A Mono Lake sunset. Photo Credit: Weizhong Qian/Getty Images

Environment United States7. December 2022

Hard Work Paid Off: Lake Saved from Collapse

Due to decades of restoration and protection plans, California’s Mono Lake has been saved from collapse. 

“If there had been the same diversions as in the ‘80s, and then the drought, Mono Lake would be gone. Physically, there would still be some water, but the ecosystem as we know it would be gone. All salinity thresholds would have been passed, probably around 2010. We can worry a little about where we are in the recovery process, but that’s the key thing, that we didn’t pass those thresholds,” explains executive director of the Mono Lake Committee Geoff McQuilkin. 

Rather than “quick fixes,” Mono Lake recovered due to decades of sustained efforts. Layers of protection for the lake were established at different levels of government, while researchers simultaneously aided in providing the most up-to-date information on what might best serve the lake. The restoration of Mono Lake provides an important example to lawmakers around the world and Europe’s parliament is now considering a similar plan forward in terms of restoration laws and enforcement mechanisms to protect Mother Earth. 

Source:
Inside Climate News

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