Mitigation Projects

 

One function of the Water Department is to monitor the status of LADWP's environmental projects and mitigation projects throughout the Owens Valley. Under the Inyo/Los Angeles Water Agreement and the 1991 EIR concerning LADWP's groundwater pumping in the Owens Valley, the Inyo/LA Technical Group must prepare annual status reports on the EIR's mitigation measures, on mitigation measures subsequently adopted by the Inyo/LA Standing Committee, and on Enhancement/Mitigation projects. The Water Department has prepared a series of tables which summarize the status of the mitigation measures adopted at the time the 1991 EIR was approved. The tables are intended for use by the Technical Group in preparing the annual status reports. 

• Mitigation Status Report of the EIR's mitigation measures, mitigation measures subsequently adopted by the Inyo/LA Standing Committee, and on Enhancement/Mitigation projects.
• Potential Mitigation Sites - Potential uses for the remainder 1600 AF MOU water obligation.
• Mitigation Measure Maps: Northern and Southern Owens Valley
• Area Maps of Selected Mitigation Measures
• Yellow-billed Cuckoo Habitat Enhancement Plans (Nov 2009)

Ad Hoc Projects

In February 2006, an Ad Hoc Group consisting of representatives from the Parties and ranching interests met to discuss alternatives to the draft plans. The Ad Hoc Group operated with a consensus-based approach as a means of recognizing all parties’ interests. The Ad Hoc Group met on a regular basis, and developed and, in November 2008, agreed on a set of projects that they believe would fulfill the commitment in the MOU that LADWP provide 1,600 acre-feet of water per year for the Hines Spring mitigation measure and additional mitigation.

Specific Mitigation Measures

• Lower Owens River Project (LORP) - The Lower Owens River is located in the southern Owens Valley. An approximately 60-mile reach of the Lower Owens River was diverted to the Los Angeles Aqueduct in 1913 to supply water to the city.  DWP is required to re-water this dry section of the river.
• Revegetation Program - The EIR identifies approximately 1,300 acres of Los Angeles land in the Owens Valley that were adversely affected by Los Angeles Department of Water and Power groundwater and surface water management. The EIR requires that these lands be revegetated with plant species native to the valley.
• Saltcedar Control - The Saltcedar Program is responsible for controlling all saltcedar, a non-native invasive species, on LADWP lands within the Owens Valley.
• Spring & Seep Inventory - Owens Valley Spring and Seep Inventory, D. Sada and D. Herbst; an MOU requirement. (2001)
• Independence Regreening Project - Independence Regreening Project Negative Declaration, prepared by LADWP (2004)
• Big Pine Northeast Regreening Project - Big Pine Northeast Regreening Project Negative Declaration, prepared by LADWP (2011)