AWWEE is excited to welcome Martha Davis, former Executive Director of the Mono Lake Committee to share about the history of Mono Lake and the efforts of the Mono Lake Committee to restore and protect this natural resource.
The Mono Lake Story
Learn more at https://www.monolake.org
In 1941, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power began diverting Mono Lake's tributary streams 350 miles south to meet the growing water demands of Los Angeles.
In 1962, Mono Lake had already dropped almost 25 vertical feet. Deprived of its freshwater sources, the volume of Mono Lake halved, while its salinity doubled. Unable to adapt to these changing conditions within such a short period of time, the ecosystem began to collapse.
Islands, previously important nesting sites, became peninsulas vulnerable to mammalian and reptilian predation. 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 grew poor 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 sump.
Appalled by this prospect, David Gaines formed the Mono Lake Committee in 1978 and began talking to conservation clubs, schools, service organizations, legislators, lawyers and to anyone who would listen about the value of this high desert lake. Under David Gaines' leadership, the Mono Lake Committee grew to 20,000 members and gained legal and legislative recognition for Mono Lake.
Since 1978, the Committee has achieved many accomplishments in the fight to protect Mono Lake. Working with the public and an extraordinary coalition of government agencies and non-profit groups, the Committee has brought negotiation, legislation, and litigation to Mono Lake's support.
About our Speakers
Martha Davis is a former Executive Director of the Mono Lake Committee (MLC). She led the Committee through all obstacles to the State Water Resources Control Board decision in 1994. That decision gained a large measure of protection for Mono Lake.
Now retired, Martha last served as Executive Manager for Policy Development for the Inland Empire Utilities Agency. Martha says, "When I see the water flowing into Mono Lake and how the lake is rising, I realize how much can be done to restore and preserve our natural resources."
Dian Grueneich, who will introduce Martha, is a member of the AWWEE Board of Directors and previously served as a Director of the Mono Lake Committee.
Registration for this event is free for AWWEE members. Members may invite up to 2 non-member guests for free (we kindly request that you limit guests to individuals who are new to AWWEE). Non-member registration is $20