The Water Department monitors groundwater-dependent vegetation on the floor of the Owens Valley to evaluate Long-Term Water Agreement vegetation management goals. Methods for monitoring vegetation are prescribed in the Green Book, which is the technical appendix to the Long-Term Water Agreement. Each summer growing season, staff from ICWD and LADWP measure vegetation cover, composition, and water requirements throughout the Owens Valley. These measurements allow the agencies to assess the status of vegetation relative to the goals of the Long-Term Water Agreement and adjust groundwater management accordingly.
Vegetation parcels that are measured each year are shown in the map below. Zoom in to view the location of individual transects.
Historical and current vegetation conditions can be viewed in a static PDF document or in an interactive application.