**This summit is for MOU parties only. The public is not invited until a meeting in December. This according to Jim Yannotta, DWP manager.
Boating through the tules. Photo by Frank Colver
Press Release from the Owens Valley Committee –
Ecosystem Sciences, consultants for the Lower Owens River Project (LORP), recently released an agenda for a three-day “LORP River Summit” to start at 8:00 am Tuesday July 29 at the multipurpose room of the DWP office in Bishop. The first day will include sessions on the historic/legal background of the LORP, interpretations by the MOU parties of the MOU and EIR goals; current LORP ecologic and hydrologic conditions, and successes and failures of adaptive management.
The second day will be a LORP field trip. The third day will include a facilitated discussion of future management and a session on potential changes to the MOU and LORP EIR. The Owens Valley Committee invites the public to observe the proceedings on July 29 and July 31. Space will be limited, so those interested should arrive promptly to get a seat.
More information: ovcweb.org
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There was never a “lot” of water, but enough to sustain a fishery and wildlife, including Deer Beavers, Mink, a herd of Elk and many other birds and animals, and yes…Mosquitos. Don’t get me wrong, the flows now are so much more and better for everything that uses it. I just wish we could get rid of some of the Tules. BobK
Benett Your boots have been in the wrong places all of these years. Salblaster is correct. I have fished for Bass, Bluegill and Bdullfrogs from T-bo South to Lone Pine since the early 70’s. I’m surprised that you didn’t know you had all of that water practically in your back yard. The duck hunting was pretty good too. BobK
I don’t hunt or fish, but if there has been so much water why was there a “re-watering of the Lower Owens River”?
BK
there seem to be a few misleading statements with philip anaya’s post. it’s true the diversion at aberdeen did dry up a stretch of around 12 miles of the owens river from the aberdeen diversion to mazurka canyon road, however the river from mazurka rd. to the mouth of the owens lake did not dry up. there are 3 canals split off from the aquaduct between the aberdeen diversion and mazurka road. the first canal starts at black rock fish hatchery and runs east supplying water to twin lakes and goose lake and a large tule filled swampy wetlands around a hundred acres or so. the lakes and wetlands have been supplying that area with millions if not billions of mosquitos since i was a kid back in the late 70’s. the second canal called thebeau or ( T-Bo ) supplyies water to another set of ponds and wetlands just north-east of fort independence and the third canal supports the long pond water complex a little south of T-BO. all this water eventually makes its way to the owens river right around mazurka rd. in addition to these canals there are a few more between mazurka rd. and lone pine that have kept the owens river flowing for as long as i can remember. the only time i have heard of the owens river not flowing to the mouth of the owens lake was about 10 years or so ago when beavers had constucted so many dams that water flow had pretty much stopped by the time it reached keeler bridge but the dwp was on it and used a helicopter with a big grappling hook hanging below it to rip out some of the beaver dams and restore water flow to the mouth of the owens lake. i think phil needs to get his boots on the ground and start exploring this great valley then maybe he will know the river like i know the river.
I have lived here 40 years and have done boots on the ground. Have not seen all the water you’re claiming is flowing out there, especially before the LORP project. Benett Kessler
With the respect for wisdom of local knowledge and history Sal’s comments are appreciated. With that said, the effort of the LORP that implies a “River Runs Thru It” means to me that the waters of the Owens River that begin with the flow from Fish Springs end up in the Owens Lake. That’s the base natural condititon of the River before there was “management” of the flows . Certainly as Sal points out the Sierra Crest and it’s runoff contribute to the Owens River for the length of the Owens Valley.
Adjuncts whether man made or natural flows ,canals, diversions, streams, seeps monsoonal events all work with gravity and I think also a spiritual element to the flow that needs a respect and a wonder that adds to the base flow of the river before any man had ever seen or known of the natures gift of water to the Valley Floor .
Words and rhetoric provided here are a opportunity to share and express hope and ideas that stimulate a thought or two within each of ourselves to affect our human effect on this planet. Boots on the Valley Floor is exactly what the LORP Summit is all about starting Tuesday . My boots on the Valley Floor don’t reflect the expertise of the LORP Participants . I spend a too much time just trying to take in the clouds trying to figure out how natural processes really work. These LORP Consultants and Participants will have answers and hopefully the solutions to make the Owens mighty important, in nature once again.
Is it rolling Bob ?
In 1913 or so the LADWP diverted all of the water from the Owens River at the Aberdeen Diversion . The River died and with it all of the life forms , fish, insects, birds, plants. microscopic life forms dead. You may not know all of the damage, like me, but know that the LORP is the best response that Human Beings are now making today to change and correct the early years of the Aqueduct Management and know that the life forms that made up the Biotic Community including the mosquito mostly disappeared have again like a miracle are making another attempt at survival . Come correct Bob and add something illustrious to the LORP . A river runs through it once again. The DWP could have made this happen on it’s own. The DWP could have lead the way and demonstrated stewardship of natures gifts many years before 2006 when the LORP was rewatered , but it took a Long Term Water Agreement ,a bunch of contention including litigation and sanctions to again have a Owens River from it’s source up there around Fish Springs to Owens (dry) Lake.
The DWP has been funding (required) the management of the LORP as has Inyo County . The Summit is an event that will evaluate the progress and the needs of the management . Have to say, I am hopeful for an evolved resolution that addresses the best management decisions and avoids the contention and derision of the MOU parties that have become historic and a lot like the our national political scene with “no” to any and to everything that advances the nation. This is not a summit to address old wounds and scars on the heart for 100 years of Owens Valley / DWP contention This is a summit to address moving cool clear water through a river that benefits the life in the waters that once flowed, the sacred Owens River. The miracle of this River enriched by a Sierra Crest runoff flowing mostly back into the Earth in this Desert Valley makes this river a miracle unique in it’s resurgence . The best science and the most influential parties will participate and I hope and demand the best solutions from all of the parties for the Owens River for our Owens Valley. I call out the Owens Valley Committee, The LADWP , Inyo County ,California Fish and Wildlife, The Sierra Club, all of the MOU Parties to give the Owens Valley once again the River ,the habitat that will benefit life that will give us a mosquito or two to be concerned about
Look like a good place to get attacked by mosquitos
Wow! No kidding. You could go anemic from blood loss.