Statement about the 2014 Lower Owens River Project Draft Report and Adaptive Management Recommendations
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) is grateful for the public participation and open communication expressed in the public meeting held January 14, 2015 in Independence on the 2014 Lower Owens River Project (LORP) Draft Report and Adaptive Management Recommendations. LADWP is optimistic about jointly moving forward with the MOU Parties to implement a modified flow regime for improvements to the LORP.
LADWP, with the Inyo County Water Department (ICWD) and the MOU Consultants, have recognized for some time that changes in flow are needed to improve water quality and riparian vegetation in the LORP. This would further achieve the original project goals. LADWP staff has worked with the MOU consultants to develop a flow regime that can be satisfied within the amount of water available for the LORP. This can be achieved by eliminating the 2007 Stipulation and Order requirements for a minimum base flow of 40 cubic feet per second (CFS) throughout the LORP, and a maximum 50 CFS limit for the Pumpback Station.
We look forward to collaborating with the MOU parties to modify the 2007 Stipulation and Order to implement changes described by the MOU consultant that maximize the beneficial use of the flows available to the project. These measures are to improve water quality and riparian vegetation and should be implemented as soon as possible. This requires amending the Stipulation and Order by mid- February so that we can implement the modified flow regime including a flushing flow in March of this year.
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