Water Department
Lower Owens River Project
The Lower Owens River (see map) is located in the Owens Valley of Inyo County, California. The approximately 60-mile reach of the Owens River was diverted to the Los Angeles Aqueduct in 1913 to supply water to the city. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power currently releases limited flow to the southern half of the river by agreement with Inyo County. The Lower Owens River Project will expand on this initial project to create or enhance riparian and wetland habitats for a wide variety songbirds, waterfowl, and shorebirds. The LORP will provide recreational opportunities for anglers, botanists, hunters, hikers, bicyclists, and bird watchers. It will preserve the historical uses of the land, such as ranching and farming.
- Judge
Cooper lifts sanctions against DWP
(July 2007) -
DWP reports to the Court they have established permanent base flows in the
Lower Owens River
(Feb 27, 2007)
- Learn more about the LORP at Inyo County's new LORP.info website
- LADWP Monthly Reports to the Court Updated through summer 2007
- Storm Water
Pollution Prevention Plan for Construction Activities on the LORP
(1MB, Sept 29, 2005) - Prepared by LADWP; contains LORP construction
timeline.
- Inyo County Certifies LADWP's LORP EIR/EIS and Approves the LORP (Includes Mitigation/Monitoring and Reporting Program, Nov 21, 2005)
- LORP
Implementation Plan, by Ecosystem Sciences
(Oct 19, 2005)
-
LADWP's Notice of Preparation of
a Draft Supplemental LORP
EIR (Sept 2005) and Inyo's
Response (Oct 7,
2005)
-
Inyo's letter
to EPA withdrawing request for grant funding
(Sept 20, 2005)
-
Settlement between Inyo and Los
Angeles Regarding Funding for the LORP
(Sept 13, 2005)
- LADWP's Supplemental EIR - Brine Pool May 2006
Under the Inyo/Los Angeles Water Agreement, the County and LADWP are committed to rewater the full 60-mile reach of the river as part of the Lower Owens River Project. The project will also provide permanent water supplies to several lakes and ponds and to two waterfowl and shorebird habitat areas totaling approximately 1,800 acres. Water for the project will be supplied from the Los Angeles Aqueduct. LADWP plans to construct a pump system at the north end of Owens Lake, which will pump up to 50 cubic feet per second either to the aqueduct or to Owens Lake for dust control.
A 1997 Memorandum of Understanding between Inyo County, LADWP, the California Department of Fish and Game, the State Lands Commission, the Sierra Club, and the Owens Valley Committee expanded the LORP to include a permanent base flow of 40 cubic feet per second in the river channel and higher seasonal habitat flows. An Action Plan, which is an appendix to the MOU, describes the guidelines and approach for planning the LORP. From these documents, a management plan and project description will be developed.
In response to a proposal by
LADWP to construct a pump station with a capacity of 150 cfs, Inyo County retained Dr.
Rodney T. Smith, vice president of Stratecon Inc., to prepare a LORP Pump
Station Economic Analysis.
Dr. Smith reviewed LADWP's financial analysis for a 150cfs pump station and provided an
independent opinion regarding the economic viability of the facility.