Editing Mono Lake Committee (section)

==Formation of the Mono Lake Committee==
In 1975, David Winkler, Jefferson Burch, and Christine Weigen obtained a grant from the [[National Science Foundation|NSF]], with help and encouragement from ecologist [[David Gaines (ecologist)|David Gaines]], to study the ecology of Mono Lake.<ref name="Spring 2003 Newsletter">{{cite web|url=http://www.monolake.org/newsletter/03spring/p03-6hart.pdf|publisher=MLC|work=Spring 2003 Newsletter|title=The Revolt of the Bird Watchers}}</ref> Gaines had found that, starting in 1941, LADWP's diversions of water from Mono Lake's inflow creeks had caused it to lose half its volume and double its salinity. These changes, Gaines reported, reduced the ability of the lake to support its [[saline water|saline]] ecosystem. During 1976–1977, Gaines witnessed the lake's water level drop even further, and he determined to take action.

The committee was founded in March 1978 by Gaines, David Winkler, Sally Judy and Mark Ross.<ref name="Former Staff">{{cite web|url=http://www.monolake.org/mlc/formerstaff|title=Former Staff|publisher=Mono Lake Committee}}</ref><ref>{{cite newsletter |title=Newsletter |date=Summer 1978 |volume=1 |number=2 |last=Gaines |first=David |authorlink=David Gaines (ecologist) |publisher=Mono Lake Committee }}</ref> [[Gray Brechin]] soon became the committee's first director; he joined Gaines and others in lobbying California politicians<ref>{{cite journal |date=Autumn 1978 |title=Committee |url=https://www.monolake.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/1978-Autumn-Mono-Lake-Newsletter.pdf |pages=4–5, 21 |journal=Newsletter |volume=1 |number=3 |publisher=Mono Lake Committee}}</ref>

Mono Lake is an important habitat for migratory birds (including the [[California gull]]). The lowering of the water level endangered the bird nesting grounds on [[Negit Island]] in the middle of the lake: a land bridge had formed, which allowed predators to attack the bird nests.