Water Policy, Agreements, and Disputes

• Inyo/LADWP Chronology 1902-2008 (Jan 2008)

Through agreement, ordinance, and resolution, Inyo County has established a comprehensive regulatory policy to protect its economy and environment from the effects of groundwater exports. The documents listed at right establish the standards and authority for the County's regulation of these projects.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) also affects Inyo County's water policy. The MOU is a settlement between Inyo County, the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power, the California Department of Fish & Game, the State Lands Commission, the Sierra Club, and the Owens Valley Committee that helped to end 25 years of litigation over Owens Valley water. The MOU sets out numerous environmental projects and studies to be implemented by the County and LADWP.

The Amended Stipulation and Order is a settlement of certain issues raised in litigation between the Sierra Club, Owens Valley Committee, California Department of Fish and Game, California State Lands Commission, and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. The stipulation amends the 1997 Memorandum of Understanding between these parties to include dates for implementation of the Lower Owens River Project and procedures for conducting the Hines Spring and Yellow-billed Cuckoo provisions of the MOU. The stipulation is an enforceable Order of the Inyo County Superior Court.

One-page timeline of the major Water Policy documents: PowerPoint and PDF

Other issues:

• Big Pine Ditch/Klondike Lake Mitigated Negative Declaration (2003)
• Independence Regreening Project Negative Declaration added May 2005  Prepared by LADWP
• Laws Mitigated Negative Declaration and Motion to Amend the Inyo/Los Angeles Water Agreement - Irrigation Project in the Laws Area
• McNally Canals Dispute - On October 13, 2000, Inyo County served on LADWP a Notice of Dispute regarding the operation of the McNally Canals in the Laws area. The notice was prepared in accordance with the dispute resolution provisions of the Inyo County/Los Angeles Water Agreement.