Lake Russell (prehistoric)
Coordinates: 38°00′N 119°00′W / 38.000°N 119.000°W Lake Russell is a former lake stage of Mono Lake. It was named in honour of Israel Russell, but is also known as Lake Mono in contrast to the present-day lake. This lake was larger than present-day Mono Lake and occasionally overflowed first into the East Walker River and later into the Owens River. During its existence, glaciers from the Sierra Nevada reached until its shore.
The lake was larger than present-day Mono Lake, especially in the east where it extended as far as the California-Nevada border and farther. There the land is lower and some valleys could operate as overflow sills during different epochs.
Tectonically, the Mono Lake basin started forming 4-3 million years ago mostly in response to subsidence along the Sierra Nevada Fault.
Lee Vining Creek, Mill Creek and Rush Creek originate in the Sierra Nevada and form the principal inflow of Mono Lake and former Lake Russell. At the time of Lake Russell, June Lake overflowed into the lake.
During glacial stages, glaciers along Lee Vining Creek, Mill Creek and Rush Creek extended farther down and into Lake Russell. Thus, their moraines were subject to wave erosion by the waters of Lake Russell. These moraines record various pulses of lake and glacier growth and shrinkage. Evidence indicates that at least the Tioga stage glaciation coincided with a lake highstand.
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