The Mono Basin has had a very wet runoff year (more than 200% of average), but from a stream restoration perspective, what matters is how quickly the runoff melts, because the resulting flows dictate what kind of ecosystem processes occur. Mild temperatures throughout the spring and the early summer months produced a somewhat diminished peak flow compared to what could have occurred. Even though 2023 had more snow than 2017, streamflow gauges and preliminary field data suggest that the 2023 peak flow events were similar to 2017 for most of the creeks in terms of flow magnitudes and channel activation, with one notable exception (see Mill Creek box below). But let’s be clear, 2023 was an exceptional year for stream restoration.