The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is an agreement between the California Department of Fish and Game, the State Lands Commission, the Sierra Club, the Owens Valley Committee, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, and Inyo County. The MOU resolved the concerns of the organizations and state agencies over the Lower Owens River Project and other provisions of the 1991 environmental impact report (EIR) for groundwater management in the Owens Valley.

The MOU requires LADWP and Inyo County to implement numerous environmental projects and studies. Here is a summary of MOU projects and accomplishments during 1999.

Lower Owens River Project
This project was originally a provision of the Inyo/Los Angeles Water Agreement; it was later identified in the EIR as compensatory mitigation for impacts from LADWP's water exports. The MOU augments the Water Agreement and the EIR. As augmented, the LORP consists of:

Lower Owens River. A 60-mile stretch of the river channel will be rewatered from the point where the river is diverted to the Los Angeles Aqueduct to Owens Lake. Flows in the river will be approximately 40 cubic feet per second (cfs), with higher "seasonal habitat flows" up to 200 cfs.

The Owens River Delta Habitat Area. 6-9 cfs will be supplied to an area of wetlands at the north end of Owens Lake to provide habitat for shorebirds, waterfowl, and other animals

Off-River Lakes and Ponds. Existing off-river lakes and ponds in the LORP area will be maintained for fisheries, waterfowl, shorebirds, and other animals.

Left: A researcher stretches a tape measure across the Lower Owens River in a 1988 study. (Click on photo to enlarge.) Photo by Greg James.

The 1,500-Acre Blackrock Waterfowl Habitat Area. In average and above runoff years, approximately 500 acres within an overall project area of 1,500 acres will be flooded to provide habitat for resident and migratory waterfowl and other native species. In drier years, a smaller area will be flooded.

Status: In March 2000, the parties to the MOU agreed to extend the deadline for completing the draft EIR/EIS for the project from June 13, 2000, to September 30, 2000. The draft document is scheduled to be released in late summer 2000 for a 60-day public review. Construction of a pump system to be located near Owens Lake to carry water from the river to the Los Angeles Aqueduct or to Owens Lake for dust abatement should be completed in 2002. Under the MOU, 40 cfs flows must be achieved in the river channel by June 2003.

An Owens Valley wetland to be inventoried under the MOU.
Photo by Greg James.

Yellow-Billed Cuckoo Habitat Evaluation
Under the direction of LADWP and the county, Ecosystem Sciences, Inc. (ESI), will evaluate Yellow-billed Cuckoo habitat in woodland areas of Hogback and Baker creeks. ESI will develop habitat enhancement plans for these areas in consultation with LADWP, the lessees for the areas, and the parties to the MOU. The MOU requires that the evaluations be completed by June 2000. Habitat enhancement plans will be implemented as expeditiously as possible.

Status: ESI is preparing draft habitat enhancement plans.

Inventories of Plants and Animals
at Springs and Seeps
LADWP and the county must complete an inventory of plants and animals at springs and seeps on Los Angeles land in the Owens Valley.

Status: The MOU signatories agreed to extend the deadline for completing this project from June 13, 2000, to December 31, 2000. ESI has nearly completed the fieldwork for the inventory; the reports should be completed by the deadline for this work.

Additional Mitigation
Under the direction of LADWP and the county, ESI will recommend on-site and/or off-site mitigation measures, including mitigation at Hines Spring, to supplement mitigation measures identified in the 1991 EIR for impacts to Owens Valley springs. LADWP is to provide 1,600 acre-feet of water per year to supply the recommended measures. The mitigation measures will be implemented by LADWP and maintained by LADWP and/or the county. Plans for the measures must be completed by June 2000.

Status: ESI has initiated its evaluation of potential mitigation sites.

Owens Valley Management Plans
LADWP, in consultation with the parties to the MOU and others, is to develop management plans for their Owens Valley land. Priority will be given to riparian areas, irrigated meadows, and sensitive plant and animal habitats. The plans will provide for the continuation of sustainable uses, including recreation, livestock grazing, agriculture, and other activities and will consider the enhancement of threatened and endangered species habitats. The planning effort is to begin by 2002, and plans are to be completed no later than 2007. Each plan will contain an implementation schedule and will be implemented in compliance with CEQA.

Status: ESI has completed draft land management plans for Los Angeles land within the LORP area. Planning for LADWP outside the LORP is expected to be completed well ahead of schedule, in 2001.

MOU Update continued on next page.

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