A close up of yellow wildflowers overlooking the teal waters of Mono Lake on a cloudy day.

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Tufa towers stand tall in turquoise Mono Lake water, with snowcapped Sierra Nevada mountains behind it.

South Tufa area at Mono Lake has reopened

After a months-long closure, the South Tufa area and Navy Beach have reopened. These two popular visitor locations along Mono Lake’s south shore were closed in mid-August when the Beach Fire was ignited by lightning. The fire was contained after approximately ten days, and…

The back of a red bus with a canoe on the roof and a Mono Lake Sticker drives down the road towards the lake.

Dean William Taylor, 1948-2020

California lost an extraordinary botanist recently. Dean was known for his Flora of Yosemite Sierra, and was working on an update of A Flora of the White Mountains. David Gaines and I met Dean when students at UC Davis in…

A small full moon sits in the middle of a blue to pink color gradient sunset above snow spotted trees.

Mono Lake Moment: Cold Moon rising

Happy New Year from the Mono Lake Moments team! This Mono Lake Moment is a video of the full Cold Moon rising through the sunset over Mono Lake. We recognize that 2020 was a hard year for everyone and we…

A huge orange full moon hangs in a purple sky and is reflected over the blue-purple water of Mono Lake.

Ringing in 2021: Stories may save us yet

This essay, written by Kristine Zeigler, appears in the 2021 Mono Lake Calendar. Please, stop what you’re doing and hop in. I am going to take you to Mono Lake, one of North America’s oldest lakes, transporting you with my words…

Snowy tufa towers jut out from the rippling green lake water with the snowy Sierra Nevada mountain range behind them.

Keep Saving Mono Lake

Your support helps keep Mono Lake on the rise, its tributary streams flowing, and its surrounding lands protected season after season. Thank you for being a part of protecting this special place. As we near the end of 2020 we would…

The snow covered boardwalk snakes through bare brambles towards Mono Lake.

Mono Lake Moment: Down the boardwalk

This Mono Lake Moment takes you down the snowy boardwalk at the Mono Lake County Park and there’s an unexpected wildlife sighting, a Wilson’s Snipe. Can you pick it out in the straw-colored grass where it is perfectly camouflaged? Wishing…

Snowy tufa towers jut out from the rippling green lake water with the snowy Sierra Nevada mountain range behind them.

Season’s greetings from Mono Lake

Your support helps keep Mono Lake on the rise, its tributary streams flowing, and its surrounding lands protected. Thank you for being a part of protecting this special place. As we near the end of 2020 we would greatly appreciate…

A birds eye view of Lee Vining buildings from a hill shows Mono Lake in the distance.

Mono Lake Moment: Following bear tracks

This candid Mono Lake Moment follows Black Bear (Ursus americanus) tracks in the snow up a steep hill above Lee Vining and reflects on life in this small unique community filled with character, perched on the edge of the Great…

Gray clouds hang over the snowy mountains behind still, dark, tufa filled lake water.

Board of Supervisors postpones final decision on Tioga Inn

Today the Mono County Board of Supervisors considered final approval of the Tioga Inn project and deliberated the Mono Lake Kootzaduka’a Tribe’s request to delay. The Tribe had made a formal request to postpone final consideration until they have had…