Without Mammoth Creek water, there is no Mammoth Lakes.
In Mammoth Lakes, water district officials now deal with Department of Water and Power lawsuits aimed at all of Mammoth Creek water. LADWP says it’s their water, not Mammoth’s. On Tuesday, February 21, LADWP staff and attorneys met with Mammoth Community Water District Manager Greg Norby and legal counsel in Sacramento for a settlement conference. LADWP’s hardball approach offered no help.
Manager Norby said that LADWP would not agree to put their two lawsuits and public record requests on hold to negotiate a settlement. So, the clock is ticking on the suits and requests. Norby did say that both sides have agreed to meet again March 28th in Los Angeles.
Meanwhile, Norby said Mammoth Community Water District will draft an updated set of principles for a potential settlement agreement. He said this document would build from ideas originally proposed by MCWD last April. Back then, LADWP had complained to MCWD but had not yet sued.
During Tuesday’s settlement conference, Norby said LADWP refused to support what’s called a tolling agreement – a voluntary agreement to put the lawsuits on hold. MCWD’s attorney said that agreement to stop the clock on lawsuits is common for settlement talks and a “basic courtesy in most similar proceedings.” Manager Norby said, “We consider DWP’s refusal a calculated action taken to keep pressure on, rather than fostering productive efforts at resolution.”
The tactics in the fight against MCWD resembles LADWP’s combative approach to the Owens Dry Lake issues – picking on small districts with modest budgets who then have to lawyer up. Officials say Inyo County may be next in line for a fight with DWP over more water.
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http://www.ceqanet.ca.gov/QueryForm.asp
Go to the CeqaNet web query and plug in the number below.
Clearinghouse Number 2003061009
Now. Please explain why Caltrans District #6 is the Lead Agency? Who is District 6? Shouldn’t Caltrans District #8 be the lead Agency? Pretty sneaky sis.
Find the Clearinghouse # for the Olancha project and and use the search. You will find out why Inyo County is in the dark.
DWP, BLM and e.t.c. all use this strategy to dupe Inyo. You can’t analyze state projects that affect your community if they are hidden.
Laughing Citizen that think’s it’s not funny.
It’s District 9 on there, not 8.
I think its pretty obvious that if DWP had their way, the only thing left in Inyo and Mono counties would be memories! Remember when you see a sign that says “In cooperation with LADWP” that what it really says is “We lost the lawsuit” LA is broke and the only way they can raise money to keep the city afloat is to raise water rates and then “borrow” that money from DWP. Standby, they have lots of good lawyers
Not to Mention they Need the $ for their Hefty PENSIONS.
GGW
“There it is. Take it.” William Mulholland
A settlement, why ? Why not start by challenging DWP on the statue of limitations on this matter? A person or party only has only so long to file a law suit after they become aware of a legal situation.
LADWP have bumped up the rates 70% in the last 6 years. David Goldstein of CBS news did an investigative report last night and uncovered; From Jan. to Aug. of last year, dwp exec’s spent 828,000.00 on airfare, 193,0000.00 on hotels, 56,000.00 in meals, in addition of one exec. spending 600.00 a night in a D.C. hotel along with Maine lobster, rack of lamb and car rental service and to top it off with a helicopter rental, ALL PAID FOR WITH DWP CREDIT CARDS. And they want MORE water ? What is wrong with this picture.
Let the waterwars Begin !!!
GGW