Doesn t nature restore itself?
Over time, nature will recover from disturbance, but it may not restore itself, that is, return to its previous state. For an ecological system (such as a lake or stream) to return to its previous functioning condition depends in part on the kind and degree of disturbance and also on the degree to which the systems former natural processes are reinstated. In the case of Mono Lake, the lake will never rise to its former level, nor will its streams ever carry their full natural flows. Nonetheless, through reinstating natural processes and a limited helping hand, such as channel reopenings, many of the resources lost to excessive water diversions may return.
