Mono Lake: Surviving California's Water Wars

[@ExploreAlways]

If you ever get the chance to check out Mono Lake for yourself, make sure you stop at the Tufa State Natural Reserve on the south end of the lake. It’s worth getting up early before the sun for epic sunrise shots! The town of Lee Vining, CA is located right on the lake, but is mostly shutdown during the winter. However, Lake View Lodge and Nicely’s Café are open year round.

[@babyboynene]

Never Stop Exploring so no swimming ?

[@alan6832]

Pink Floyd, Wish You Were Here cover.

[@alan6832]

If environmental concerns slow housing construction, then they will cause homelessness. water limits must never cause denial of building permits for housing.

[@TheRoafer]

Yes, also visit the old schoolhouse museum in Lee Vinning, specifically the upside down house. It's really cool! Mono Lake might be gone by now if it wasn't because of the efforts of David Gaines, RIP, etc winning a huge lawsuit over DWP, the City of Los Angeles as you explained Mono Lake might not be much more than a puddle right now. Please visit the Mono Lake Committee location in Lee Vinning, they are local heroes in our region of the Western Great Basin and continue on with their preservation efforts. The lawsuit that saved Mono Lake was sadly pretty much an anomaly, DWP very very rarely loses in court.

[@CLark-yk7oz]

Mono is breathtakingly beautiful, not to mention skiing at Mammoth, or summiting Mt. Whitney, just down 395, run, don’t walk here. Nothing crazy about experiencing this ✌️

[@jardiff5983]

Just to correct the time line of this video. Mulholland's original aqueduct had zero effect on Mono lake, but it decimated Owen's lake. It was the mono extension, built after Mulholland retired following the collapse of his St. Francis dam, that captures Rush and Lee Vining creeks which previously flowed into mono lake. Ground nesting birds took a big hit when mono levels dropped enough allowing predators access to what were once islands. I remember in the early 80s, a vibrant return of birdlife once LADWP was forced to return some of the creek flows to mono, raising the level enough to submerge land bridges to the islands. Still, the environmental impact of Los Angeles, and 90% southern California for that matter, is horrible.

[@tomfitz3324]

This is correct. The original aqueduct in 1913 did not affect Mono Lake. The diversions from 1941 (and later) also include Walker Creek and Parker Creek. Important for citizens to understand how our infrastructure works, and its history, so they can make informed decisions in the future, which is becoming more important due to climate change impacts.

[@hilarymaloney3303]

Your videos about water throughout California are great! Thanks for making these.

[@ExploreAlways]

Glad you enjoy them! Thanks for watching!

[@adventureseeker9800]

Really fascinating stuff.. 👍

[@carolebrunette]

Wow thank you and thank you for your EXCELLENT comment at the very end!!! It's true-if we TRULY care about the environment and our future we MUST get involved by educating ourselves and NOT blindly accepting what politicians are telling us...............

[@MarionRenkRosenthal]

Great video explaining history and importance of the lake.

[@elizabethalbert8703]

I visited Mono Lake in September 2022. The lake was in distress due to the drought of the past few years. I am overjoyed at the amount of snow the Sierra is getting this year which will help the lake to replenish.

[@sherreefrager869]

Another insightful and well made video. Quality work as always Kyle! Thank you!!

[@DelsusX]

Great video and quality! Keep them coming!

[@ExploreAlways]

DelsusX thanks for the compliment and thanks for watching!

[@demeramyklos4290]

Thank you for this video. It was very informative.

[@WilmerCook]

I've been going to Mono lake since the 60s, a wonderful place to feel one with the earth.

[@masguapoako]

With the atmospheric river we got this year, hope it's gets the water it needs. Same with Owens Lake

[@cameronc1300]

very high quality video as always, thank you :)

[@ExploreAlways]

Cameron C thanks for watching!

[@mrscrofford]

Wow! Your videos are on point. Wish I found your channel before today! 🤦🏼‍♀️

[@justinjames1709]

Great video! Thanks for making this

[@ExploreAlways]

Justin james you're welcome, thanks for watching!

[@sha8808]

Another great mini documentary

[@treecity6654]

Thanks for making this video!

[@ExploreAlways]

Tree City of course! Thanks for watching!

[@taffybunny360]

this needs more views

[@ExploreAlways]

Taffybunny haha thanks for watching! Help me spread the word! 😉

[@Pecanut]

It is high time to finally do justice to Tulare Lake !

[@bookbeing]

Yes! We need our inland lakes to stay full and revitalize our aquafers, let ladwp get their water from the ocean!

[@OutSideDeMatrix]

awesome!!! similar story for the salton sea. both beautiful.

[@TheBandit7613]

Mono lake is where Clint Eastwood filmed High Plains Drifter. The town of Lago can be seen on it's shores. (Just some useless trivia)

[@michaelbaessler8982]

Do you shoot all of your own footage? If so, bravo! I'm finding your videos, specifically the documentaries, quite interesting and educational. Keep up the great content.

[@ExploreAlways]

Thank you! Yes, I shoot all my own footage - mostly on the Panasonic GH5 and DJI Mavic 2 Pro. Thanks for watching!

[@mightyredstallion]

On behalf of all deserts and desert people, we thank Mark Twain for not staying long.

[@ExploreAlways]

Ha! He was definitely quite the character. Thanks for watching!

[@lucindalaree4666]

Home sweet home

[@bookbeing]

Lake Hughesone if only a few natural lakes in the angeles national forest is being similarly dewatered by the ladwp, an agency that is even more underhanded and relentless today in their water siphoning. They want every drop of everyone else's water while they direct their own storm and waste water out to sea!

[@TheBandit7613]

Brine shrimp and flies vs. the population of Los Angeles is what it comes down to.

[@MrDwightsimon]

The brine shrimp and flies are a better investment than most of the douchebags in LA, imo

[@cheycasters]

Mono Lake Brine Shrimp is also used for pet fish live food.

[@laurab.9845]

You REALLY should do PSA's on climate change. You have the voice, the guy next door thing and good info. So how about doing Tulelake CA. South of Klamath Falls OR. Old lava beds n home of Captain Jack of the Modocs. Haven't been back there since about 1969. Has some worth-it western history n panoramic views. You might even find some artifacts. Take care.

[@defilade1066]

Clint Eastwood filmed a movie here in the 70's

[@markshelby2141]

Last Summer my 2 month water bill in Scam Diego on my 1 acre was over $500 Dollars! I need to leave Kalifornication!

[@dancerwithin8350]

I don't think you should use the term " stealing" water. California is one state, whatever you feel about this project. Resenting the existence of present day Los Angeles due to this history isn't helpful. All parts of the state are interdependent at this point.

[@ExploreAlways]

dancer within No resentment toward LA. But to call what the city did 100 years ago anything other than "stealing" doesn't seem right. Sure, they paid for the water rights...but it wasn't what I'd call a "fair and square" deal. The city used undercover agents that more or less held a gun to poor farmers heads, forcing their hand in selling their properties. These farmers thought they were selling to other farmers in some cases, not to the city of Los Angeles. If the city was upfront and honest about their intentions, I'm sure history would've played out a little differently...

[@dancerwithin8350]

@@ExploreAlways fair enough. I would never say these were admirable or enlightened people. However, I wonder if they may have tried to create a mega city in Northern CA somewhere if they didn't do it in south state. That probably wouldn't have been a better outcome. But in any case in the present day I hope LA works more aggressively to retain local rainfall through creating various catchment programs. There are a couple I have heard of but much more needs to be done. And there are way too many people with lawns. That needs to stop.

[@charlesaanonson3954]

@@dancerwithin8350 Always ask yourself where San Francisco gets its water. Ask yourself where New York City gets its water. Ask yourself where Rome gets its water. Big cities almost always have to import water from distant places. I have been to Mono Lake many times. It is a nice place to camp. The water is very alkaline and the water is very warm and swimming in it is interesting in the sense that you almost could never drown in it because of the high salt content. There is a small volcano in the middle of the lake that keeps the water warm. The water does not smell good.

[@seand4033]

"Stealing" is the right word. They used fraud and force to achieve their goals. That's thievery. This is not about mono lake but rather Owen's Lake which not only destroyed the animals, fish, vegetation and people living around it but also became the number one source of air pollution in California and one of the largest in the world. Had Mulholland been honest with the farmers whose land he purchased, they never would have sold. As such, he is a liar and a thief.

[@waldox1]

Interdependent? Tell me, how exactly does Northern California need SoCal?

[@akbarzaidi5110]

After watching this my immediate thoughts are.. are we allowed to go and look at this place? yeah, it doesn't look like there's much to do but just to simply enjoy what nature has left to offer after previous generations abusing it.

[@ExploreAlways]

Thanks for watching! You can definitely go and experience Mono Lake for yourself! The Tufa State Natural Reserve is worth the visit, and there are a ton of hiking opportunities throughout the surrounding area: www.monocounty.org/things-to-do/hiking/top-10-trails/

[@bolengerin]

There's Mono Lake, the Mammoth Lakes and Inyo National Forest, and the eastern Tioga Pass into Yosemite National Park which is open late spring through early fall. An evening in Bishop is not bad either for a small town in a rural region.

[@Me97202]

What’s the point of asking us to _like_ a video at the beginning… when we haven’t watched it yet? I’ll know in 7 minutes if I like it, then I’ll decide. 😊

[@bighorn9119]

Is it drinkable for humans since it's high in

[@hypercomms2001]

Having a pH of 13: would that make is difficult, if not dangerous to drink?

[@dontask8979]

The beginning says 8000 feet, the end says 6200 feet...🤪

[@georgeburns8309]

You don't want to get mono it sucks it makes you very tired of course I was really stoned those days

[@ExploreAlways]

Lololol 😂🤣

[@mightyredstallion]

Was that ice age from 760,000 years ago caused by global warming / climate change?

[@ExploreAlways]

Mighty Red Stallion O_o

[@MrDwightsimon]

It sure was

[@mtebaldi1]

This is so sad and a terrible disastrous human FUBAR. I've been too Mono & June Lakes several times just to see the beauty. What's being done to restore Mono Lake back to a natural beautiful natural wonder? Along that line what about Owens Valley? Why not divert water from the canals to Owens and Mono lakes. It wouldn't have to be permanent just to help the two lakes renew themselves. Desalination plants for LA to use and give water from the canals flowing from northern California. Just look what happened to The Sultan Sea. It was once a beautiful vacation spot back in the 50s/60s then destroyed by water diversion and used farming water pumped into it. It turned into a garbage pit, all recreation was stopped and now it's a waste pit. During its hay day, there was fishing, swimming, and water skiing. One of the fish was Tilapia all the fish were killed off by the water diversion and the agriculture slurry.

[@katarinaericka-kristavonbr7000]

So Why can’t the environmentalist do the same for Owens lake since that dust in that area that blows around is so toxic and horrible not to mention the same with the Salton Sea, but Owens lake being a natural lake should be saved and restored I would think, so much greediness in the democratic system of California!!

[@Simsanchez]

What about investing some of the infrastructure money into some desalination plants instead of stupid green energy...

[@Me97202]

Desalination uses A LOT of electricity.

[@Simsanchez]

@@Me97202 is that an excuse?

[@InconsistentManner]

Need a pop filter...

[@ExploreAlways]

Chuckles Nuts I used one...really just need a better mic 🤣 thanks for watching.

[@CB-hp1zn]

Only a quarter of the water is actually going to the lake, 😂 it was diverted during the water wars , they dint have the technology that they have today , so now los Angeles send all the extra water out to sea😮

[@Chris.Davies]

I, like many people, are instantly turned off by you pleading with us to like, subscribe, and accept notifications. In fact, I give automatic downvotes to all such videos and channels. We have been told a hundred thousand times to do this, and so we know what to do when we encounter good content. DO NOT INSULT OUR INTELLIGENCE WITH PLEADING. AND DO NOT DEGRADE YOURSELF BY PLEADING WITH US. Edit: also, please stop playing the music so loud, and stop making it louder every time you stop talking. You're making it harder to listen to what's being said. We didn't come for doof-doof sounds, just information properly presented.