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Scientists at Mono Lake workshop warn saline‑lake network decline threatens migratory shorebirds; Mono Lake remains a critical refuge
Summary
Researchers told the State Water Resources Control Board workshop that long‑term monitoring shows steep declines in many migratory shorebird populations across the interior West, that Mono Lake remains a relatively stable but increasingly important staging site, and that rising water levels toward the 6,392 ft target would likely boost alkali fly production and benefit phalaropes.
Blake Barbarie, a senior ecologist with Point Blue Conservation Science, said continental and regional surveys show large declines in shorebird populations and that Mono Lake is one of a small set of interior saline lakes that remain essential to those migrations. "Mono Lake is one of the nine critical sites supporting approximately 90% of shorebirds in the inner mountain west," Barbarie said, summarizing regional monitoring results and why Mono Lake’s stability matters.
Why it matters: Shorebirds that stage at Mono Lake — including Wilson’s and red‑necked phalaropes — rely on exceptionally abundant food resources, especially alkali flies. Brian Carl, a phalarope specialist, described Mono Lake as an ‘‘essential gas station’’ where phalaropes can stage for roughly six weeks and rebuild fat and feathers before long migrations. He told the workshop that alkali fly production is highly sensitive to salinity and that raising the lake toward a 6,392 ft level would, according to limnology results presented at the workshop, increase fly emergence and food available to phalaropes.
Researchers presented multiple lines of evidence: long‑term regional surveys indicate an average decline of roughly 30–40% for many shorebird species across the study network, with some analyses showing a >75% estimated decline in spring counts at Mono Lake for certain taxa. Brian Carl and colleagues highlighted years such as 2022 when other staging sites were dry and Mono Lake temporarily hosted higher numbers, underscoring how loss of alternative sites (for example, Lake Abert or Great Salt Lake) can change where birds congregate.
Panelists also addressed endangered‑species processes. Carl said the Wilson’s phalarope was proposed for federal protection in 2024 and that the listing process is proceeding; he cautioned that timing and outcome are uncertain. "The proposal advanced to a full review, but political and regulatory changes can affect how protections are applied," Carl said.
On uncertainty and next steps: speakers emphasized that redistribution of birds when a major node like Great Salt Lake declines is species‑specific and not fully documented. Ryan Bernett and others described ‘‘boom‑and‑bust’’ dynamics driven by drought and wet years: some sites can be too dry to support birds, while very wet years can make previously shallow feeding habitats too deep for shorebirds.
The workshop was explicit that it is informational only; no policy decisions were made. Organizers said the presentations and recording will be posted on the State Water Resources Control Board Mono Basin website and invited written scientific questions through July 2.
