Lee Vining, CA #1

GET-YUR-MOTOR RUNNIN'  ROAD TRIP

Astoria - Santa Fe - Death Valley - Astoria

Lee Vining, CA
November 22, 2013  (Day 39 of 44)

Miles Today: 0 / Trip Miles: 4,132

Click on Map for Larger Map

Lee Vining:
Lee Vining, at an elevation of 6,800 ft, is one of my favorite places—a small (population of 220), unpretentious town on the edge of the Sierra Nevada mountain range and the shore of Mono Lake. Lee Vining is a place that many drive through, or buy gasoline, without noticing the wonderful views. Lee Vining was formerly named "Leevining", "Poverty Flat", and "Lakeview".  

The economy of Lee Vining relies largely on tourism. It is the closest town to the east entrance of Yosemite National Park, and is near Mono Lake, Mono Craters, Tioga Pass, Mono Basin Scenic Area Visitor Center, the ghost town of Bodie, the White Mountains, and popular trout fishing destinations. For me, it is a great place to get away.

Tourism is at its highest during the summer months. State Route 120 through Yosemite is closed in winter due to heavy snowfall—the road closed yesterday. Today's high temperature was in the upper 20s F. This time of year the town is pleasantly quiet. Most tourist-related shops are closed for winter. Remaining open in winter are: 

• A few motels.  I stayed at the Lake View Lodge.  (Rating = C+)
• Nicely's Restaurant. Typical American diner with food that ranges from okay to good and 1950s & 60s music. The bread pudding and pies are good! In winter (starting December 1st) it is closed two days a week.  (Rating = C+)
• Mono Market has an excellent grocery selection and a kitchen that makes terrific "monoritos" (burritos), including vegetarian monoritos, tasty chili, delicious spinach & cream cheese filled croissants and pizza bread.  (Rating = A-)
• Mono Lake Committee Bookstore.  (Rating = A)

David versus Goliath:
The Mono Lake Committee (MLC) is an environmental organization based in Lee Vining. Its mission is to preserve Mono Lake by reducing diversions of water from the Eastern Sierra watersheds by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP).  

• 1941: LADWP began diverting water from Mono Lake's tributary streams to meet the growing water demands of Los Angeles. Deprived of its freshwater sources, the volume of Mono Lake was cut in half, and its salinity doubled. The lake level dropped almost 25 vertical feet. Unable to adapt to these changing conditions, within such a short period of time, the ecosystem began to collapse. 
• Mono Lake is an important habitat for migratory birds, including the California Gull. Lowering of the water level endangered the bird nesting grounds on Negit Island in the middle of the lake. A land bridge had formed, which allowed predators to attack the bird nests.
• Photosynthetic rates of algae, the base of the food chain, were reduced while reproductive abilities of brine shrimp became impaired. Stream ecosystems unraveled due to lack of water. Air quality deteriorated as the exposed lake bed became the source of air-borne particulate matter, violating the Clean Air Act. If something was not done, Mono Lake was certain to become a lifeless chemical pit. 
• 1978: Appalled by this prospect, the Mono Lake Committee was formed. Organizers talked about the value of this high desert lake to conservation clubs, schools, service organizations, legislators, lawyers and to anyone who would listen. The Mono Lake Committee grew to 20,000 members, and the health of Mono Lake gained legal and legislative recognition. Mary & I joined the MLC in the late 1970s. Current MLC membership is 16,000.
• 1979: The MLC and the Audubon Society, filed suit in Mono County California Superior Court claiming that LADWP's water diversions violated the public trust doctrine that all navigable water must be managed for the benefit of everyone. 
• 1982: The lake reached its lowest level ever recorded—6,372 feet above sea level.
• 1983: The California Supreme Court ruled that Mono Lake's ecosystem was protected by the state's Public Trust Doctrine, overriding prior water rights. Meaning that the state has an obligation to protect the lake as a resource belonging to the public.
• 1994: The State Water Quality Control Board followed up on that ruling by establishing a 6,392 feet above sea level target water level for the lake's long-term health.  It also set strict limits on the amount of water LADWP could divert from the lake's tributaries at different lake levels. LADWP can divert up to 16,000 acre-feet from Mono Lake's streams per year as long as lake levels remain above 6,380 feet above sea level. If the lake drops below that level, LADWP can take no more than 4,500 acre-feet per year. 
• Update: Current (November 2014) lake level is 6,379 feet.

Photos:

Click on photos for a larger image.

All photos © 2014 Leon Jackson. All Rights Reserved. 

Mono Lake & the Bodie Hills
This photo of Mono Lake and the Bodie Hills was taken in the late afternoon. The Bodie Hills are a transition zone between the Sierra Nevada and the Great Basin. Summit elevations range from 8,000 to 9,000 ft. The hat-shaped island (Negit Island) is a volcanic cone. Negit is an important nesting ground for migratory birds, including the California Gull. The lower lake level after 1941 created a land bridge to the island. This permitted predators, such as coyotes, to raid bird eggs on the island. However, since 1994 the lake level has been allowed to rise, and the land bridge is currently submerged. Photo taken from "Main Street" in Lee Vining.
[flickr]

Red Motel
Lee Vining Motel - closed for winter.
[flickr]

Red Market
Mono Market - "Main Street", Lee Vining, CA
[flickr]

Scenic Rating:

Lee Vining, Mono Basin and vicinity: A-

Tomorrow:

Day trip to the ghost town of Bodie, California.