Mono Lake: From Dead Sea to Environmental Treasure

by Abraham Hoffman

Overview

Mono Lake is one of the largest lakes in California, and Californians have been using it, enjoying it, and abusing it since nomadic northern Paiutes began hunting the lake's vast bird populations. Controversy between environmentalists and the City of Los Angeles brought so much attention to Mono Lake in the late twentieth century that it became best known for its appearance on "Save Mono Lake" bumper stickers. This thoughtful study is the first book to explore the lake's environmental and cultural history.

Hoffman writes about gold mining in the Mono Basin; the taking of birds and their eggs to supply food for miners and townspeople; a failed oil boom; efforts to develop recreational activities such as a state-operated marina, which also failed; catastrophes including plane crashes and the testing of bombs underwater; and litigation over the diversion of creeks flowing into the lake and the resulting decline in the lake level. A variety of photographs, some never before published, ranging from mining to motor boat races in the 1930s are also included.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780826354440
Publisher:	University of New Mexico Press
Publication date:	04/01/2014
Pages:	184
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Abraham Hoffman teaches history at Los Angeles Valley College.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments ix

Introduction xi

Chapter 1 The Changing Perceptions of Mono Lake 1

Chapter 2 The Mining Era 21

Chapter 3 The Mono Lake Oil Boom 34

Chapter 4 Commercial and Recreational Developments before World War II 44

Chapter 5 The Mark Twain Days Celebrations 67

Chapter 6 Eastern Sierra Recreation after World War II 81

Chapter 7 The Mono Lake Marina 97

Chapter 8 Tragedies, Disasters, and Human Disruptions 106

Chapter 9 Los Angeles and the Mono Lake Basin 119

Chapter 10 Conclusion 150

Bibliography 155

Index 161