Sunrise light on a grove of tufa towers emerging from the water of Mono Lake with soft green and dusty-red wild grasses in the foreground, Canada geese in the shallow water with reflections of the rocky towers, and desert hills in the distance.

Mono Lake Reserve celebration

Sunrise light on a grove of tufa towers emerging from the water of Mono Lake with soft green and dusty-red wild grasses in the foreground, Canada geese in the shallow water with reflections of the rocky towers, and desert hills in the distance.

This post was written by Morgan, 2011 Policy Coordinator.

A cheery group of Mono Lake friends braved the December cold at Old Marina to celebrate the removal of Mono Lake’s state park from the closure list.

Mono Lake friends celebrated with cake and many toasts to the next 30 years for the Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve.

State Park staff, Bodie Foundation board members, Mono Lake Committee staff and board members, hardworking volunteers, and some curious Mono Lake visitors all joined in the festivities.

Even the weather took a moment’s pause from the recent high winds. The afternoon was beautiful—sunny and calm—if not very warm.   

Thank you to everyone who wrote a letter, signed a petition, and visited Mono Lake this summer. Now it’s up to all of us to spread the good news that Mono Lake is open and accessible for everyone to visit and enjoy.

Many thanks to Mono Lake Volunteer Coordinator Janet Carle for arranging the celebration. Photos by Arya Degenhardt.