The Owens Valley Monitor 1999-2000

Owens Valley Water Uses

Water uses on LADWP's Owens Valley lands for the 1999-2000 runoff year were 95,676 acre-feet. These uses included irrigation, stockwater, LADWP recreation and wildlife, and enhancement/mitigation. Irrigation refers to water used to irrigate LADWP lands, such as pasture or alfalfa, leased to ranchers. Stockwater is water released in ditches and canals for livestock on LADWP lands in the valley. Recreation and wildlife refers to LADWP water releases, initiated between 1970 and 1984, to areas such as Buckley and Rawson ponds west of Bishop, Farmers' Pond north of Bishop, and Thibaut Ponds near Indepepndence. Enhancement/ mitigation (E/M) refers to projects developed by Inyo County and LADWP to improve the value or attractiveness of an area or to moderate or eliminate effects of former LADWP pumping practices. The projects include Klondike Lake, Lone Pine Riparian Park, treelots in Independence and Lone Pine, several pastures and alfalfa fields, and the water releases since 1986 to the Lower Owens River. Table 3 shows Owens Valley water uses by area.

Area	Irrigation	Stockwater	E/M	Recreation & Wildlife	Totals
Round Valley	10,619	1,016	0	955	12,590
Bishop	19,539	3,368	0	3,838	26,745
Laws	410	1,272	1,494	0	3,176
Big Pine	12,750	1,427	1,482	656	16,315
Tinnemaha to Haiwee Reservoir	5,990	7,363	21,476	2,021	36,850
Totals	49,308	14,446	24,452	7,470	95,676

Table 3.Owens Valley water uses for runoff year 1999-2000.

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