Inyo County
Water Department
Water Department
Status of Mitigation Projects
| Mitigation | 2006 Status |
| Laws/Poleta Native Pasture E/M (220 acres) | This project consists of two pastures. One pasture is adjacent to and east of Hwy. 6 (160 acres). In the past, only the eastern half of this pasture has been effectively irrigated. The other pasture, SE of Laws (60 acres), has also had poor plant cover. Grasses were mainly limited to ditches, and weeds were prevalent. Management of the lease for these pastures changed recently, thus a site visit will be conducted in 2006 to assess plant cover. LADWP did not separate the water use for this project from the McNally pasture projects for 2006 runoff year, therefore combined water use reported for the Laws/Poleta native pastures and the McNally pastures was 1,241 acre-feet in the 2006 runoff year. |
| McNally Ponds and Native Pasture E/M (348 acres) | This project consists of ponds, a 100 acre native pasture east of the ponds, and two pastures (100 acres each) SE of the Laws museum. Ponds west of Hwy 6 received 1,487 acre-feet of water in runoff year 2006. LADWP has reported that management of this project includes supplying water to the ponds only when water is diverted from the Owens River to the McNally Canals. This management change has not been discussed with or approved by the Standing Committee. The 100-acre pasture had poor cover at the time of a field visit in 2004. Pastures on the east side of the river are completed and provide good grass cover. LADWP reported in 2005 that the water supply to this project and the Laws/Poleta project cannot be separated. |
| 640 acres near Laws | The Standing Committee has not evaluated the need for mitigation of this area. Further, the expansion of the Desert Aggregates gravel mine operation includes 174 acres in the western part of this potential site. |
| 300 acres Five Bridges area | In progress. Portions of the mitigation plan are being implemented; however, management changes have been made to some provisions without Technical Group approval. Providing a regular supply of surface water to the site has increased cover in some areas. The area north of the river appears to have declined in cover and requires attention. This area was not addressed in the mitigation plan. In 2006, high river flows flooded the area. LADWP reports two permanent transects have attained perennial cover of 68% and 93% in 2006. However, the revegetation plan goals did not base mitigation attainment on the two permanent transects. Vegetation cover goals should be demonstrated over the larger area. Methods and analysis for measuring goal attainment should be developed and agreed to by the Technical Group. |
| Farmers Pond | Implemented and ongoing. Water supply for runoff year 2005 was 485 acre-feet. |
| 140 acres near Laws | The Technical Group implemented a 10 acre study plot in 2001 in lieu of planting container plants as required in the Mitigation Plan. Results of the study were provided in Nov. 2003. In 2005, LADWP reported they expanded and planted the drip irrigation study plot |
| Laws Museum Pastures E/M (21 & 15 acres) | Implemented. LADWP completed a sprinkler irrigation system in 2006. In 2006, the project received 121 acre-feet of water. |
| Laws area | The County and LADWP are currently revising groundwater management procedures contained in the Long-Term Water Agreement. Monitoring of select vegetation parcels is ongoing. |
| Bishop Cone | Not implemented. Inyo County provided an outline to LADWP April 2004 for evaluating the potential impacts of increased groundwater extraction on the Bishop Cone. LADWP has not commented on the outline but recently (3/20/07) requested a meeting to conduct a hydrological evaluation of the Bishop Cone. |
| Millpond Recreation Area E/M | Implemented and ongoing. |
| Buckley Ponds | Implemented and ongoing, although an operations plan needs to be developed. |
| 120 acres near Bishop | Behind schedule. Fencing has been installed. Monitoring results between 1999 and 2003 showed little to no increase in perennial vegetation. The Mitigation Plan provided for the implementation of test plots if vegetation did not naturally increase. Therefore, the Technical Group should have developed test plots in 2004 to develop effective revegetation methods. Instead, LADWP utilized their contractor, MWH, to conduct revegetation studies in 2002. In 2004, LADWP reported, "a drip irrigation system is being designed for this site" and that implementation of revegetation will commence one year after the projects at Big Pine 160 and Independence 123 are fully implemented and operating properly." No schedule or plan has been provided to the Technical Group. |
| Saunders Pond | Implemented and ongoing, although an operations plan needs to be developed. This project does not have a management plan nor is it clear whether LADWP considers this project a mitigation measure. |
| Klondike Lake E/M | Providing water to the lake is ongoing; however, several management issues need to be addressed. The Technical Group began test water releases to the South Shore Habitat Area in 2005. LADWP installed a water delivery system and measuring device for the habitat area. Because of the low gradient, it may not be possible to provide the allotted 200 acre-feet of water to the habitat area in the short and long term. The build up of vegetation from flooding has begun to raise the gradient. However, the lake’s water allotment (1,700 acre-feet) is not fully supplied every year and it is not clear whether the water supply or lake elevation correlates with the ability to provide water to the habitat area. There is no provision to report whether the agreed to lake level is being maintained. The Water Department recommends that a reporting procedure to be developed by the Technical Group. In addition, ICWD is concerned that LADWP's rechannelization of Lyman Ditch in 2004 may adversely affect the project’s native pastures adjacent to the ditch. Water supply in the 2006 runoff year as reported by LADWP was 314 acre-feet. LADWP reports this low supply was due to higher than normal water spreading that brought up the lake elevation without requiring diversions into Lyman Ditch. |
| Big Pine Northeast Regreening E/M (30 acres) | Not implemented. CEQA requirements have not been completed although LADWP reports that an archaeological survey has been conducted. LADWP's annual report (May 2007) states CEQA filing and work will begin in 2007 although the Technical Group has not approved a mitigation plan for the site. ICWD revisions to LADWP's plan were sent 6/22/05. |
| Big Pine Ditch System | Implementation in progress. Construction for the ditch system is nearly complete. LADWP and Inyo are working on an evaluation to increase pumping from a new town supply well, W415. Potential impacts from pumping water above that necessary for the town water supply will be evaluated by the Technical Group. A new well in Bell Canyon was described as a potential future water source for the ditch system. LADWP reports 276 acre-feet of water were used for the ditch system in 2006. |
| 20 acres near Big Pine E/M | Not implemented, behind schedule and plans described by LADWP do not comply with the EIR. The Technical Group has not agreed on a plan or schedule as required by the EIR. Further, the MOU required plans be completed in 1998. LADWP did not construct the fence slated for last runoff year although it is planned for this runoff year. LADWP describes, "If this area does not revegetate naturally, it will be included with LADWP's ongoing revegetation efforts." No schedule or plan has been provided to the Technical Group. |
| 160 acres near Big Pine | Behind schedule. The site has been fenced. Perennial native vegetation cover in 1991 was 2.3% and 3.1% in 2006. The Mitigation Plan scheduled revegetation test plots in 2001 and expansion of planting in 2006. Instead, LADWP's contractor implemented a revegetation study in 2002. LADWP reports that results of revegetation studies will be used to implement larger scale revegetation efforts but no schedule has been provided to the Technical Group. |
| Steward Ranch | Mitigation agreement is in place. |
| Big Pine general | The County and LADWP are currently revising groundwater management procedures contained in the Long-Term Water Agreement. Monitoring of select vegetation parcels is ongoing. |
| Fish Springs | Hatchery is in place and implementation of the LORP has been initiated. Hatchery water use for runoff year 2006 was 20,199 acre-feet. |
| Tule Elk Field | Ongoing, although recent changes in management may be in violation of the Long-Term Water Agreement and 1991 EIR because LADWP has decreased the water supply to this project. The reduction in water supply has reduced vegetation cover in the field and adjacent meadows as indicated by satellite imagery. |
| Big and Little Seeley | Ongoing, although an operations plan is needed. For example, there are no clear project goals or guidelines regarding operations and management. |
| Calvert Slough | LADWP supplied water to Calvert Slough in 2004 after seven years not providing water. It is not known whether water was supplied in 2005 and 2006 or if a water supply is planned for 2007. This project does not have a management plan nor is it clear whether LADWP considers this project a mitigation measure. |
| Hines Spring | In process. A final mitigation plan was developed by consultants and received May 2006; however, project implementation is delayed by the formation of an ad hoc group. The group is developing a plan for the spring. No schedule for completion has been presented. |
| 80 acres (Taboose/Hines Spring area). | In progress. The entire impact area consists of 3 sites that total approx. 115 acres. Implementation at one site (Hines Spring South) has been delayed because it is dependent on plans for mitigating Hines Spring. This area is approx. 100 acres. Tin 54 is 0.3 acres. Vegetation cover has decreased 0.9% between 1999 and 2004. Perennial native vegetation cover was measured as 3.3% in 2004 far below the site goal of 33% cover. Activities at the site include planting 108 alkali sacaton plants in 1999 and installing a drip irrigation system. Irrigation was reduced in 2004 and irrigation supply in 2006 and 2007 are unknown. Monitoring data demonstrate high survival of planted grasses. Because cover decreased from baseline and is below the site goal, transects will be run again in 2007. Blk 16E is 7.2 acres. Transects run in 2005 resulted in higher perennial native vegetation, 8.4%, compared to 1999, 5.4%; however, shrubs are now the dominant species. The goal was to recover the site to an alkali meadow with 34% cover. Therefore, the Water Department recommends the Technical Group discuss options for shrub control and increasing grass cover. |
| Little Blackrock Spring | Implemented and ongoing, although an operations plan is needed. LADWP reports the water supply ditch, the Goodale Bypass Ditch, normally runs all year at less than 1 cfs, providing approx. 700 acre-feet a year. |
| Big Blackrock Springs | The fish hatchery and the LORP serve as compensatory mitigation. The hatchery is in place and implementation of the LORP has been initiated. Hatchery water use was 11,590 acre-feet in 2006. |
| Thibaut/Sawmill marsh habitat | The LORP serves as compensatory mitigation and is in the process of implementation. |
| Independence Pasturelands E/M (610 acres) | The acreage of this project was changed from 610 to 470 acres without discussion or approval from the Standing Committee. Accordingly, LADWP decreased the water allotment from 1,825 acre-feet/year to 1,493 acre-feet/year. DWP reports water use in runoff year 2006 was 2,672 acre-feet. Site topography prevents flood irrigation from reaching some portions of the project. |
| Billy Lake | Implemented and ongoing, although an operations plan needs to be developed. |
| Independence East Side Regreening E/M (30 acres) | Not implemented. LADWP completed CEQA and obtained approval from their Board in May 2005. However, the County requested the location for the new project well be changed so that it can also be used as a town water supply. The County has assumed responsibility for filing the necessary CEQA documents. The Technical Group has not approved a mitigation plan. Comments on a draft mitigation plan were sent to LADWP on 6/22/06. In their annual report, LADWP stated that the irrigation system will be implemented on 2/3 of the area to accommodate a potential sports complex in the future as requested by Inyo County. |
| Independence Woodlot E/M (21 acres) | Implemented and ongoing. IMACA has been managing the project since 1997. An operations plan is needed based on management guidelines agreed to by Inyo Co. and LADWP. LADWP reports that water supply during runoff year 2006 was 212 acre-feet. |
| Independence Springfield E/M (283 acres) | Implemented and ongoing. As noted below, approx. 40 acres were identified as still requiring mitigation. Water supply during runoff year 2006 was 1,758 acre-feet. |
| Additional 40 acres w/in springfield | Not implemented. The MOU required a plan and schedule by 1998; however these requirements were not met. LADWP reported implementation will begin in 2007; however, the Technical Group has not reviewed or approved a mitigation plan. |
| 60 acres in S/S well field | One of the three sites that comprise this mitigation measure are behind schedule. The 3 sites total 115.2 acres. Ind 123 (28.4 acres) did not have test plots implemented in 2002 as scheduled in the Mitigation Plan. Perennial vegetation cover measured by LADWP in 2006 was 16.4% compared to 4.8% in 2001. The mitigation goal is 17%. Ind 105 (13.6 acres) perennial vegetation cover data increased from 1999, 8.1%, to 2006, 25.2% meeting both the mitigation cover and composition goals. Ind 131 (73.2 acres) had a Technical Group approved study implemented in Dec. 2001 and a final report was received in March 2004. LADWP's contractor, MWH, conducted additional test plots in 2002. Perennial native cover in 2001 was 3.7% and 8.2% in 2006. The perennial cover goal is 17%. The mitigation plan schedule provides that a site plan will be developed in 2007 and implemented in 2008. |
| Shepherd Creek Alfalfa Field E/M (200 acres) | Implemented and ongoing. LADWP reports that water supply for runoff year 2006 was 1,162 acre-feet. |
| Expand Shepherd Creek Alfalfa E/M (60 acres) | In August 2004, LADWP reported that data from transects run in the potential mitigation area showed an increase in vegetation cover from 18%, baseline, to 44% and thus no expansion of the Shepherd Creek E/M Project was necessary. The Technical Group has not discussed or approved this determination. |
| Reinhackle Spring | Not implemented. The Technical Group has not developed a plan for monitoring the flows and spring dependent vegetation. |
| Lone Pine Ponds | Implemented and ongoing. This project is included as part of the off-river lakes and ponds in the LORP. |
| Lone Pine East Side Regreening E/M (11 acres) | Implemented and ongoing. LADWP reported a combined water supply of 107 acre-feet for the Lone Pine 'East' and 'West' regreening projects for runoff year 2006. |
| Lone Pine West Side Regreening E/M (7 acres) | Implemented and ongoing. LADWP reported a combined water supply of 107 acre-feet for the Lone Pine 'East' and 'West regreening projects for runoff year 2006. |
| Lone Pine Woodlot E/M (12 acres) | Implemented and ongoing; however, management may have been modified without Standing Committee approval. LADWP informed the Water Dept. in August 2004 that the project would no longer receive water during the non-irrigation season as practiced in the past. The project is currently managed by IMACA; however, an operation plan is needed based on management guidelines agreed to by Inyo and LADWP. LADWP reports water use was 120 acre-feet for runoff year 2006. |
| Richards Field E/M (189 acres) | Implemented and ongoing; however, management may have been modified without Standing Committee approval. LADWP informed the Water Dept. in August 2004 that the project would no longer receive water during the non-irrigation season as practiced in the past. Water to this project is not measured separately from the park supply. LADWP reports 2006 runoff year water use was 900 acre-feet for Lone Pine Riparian Park and this field. |
| Van Norman Field E/M (160 acres) | Implemented and ongoing. A portion of the project is not capable of being irrigated due to the topography. Inyo recommends an evaluation of this portion of the project. LADWP reports water use was 512 acre-feet in runoff year 2006. |
| Diaz Lake | Ongoing, however, an operation plan needs to be developed. This project does not have a management plan nor is it clear whether LADWP considers this project a mitigation measure. |
| Lower Owens Rewatering Project E/M | Project water supply was reduced by the governing boards of Inyo and Los Angeles in 1991 due to drought conditions. LADWP reports the water supply in runoff year 2006 was 5,803 acre-feet; however, it is not clear whether accounting for this project ended when water was released for the LORP in Dec 2006. The LORP will replace this E/M project. |
| Lower Owens River Project | CEQA documentation was completed in Dec. 2005. Water was released at the intake for the project in Dec. 2006. Activities to complete implementation are in progress. |
| Meadow/riparian vegetation dependent on agricultural tailwater | The LORP serves as compensatory mitigation. See LORP status above. |
| Salt Cedar Control Program | Ongoing, program funded by LADWP and implemented by Inyo. Approx. 62 mi. of the Owens River floodplain south of the aqueduct intake to the delta has been cleared of saltcedar, thus the program has expanded efforts outside the river floodplain. The program also monitors and maintains cleared areas. Continuation of the salt cedar control program is dependent upon obtaining funding beyond that provided by LADWP. |
| Irrigated fields, including Cartago and Olancha | Ongoing. Irrigated lands are not directly monitored; instead, lessees are relied upon to indicate if there are changes in irrigation water supply. |
| Springs/Seeps | The Technical Group does not have a plan for monitoring flow or vegetation at springs and seeps. Ecosystem Sciences completed a draft inventory of springs and seeps. The MOU described that the inventory would provide baseline data adequate for monitoring change to species and/or their habitats. ICWD provided extensive comments on the adequacy of the draft to Ecosystem Sciences. No revisions to the inventory were ever made. |