The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) is grateful for the public participation and open communication expressed in the public meeting held January 14, 2015 in Independence on the 2014 Lower Owens River Project (LORP) Draft Report and Adaptive Management Recommendations. LADWP is optimistic about jointly moving forward with the MOU Parties to implement a modified flow regime for improvements to the LORP.
The OVC was instrumental in the re-watering of the Lower Owens River.
LADWP, with the Inyo County Water Department (ICWD) and the MOU Consultants, have recognized for some time that changes in flow are needed to improve water quality and riparian vegetation in the LORP. This would further achieve the original project goals. LADWP staff has worked with the MOU consultants to develop a flow regime that can be satisfied within the amount of water available for the LORP. This can be achieved by eliminating the 2007 Stipulation and Order requirements for a minimum base flow of 40 cubic feet per second (CFS) throughout the LORP, and a maximum 50 CFS limit for the Pumpback Station.
We look forward to collaborating with the MOU parties to modify the 2007 Stipulation and Order to implement changes described by the MOU consultant that maximize the beneficial use of the flows available to the project. These measures are to improve water quality and riparian vegetation and should be implemented as soon as possible. This requires amending the Stipulation and Order by mid- February so that we can implement the modified flow regime including a flushing flow in March of this year.
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By putting a limit on the Pump back station the party’s that want the river restored have limited the flow of the river. Stop choking the flow. The pump station should be built to handle the full flow of the aqueduct. That way the river can flow the way it did before it was diverted. Then when the water reaches the pump station it can be put back in the aqueduct.
There were seven points raised by the MOU Participants that would be necessary for an agreement to amend the Stips and Orders.
1. Water Quality measurement and analysis
2. Monitor Flows
3. Hydrograph (which is the chart of the planned flows)
4. 2-3 year Time Period of the Modification to the Stip and Orders
5. MOU Party semi-annual or annual review process
6. Limitation of Total Pump Back Flows
7. Feasibility study commitment for resolution of the “Islands” issues (section of the
LORP below the Alabama Gates)
and why not add one more
8. Total annual minimum of water committed to the LORP
These are complicated and difficult resolutions between the MOU parties and We can all wish the participants graditude for efforts and their time especially those who volunteer their expertise for considering the health of the River.
It is critical, after 8 years of running the LORP flows, that some guarded flexibility must be agreed to by the MOU parties. Woody riparian trees are not being generated and dissolved oxygen during the warm months is at near lethal levels for fish. I urge the MOU parties to come to an agreement with protections guaranteed such as a cap on the volume of water that can be pumped at the pump station and a term limit of 3 or more years. Right now we have a canal, a river in handcuffs. Let’s set her free and allow adaptation to occur.