May 16, 2022 – CORRECTION BY AUTHOR: The approval vote was only for the water cut back to the ranch leases. No other vote was taken at the meeting regarding the plan.
The Inyo County/Los Angeles Standing Committee unanimously approved the Department of Water and Power’s 2022-23 operations/pumping plan which included a proposed increase in
groundwater pumping and water cut-backs to ranch leases at its Thursday meeting. Considering a heated run-up to the meeting from locals, the action was less of a bang and more of a whimper.
To continue with clichés, Inyo was between a rock and a hard place. The basis for approval was “reasonable cut-backs.” In the face of continued drought and anticipated run-off at record- breaking lows, reasonable cut-backs to irrigation were considered appropriate. Irrigation allotments were cut from five acre-feet to four with dire warnings that stream-fed irrigation systems would deliver less water this year. No cut-backs were considered to the three-acre-feet allowance for alfalfa fields.
The issue during public comment was LADWP’s proposed pumping from 67,210 to 86,300 a-f.
Inyo County’s Water Department came back with a recommendation of 59,540 a-f for in-valley
uses only based on dismal run-off predictions and the impact to groundwater levels.
Generally, area cattlemen cut back on their herd size in relationship to capacity on their grazing
leases, both in the valley and from federal agencies.
At its regular Tuesday meeting, the Inyo Board’s stance was a cut-back to irrigation could be
considered if Los Angeles restricted water use, specifically lawn watering. That same day,
Mayor Eric Garcetti did just that, adding two-day a week watering restriction to a long list of
other water-saving measures.
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So how about the water needed to complete the expansion of highway 395 (olancha/cartego)? Like that’s happening right now!
The needs of the many outweighs the needs of a few were so screwed
“The Inyo County/Los Angeles Standing Committee unanimously approved the Department of Water and Power’s 2022-23 operations/pumping plan”
Ouch!! unanimously. Not one member could say no. This is so sad.
Please someone run and get my rubber stamp.
There are actually only two votes on the Standing Committee, the Los Angeles vote and the Inyo County vote. So anything that passes the Standing Committee is unanimous. Also, the Standing Committee did NOT approve the pumping plan, only the reduction in water supplied to the ranchers. Los Angeles, not the standing committee, adopts the plan which they will do shortly. Inyo County’s choice is then to decide whether to dispute it.
Thank you for the info.
I have been totaling rain fall for years and we have been recording the lowest totals ever. Only 1.445 inches in Olancha from July 1st 2021. Normal is 4 inches. So not having the snow pack and making up the difference by pumping is not sustainable. The ground water levels will drop and wells will run dry, like they did a few years ago.
You’re right–I messed up, am mortified. Spent all weekend trying to write that lead and then totally screwed up. Will blame “an out of body experience,” or the writing equivalent of white line fever. That being said–you’re right Randy. The dispute process takes eons and whatever is disputed by the County can proceed during the dispute resolution process. Checked with Greg James to verify the process.