As a longtime resident of the Eastern Sierra Nevada and member of the Mono County Board of Supervisors, Ms. Lawrence has been an ardent supporter of both Bodie State Historic Park and Mono Lake Tufa State Reserve. Her activism on behalf of Bodie led her to testify before the U.S. Congress in support of the Bodie Protection Act, at a time when all other Mono County Board of Supervisor members were opposing the CSPRA-sponsored legislation.

She also spearheaded the formation of a local citizens committee which served as the Mono County compliment to the larger "SAVE BODIE!" committee of CSPRA. Her involvement with Mono Lake includes efforts to create the Mono Lake National Scenic Area.

As an elected official, Ms. Lawrence was a leader in protecting her county's open spaces, wildlife habitat, recreation areas, water resources and air quality. For decades she has championed wilderness causes and recently founded the Sierra Nevada Alliance to push for comprehensive policy and land use decisions to preserve this bioregion.