADWP - Aqueduct Division, 111 N. Hope St., Room 1466, Los Angeles, CA 90012, (213) 367-4211, FAX: (213) 367-1128.
Mono County Board of Supervisors - The Board of Supervisors is the body elected by Mono County voters to make decisions about county affairs. Issues that they deal with include local government, building permits (see Planning Commission below), and local laws and policies. Contact: Mono County Board of Supervisors, (760) 932-5215.
Mono County Planning Commission - The Planning Commission has authority over county planning activites, and approves building permits (the Board of Supervisors has final authority). The Planning Department staff supports the commission, processes building permits, and handles other administerial duties. Contact: Mono County Planning Department, (760) 932-5217 or (760) 924-5450.
Mono County Sheriff's Department - The sheriff enforces state and local laws, and is in charge of emergency services. They are the primary enforcement authority on the water of Mono Lake, which is the county's jurisdiction. Contact: Mono County Sheriff-Coroner's Office, (760) 932-7549.
Mono Lake Tufa State Reserve - The State Reserve is a unit within the California State Park System created in 1981 to protect and interpret the resources of the area, including tufa. All relicted lands (the bed of Mono Lake exposed since 1941) are under their control, except those downhill from federal land. A joint management agreement allows federal and state lands to be jointly managed by both the State Park Rangers and the U.S. Forest Service. The State Reserve also manages the submerged lakebed for the State Lands Commission. Contact: Mono Lake Tufa State Reserve, P.O. Box 99, Lee Vining, CA 93541, (760) 647-6331.
Southern California Edison - This public utility manages hydropower reservoirs, dams, and plants on Mill, Lee Vining, and Rush Creeks. These operations are regulated by FERC (see above). Contact: Dave Dormire, Route 1 Plant 4, Bishop, CA 93514, (760) 872-3690.
U.S. Forest Service (USFS) - The U.S. Forest Service is a federal agency in the U.S. Department of Agriculture that manages our National Forests for us. In the Mono Basin, this includes the Toiyabe National Forest, Inyo National Forest, Hoover Wilderness, Ansel Adams Wilderness, and the Mono Basin National Forest Scenic Area. The Scenic Area was designated by Congress in 1984, and surrounds Mono Lake. Commercial operations and outfitters, wood permits, wilderness permits, and all other activities taking place in the National Forests are regulated by the U.S. Forest Service. Contact: Mono Basin National Forest Scenic Area, Molly Brown, PO Box 429, Lee Vining, CA 93541, (760) 647-3033. Or: Forest Supervisor, 351 Pacu Lane, Suite 200, Bishop, CA 93514, (760) 873-2400.
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