The goal for the Delta Habitat Area under the MOU is to enhance and maintain approximately 325 acres of existing wetland habitat within the Delta. The management action for creating and enhancing habitats in the Delta is to establish baseflows to the Delta with an average annual flow of 6 to 9 cfs, as specified in the MOU. Within the 6 to 9 cfs annual average flow, four pulse flows of 20 to 30 cfs will be released to the Delta for short periods of time. The daily baseflow would be the amount necessary to maintain Delta conditions and to conserve water for use in the Delta during other times of the year (within the 6-9 cfs annual average and a minimum of 3 cfs) and for delivery to Los Angeles. In addition, higher flows may pass through the pump station to the Delta during the annual seasonal habitat flows in the Lower Owens River of up to 200 cfs.
Pump Station
The MOU includes a pump station to be located between Keeler Bridge and the Lower Owens River Delta. The facility is designed to capture flows in the river and divert the water to the Owens Lake dust control project, or to the Aqueduct for use by LADWP. Water that is not captured will be by-passed to the Delta. The pump station will include a rock/earthen/concrete diversion structure placed across the river, a facility pad with an enclosed pump building, and ancillary facilities including service roads, in-channel sediment basins, a power line, and pipelines.