Owens Valley Water Uses

Water uses on LADWP’s Owens Valley lands for the 2002-2003 runoff year were 84,851 acre-feet. These uses include irrigation, stockwater, recreation and wildlife, and enhancement/mitigation. Irrigation refers to water used to irrigate LADWP lands leased to ranchers. Stockwater is water released in ditches and canals for livestock and other water related uses on LADWP lands. Recreation and wildlife refers to LADWP water releases to areas such as Buckley and Rawson ponds west of Bishop and Farmers Pond north of Bishop. Enhancement/mitigation (E/M) refers to projects developed by Inyo County and LADWP to improve the value or attractiveness of an area or to mitigate effects of former LADWP pumping practices. The projects include Klondike Lake, Lone Pine Riparian Park, woodlots in Independence and Lone Pine, several pastures and alfalfa fields, and water releases to the Lower Owens River since 1986.

Water supplied to Owens Valley fish hatcheries is not considered a water use, since this water flows through the hatcheries and into the Los Angeles Aqueduct.

Table 4. Owens Valley uses in acre-feet for runoff years 1998-99 through 2002-03. (Source: LADWP)