Lee Vining Creek
Encyclopedia
Lee Vining Creek is a 16.2 miles (26.1 km) stream in Mono County, California
, flowing into the endorheic basin of Mono Lake
. It is the second largest stream flowing into the lake, after Rush Creek.
The stream rises near Tioga Pass
in the Sierra Nevada more than 10000 feet (3,048 m) above sea level. It flows generally east, and is briefly impounded at Ellery Lake before dropping into a huge canyon known as Lee Vining Canyon. From there, it flows eastwards out of the mountains past the small town of Lee Vining
. The creek terminates at a small sandy delta on the western shore of Mono Lake.
A portion of the creek is diverted into the Second Los Angeles Aqueduct
near Lee Vining to provide water to metropolitan Southern California
. The diversion of Lee Vining Creek and other streams such as Rush Creek and Mill Creek
has led to a severe reduction in streamflow and a drop in lake level, damaging the fragile ecosystem of the lake.
Mono County, California
Mono County is a county located in the east central portion of the U.S. state of California, to the east of the Sierra Nevada between Yosemite National Park and Nevada. As of the 2010 census, the population was 14,202, up from 12,853 at the 2000 census...
, flowing into the endorheic basin of Mono Lake
Mono Lake
Mono Lake is a large, shallow saline lake in Mono County, California, formed at least 760,000 years ago as a terminal lake in a basin that has no outlet to the ocean...
. It is the second largest stream flowing into the lake, after Rush Creek.
The stream rises near Tioga Pass
Tioga Pass
Tioga Pass is a mountain pass in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California. State Route 120 runs through it, and serves as the eastern entry point for Yosemite National Park. It is the highest highway pass in California and in the Sierra Nevada. Mount Dana is to the east of the pass...
in the Sierra Nevada more than 10000 feet (3,048 m) above sea level. It flows generally east, and is briefly impounded at Ellery Lake before dropping into a huge canyon known as Lee Vining Canyon. From there, it flows eastwards out of the mountains past the small town of Lee Vining
Lee Vining, California
Lee Vining is a census-designated place in Mono County, California, United States. It is located south-southeast of Bridgeport, at an elevation of 6781 feet . Lee Vining is located on the southwest shore of Mono Lake. The population was 222 as of the 2010 census, down from 250 reported as of 2000...
. The creek terminates at a small sandy delta on the western shore of Mono Lake.
A portion of the creek is diverted into the Second Los Angeles Aqueduct
Los Angeles Aqueduct
The Los Angeles Aqueduct system comprising the Los Angeles Aqueduct and the Second Los Angeles Aqueduct, is a water conveyance system operated by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power...
near Lee Vining to provide water to metropolitan Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
. The diversion of Lee Vining Creek and other streams such as Rush Creek and Mill Creek
Mill Creek (Mono Lake)
Mill Creek is a perennial stream that flows east from the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range into Mono Lake, in Mono County, California. It courses through Lundy Canyon and Lundy Lake, before passing through Mono City, California on its way to Mono Lake....
has led to a severe reduction in streamflow and a drop in lake level, damaging the fragile ecosystem of the lake.