When local government has failed to protect Inyo resources, the Owens Valley Committee has stepped in and successfully pressed the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power to do the right thing for the environment.  This Saturday, OVC will hold a fundraiser.  Mark Bagley of OVC sent along an open invitation for the public:

The OVC was instrumental in the re-watering of the Lower Owens River.

Hello Friends,

You are invited to join me and the Owens Valley Committee at a fundraising event on Saturday evening , February 25, 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. at  the Mountain Light Gallery in Bishop.  Please join us for “Western Times and Water Wars,” a lecture by John Walton and a fundraiser hosted by and for the Owens Valley Committee.

John Walton, a University of California, Davis research professor and the author of “one of the half-dozen most important works in historical sociology by an American scholar” (as described by a reviewer in “The Virginia Quarterly Review”), will revisit his book on western water wars as well as update us about some of the West’s ongoing water fights, fracases, and bust-ups. The doors open at 5:30 for drinks, hors d’oeuvres, and a raffle/silent auction; Dr. Walton’s lecture begins at 6:15; and the raffle drawing and final auction bids take place after the lecture.  Suggested donation is $10 at the door, but any gifts, small or large, are welcome and appreciated.

I am excited to let you know that your donation will be matched by the Metabolic Studio, a direct charitable activity of the Annenberg Foundation led by artist Lauren Bon.  Any donation over our $25 basic annual membership will be matched.  So, you can double your giving power!  Give early, give often!

As you probably know I have been very involved with the Owens Valley Committee for many, many years.  We have primarily been working to protect our water in the Owens Valley and the habitats that depend on that water.  We have been working to keep LADWP from taking all of our water and have had some success, particularly through our efforts in the courts.  As a result of several lawsuits we filed with the Sierra Club, we helped the Lower Owens River Project become a reality and continue to work to make that project successful.  However, this is DWP we’re dealing with so there are still more battles to fight; including issues with the LORP, Owens Lake, groundwater pumping, and mitigation measures that DWP promised in their 1991 EIR and have not yet successfully implemented.

I hope to see you there.  Please let all your friends know this is happening.  It should be fun.

Thanks,
Mark

P.S.  If you are unable to be there, you can make a donation through our website <www.ovcweb.org>.  That donation will also be matched by the Metabolic Studio.