Mono Lake
I'm going to do something a bit different today for Favorite Things Saturday. My favorite thing today is something that took 30 years. It was celebrated in a huge front-page story in this morning's San Francisco Chronicle. My favorite thing today is saving Mono Lake. For you non-Californians, Mono Lake is our state's largest lake. It's a salt lake and a 'sister lake' to the Great Salt Lake. Thirty years ago a group of young students and future scientists banded together to try to correct the damage that had been done when Southern California began diverting water from the lake in the 1920's.
Some of you read the post I wrote recently about my first (road) trip to Las Vegas in 1973...the one where my garment bag slid off the roof of the station wagon and my clothes got run over by a semi on the freeway. En route to Las Vegas that Fall, we drove by Mono Lake. I remember vividly how it looked then--like something from another planet. I even took some photos with my Instamatic camera that turned out remarkably well, but alas, I lost those slides years ago in one of my many moves. For years, "Save Mono Lake" bumper stickers could be seen on California cars.
Two weeks ago, those young people who worked to save the lake thirty years ago met there for a reunion. You can read the Chronicle story here. I'm choosing this as my favorite thing today because it's proof positive that one person can make a difference...and to serve as a reminder that what we do today can have a big impact on tomorrow.
"Herbst recalled the summer as 'one of those moments from where you can trace the change in your life.'"
Just think, you might do something today that you could later use to "trace the change in your life."
Mono Lake photos on Flickr can be found here. More Favorite Things Saturday entries are here.
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Posted by: j | July 29, 2006 at 06:56 PM
I can't think of anything more important than saving a lake.
Posted by: patry | July 29, 2006 at 08:23 PM
It's so heartening to hear of an environmental success story these days.
I've never been to Mono Lake, but my dad (a photographer) has and the pix he took did remind me of another planet--that was before the lake was "saved," too.
Posted by: Rozanne | July 29, 2006 at 08:53 PM
Where in the world do you suppose the lake got the name "Mono"? Is there another nearby named "Stereo"?
Posted by: Floridora | July 30, 2006 at 04:14 AM
As usual, you've done a great job of raising your reader's awareness of the world's goodness. Thank you.
Posted by: Tickled Pink/Nicole | July 30, 2006 at 09:26 AM
You are absolutely right. We can make a difference & the story of Mono Lake is proof of that.
Posted by: dawn | July 30, 2006 at 09:36 AM
So very beautiful! Definitely saveable.
Posted by: boliyou | July 30, 2006 at 10:30 AM
That is one gorgeous lake! In this day and age it is really good to know that you can make a difference.
Posted by: Eliza | July 30, 2006 at 11:24 AM
Hooray for all those who worked to save Mono Lake! Thanks for this important reminder of how collective effort can succeed.
Posted by: Paris Parfait | July 30, 2006 at 11:47 AM
woo hoo! bring out the party horns and the confetti!
Posted by: la vie en rose | July 30, 2006 at 03:56 PM
I've never been to Mono Lake, either, but I believe all of our wilderness areas are too valuable to let go of.
Posted by: violetismycolor | July 30, 2006 at 03:57 PM
I love Mono Lake. It has been a few years since I've been there but it really is awesome. Yes! Glad its being saved.
Posted by: Gemma | July 30, 2006 at 08:17 PM
oooh, thanks for reminding me about mono lake. I visited it alone in my early 20s. So otherworldly and eerie and beautiful. Such a dream landscape.
Posted by: writermama | July 31, 2006 at 09:27 PM