Dear friends,

RESEARCH
3 new species found in Mono Lake!
Richard B. Hoover, NASA microbiologist, has found 3 new species of bacteria in Mono Lake. One also lives in Owens Lake, and one is responsible for the sulfur smell of Mono Lake's mud. See http://www.monobasinresearch.org/research/nasamars.htm for a profile of NASA's research written in 1996 with an August 2003 update in the last paragraph and a link to a NASA article on the research. This morning Geoff McQuilkin and I spoke to Richard Hoover and San Francisco Chronicle Science Editor David Pearlman, and obtained copies for the Mono Lake Research Library of the scientific papers presenting the new species.

Weakening and near-breakdown of meromixis in Mono Lake, by R. Jellison and S. Roll, July 2003.
See link http://www.monobasinresearch.org/timelines/meromixis.htm.

PRBO's Eastern Sierra Riparian Songbird Project - side projects
More (brief) info on three new projects on specific aspects of the riparian songbird community that complement Sacha's all-bird investigation.

See http://www.monobasinresearch.org/onlinereports/esrscp.htm.

LEGAL RESOURCES
CEQAnet - the searchable environmental database of the State Clearinghouse within OPR. Contains info on environmental documents statewide since 1990. One example of a search you can do: find all environmental documents and notices submitted to OPR for review in Mono County in 2003.

See http://www.monobasinresearch.org/legal/

RAW DATA, FIELD NOTES, AND PHOTOS
Color Landsat image of Mono Lake combined with bathymetry by Christian Raumann of the USGS. This is an example of some of the graphics that were not published with the USGS bathymetric map. He's started working on a version of the map that would be more visually-pleasing, using road data and labeling some of the Mono Basin features. See link at http://www.monobasinresearch.org/gis/

Lee Vining Weather Summary for July 2003
New location for temperature sensor and radiation shield (donated) as of July 15. Previously near building under a metal roof, now near the NOAA sensor and is reading less than 0.6 degrees different (usually cooler since it gets afternoon shade). Prior to July 15, the weather summary shows 10 days over 90 while NOAA shows only 2 days. Every day before July 15 had a high temperature more than one degree different than NOAA, while after July 15 only one day was more than a degree off due to other reasons than failure to reset the NOAA high. For the low temperature, two (NOAA was reset) days were over a degree off prior to the 15th while one (NOAA was reset) day afterwards was over a degree off.

Do not compare temperatures from this station from before July 15, 2003 with those measured since.

During the last half of July, it rained almost every day (at least 10 days) for a total of 0.46 inches (this amount also fell the first 3 days of August). Ellery Lake received 2.6 inches during the two-week period ending August 3rd (preliminary data). July 2001 had 6 days of measurable rain in Lee Vining, the closest competitor in the recent past for the most days of rain in July.

See http://www.monobasinresearch.org/data/weather.htm

Ever wonder about those dead pines below Mt. Warren high above DeChambeau Creek?
Connie Millar provides an explanation and some interesting facts.
See http://www.monobasinresearch.org/data/2003limbermillar.htm
 

REPORTS AND STUDIES ONLINE
2002 Gull Report. 2002 was another good year for reproductive success in the Gull Colony.
See http://www.monobasinresearch.org/onlinereports/gulls.htm

UNLINKED - SNEAK PREVIEW
Mono Lake Research Library Database
This is not yet linked from the Website, however you can download a 2.6 MB sneak-preview copy (Microsoft Access .mdb format) at http://www.monobasinresearch.org/images/mlrl.mdb. Last updated Spring 2003.
 

FORUM?
I've tossed around the idea of a clearinghouse forum, where researchers could connect, share project and funding ideas, etc. So far we have no plans for this, but I'd be interested in any input on this idea. What usually happens with most forums (with the exception of our bird sightings page!) is that nobody uses them. Would you use or check one regularly? We could also post upcoming lectures, field trips, conferences, presentations, and make it a research-oriented bulletin board. We are often contacted by students and researchers looking for project ideas or help. A Humboldt GIS student recently contacted us wanting to work on a GIS map that would help with research here. This sort of message might also go there:

Joe Jehl is trying to finish up some of his work here that he started 20 years ago now that he's retired.  National Geographic is funding some of his expenses only for this summer.  He'd like to use radar to track the departure and migration of Grebes from the lake as he is doing at Great Salt Lake.  Says it will cost $5,000 - 6,000 and he's accepting money from anyone to do this kind of research.  Says he's for hire.

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Thanks for your interest in Mono Basin research,
Greg
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Greg Reis, Information Specialist, (760) 647-6386 x41
Mono Lake Committee, ph (760) 647-6595, fax 647-6377
Hwy 395 & 3rd St., P.O. Box 29, Lee Vining, CA 93541 USA
Websites: monolake.org - monobasinresearch.org -
leevining.com - livinglakes.org - birdchautauqua.org
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The Mono Lake Committee is a non-profit citizen's group dedicated to protecting and restoring the Mono Basin Ecosystem; educating the public about Mono Lake and the impacts on the environment of excessive water use; and promoting cooperative solutions that protect Mono Lake and meet real water needs without transferring environmental problems to other areas.
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