Environmental Stewardship
As stewards of the Eastern Sierra, we use best management practices to protect water quality, habitat, biodiversity, and endangered and threatened species throughout the Owens Valley, Long Valley and Mono Basin watersheds. To support these efforts, we leave approximately half of the water that historically was exported to Los Angeles in the Eastern Sierra. We currently have over 100 environmental initiatives in Inyo and Mono Counties related to protecting and sustaining the environment. This includes restoring sixty-three miles of the Lower Owens River through our rewatering efforts and improving 78,000 acres of land along the Lower Owens River. We also enhanced almost 2,000 acres of wetlands to support the local ecology of the Lower Owens River. Further, LADWP has invested $2.5 billion on EPA-approved dust control measures in Owens Valley, successfully reducing dust emissions from Owens Lake by 99.4%, bringing it well within the attainment of environmental standards.
Below are some of the current environmental efforts we are working on.
Black Rock Waterfowl Management Area
LADWP and Inyo County have developed a five-year Interim Management and Monitoring Plan for the Blackrock Waterfowl Management Area. This Interim Plan sets out to enhance habitat for Lower Owens River Project waterbird indicator species including shorebirds, waterfowl, and wading birds, and provide opportunities for local and migratory bird populations by incorporating a seasonal flooding regime.
INTERIM PLAN PRESENTATION
Pictured: One of the four management area units within the project named 'Drew Unit' . Full map.
Mono Basin Restoration
To date, LADWP
has 66 ongoing, in progress or complete restoration
efforts in the Mono Basin alone. As a result, while
the entire state grapples with the impacts of climate
change, the ecological vibrancy of the Mono Basin
continues to be restored.
WATCH VIDEO
DOWNLOAD 2/15/23 MONO LAKE PRESENTATION
Pictured: Grant Lake
Sage Grouse Habitat Conservation
We put extraordinary effort into protecting habitat used for nesting and breeding by the Bi-State Sage-Grouse. We worked with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services to develop the Conservation Strategy and the recently completed Long Valley Adaptive Management Plan for Bi-State Sage-Grouse. We also participate as part of the executive oversight committee, technical advisory committee and work with the local area working group.
Links to Additional
Environmental Programs
OWENS VALLEY REVEGETATION REPORT - 2021
OWENS VALLEY MITIGATION REPORT - 2021
WATERSHED MANAGEMENT
LOWER OWENS RIVER PROJECT (LORP)
INVASIVE MUSSELS
Owens Lake Dust Mitigation Program
Conservation Efforts in Mono Basin
Since 1994, LADWP’s environmental stewardship has largely led to the restoration of the Mono Basin and to a positive trend in Mono Lake's water level — Mono Lake remains the only terminal lake with a positively-trending lake level in California.
Our Commitment to Being Good Stewards - Inyo/LA Water Agreement
Inyo County and the City of Los Angeles reached a preliminary agreement on a joint long-term groundwater management plan on August 1, 1989, known as the Inyo/Los Angeles Long-Term Water Agreement and accompanying Technical Appendix (Green Book). The plan outlined the operational structure for protecting a reliable source of water for L.A. and for the protection of resources in Owens Valley. Under the Inyo/LA Water Agreement, 113 commitments (64 mitigation projects and 49 environmental obligations) were identified. The 64 mitigation projects
include a broad range of environmental efforts, including the Lower Owens River
Project, several spring and wildlife habitat enhancement projects, 1,100 acres of native vegetation projects, and various recreation and other community-based projects.
Inyo/LA Standing Committee
Next Meeting:
AGENDA
The Inyo/Los Angeles Water Agreement establishes the continued existence of the two committees, the Standing Committee and the Inyo/LA Technical Group to represent the parties in implementing the Water Agreement. The Standing Committee includes Inyo and L.A. policymakers and provides direction to the Inyo/LA Technical Group which is comprised of Inyo and L.A. technical staff.
Inyo/LA Technical Group
Next Meeting:
AGENDA
The Technical Group is comprised of five representatives from the County and five representatives from Los Angeles.