Eastern Sierra

Mono Basin & Mono Lake

For decades, we have been dedicated to environmental preservation, investing in a variety of restoration projects that continue to improve the ecological vibrancy of the region. To date, we have over 60 ongoing, in progress, or completed restoration projects in the Mono Basin.

LADWP & Mono Basin

The City of Los Angeles holds long-standing water rights that enable LADWP to provide safe, affordable, and reliable drinking water from the Eastern Sierra to millions of residents via the Los Angeles Aqueduct. Following a California Supreme Court decision that called for the reconsideration of LADWP’s water rights under the public trust doctrine, the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) conducted a lengthy hearing in 1994 to balance public trust resources at Mono Lake. The SWRCB subsequently adopted Decision 1631 (D-1631), which established minimum instream flows and specific water diversion criteria aimed at gradually restoring the average water elevation of Mono Lake to approximately 6,391 feet above mean sea level. As required by D-1631, LADWP has successfully restored streams, fisheries, and wildlife habitats in the Mono Basin, while also raising lake levels and reducing water exports by 85 percent.

Mono Lake

Stream Restoration

Birds of Mono Basin

Fish Restoration

Mono Lake

Mono Lake and its tributaries offer abundant resources for the unique water birds nesting on shore, and a healthy environment for the plants and fish to thrive. The improved stream flows to the tributaries have restored delta habitats important to the aquatic birds that reside there and created a healthy ecosystem. For example, in 2019, Upper Rush Creek supported ~2,647 newborn Brown Trout compared to ~1,572 in 2018.

View Current Lake Levels 2/15/23 State Water Resource Control Board Workshop Presentation