In spite of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s singular obsession with getting as much water as possible out of the Owens Valley, landscape architecture students from Cal Poly Pomona have come up with a vision of their own for the next century in the Eastern Sierra. They will hold workshops to hear from local residents this weekend.
Assistant Professor Barry Lehrman said four graduate students created an idea from the ground up to see what is a possible game plan for Owens Valley. Asked if LADWP land and water ownership did not preclude many choices, Lehrman said, “We are looking at alternatives to DWP ownership, at ways to better manage as guidelines and suggestions.”
Lehrman said, “If a vision were mutually agreeable, it could represent a shift in the quality of life for residents, the ecology and Los Angeles.” He spoke of water needs being met without creating impacts elsewhere. How would this happen? Lehrman said perhaps LA needs to look at getting water somewhere besides the Owens Valley. He said there may be ways to balance the population and the ecology. Lehrman suggested that it’s time to ask “How much water do people of Los Angeles really need?” He said it’s a question worth asking after operating the aqueduct for 100 years.
Lehrman said four graduate students will host workshops to hear from the Eastern Sierra public. He said the students are investigating the entire watershed supplying the Los Angeles Aqueduct to develop a comprehensive regional plan that addresses ecology, cultural uses and the water supply. This is part of what is called the Cal Poly Pomona Aqueduct Futures Project.
The workshops take place in Lone Pine on Saturday from 3pm, to 5pm at Statham Hall and Sunday at the June Lake Community Center – 3pm to 5pm.
Green conservatism is a term used to refer to conservatives who have incorporated green concerns into their ideology. One of the first uses of the term green conservatism was by former United States Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich, in a debate on environmental issues with John Kerry. Around this time,… Read more »
And my point is Jerry, as I say about anything along this line, for people of all races, all colors, all anything .. we can not move past it if we are living in the past and throwing it in anyone’s face, as I see happens a lot, and I… Read more »
@Big Al, Point well taken. . Common ground seems almost impossible at times. LOL, I admit I am a lil whacked at times and do change with the wind on the occasion of hearing a good logical argument. But I don’t take that as a Romney Flip Flop I see… Read more »
As much as the DWP has stumbled with many of its actions over the years, I can’t help but wonder what it would be like if they didn’t own and control the large swaths of land in the eastern Sierra? What would the eastern Sierra look like today if all… Read more »
I like the open spaces too. BLM and Forest Service provide a lot. It sure would be nice to allow Main Street businesses to own their own places instead of DWP. Would also be nice to have a bit of growth to keep the communities more healthy – not so… Read more »
I would like to think the Natives would have more rights to what was once utilized by them and at least have the consideration of first water user’s. I mean the other’s only came here to capitalize on minerals, precious metals and water. . And look at the mess we… Read more »
It is perhaps wise to move beyond a victim mentality and see what we can do with our lives now. The Inyo Supervisors, at one point, started
to push for local land ownership, but apparently they let it drop.
BK
Whoa! “Victim Mentality?”
Now that”s taking it a bit too far, don’t ya think Benett?
No, I don’t.
BK
No Dr. Facts, the point she is trying to make is perfectly valid, people need to be in control of their own destiny, not leave it for others to provide it for them.
Okay Benett, when something doesn’t effect somebody or have a connection to the culture we hold close to our heart it is easy to perceive it as a “victim mentality”, I hear what you mean, I can’t stand knowing I do sound like a typical “victim mentality”, but am I… Read more »
it has always fascinated me how readily people without the slightest bit of knowledge on these subjects will challenge those of us who have spent our lives studying them or living them. But like blacks, latinos and other people of color, when they complain of the injustices perpetrated against themselves… Read more »
Not sure what your point is. Whatever we are doing or whatever challenges we face, a victim mentality does not help. We are, after all, responsible for our own lives and for helping those who come into our lives and need our help.
Benett
Dr. Facts, I can say the same thing about people of color or non color, it doesn’t matter what you are, it is who you are.
And I’m glad you spent your life studying them Dr. Facts, that sheep skin on the wall must mean you know everything. Right on. I’ve never studied them, but I have lived them. I might even agree with some of what you say more often if you didn’t try to… Read more »
Simple plan. Get rid of the aqueduct, return the area to it’s natural state. Make sure surrounding lands become BLM or USFS to keep from becoming San Bernardino north.
The Link for the Cal Poly Pomona website is:
http://aqueductfutures.wordpress.com/.
The website is a wonderful work and I too hope that DWP listens.
This article gives me hope. I just hope DWP will at least listen.