return to Mono Lake Page

This page summarizes the health of Mono Lake based on the lake's elevation. The elevation gauge shows elevations from a high of 6430 feet down to a low of 6300 feet above sea level. Key lake levels are noted on the left of the gauge. Options considered by the California Water Resources Control Board (WRCB) are noted on the right of the gauge.

The gauge changes shades as you scroll downward through three zones:

Upper Zone -- Clear Gauge The upper zone is 6372 feet and higher. It shows elevations that have been observed historically.

Middle Zone - Shaded Gauge The shaded portion runs from 6330 to 6372 feet. The lake never dropped to any of these elevations because of the challenge to the City's water rights in the basin. Had the City been allowed to continue with high diversions, however, the lake would have entered the shaded zone. Impacts in this zone have been the subject of numerous studies. Click on the highlighted elevations to see a summary of the impacts expected by a "blue ribbon panel" of scientists (Botkin 1988).

Lower Zone -- Darkened Gauge The dark portion of the gauge. is below 6330 feet. These elevations are not likely to occur even if the City's had been allowed to continue with high diversions.