The current goal of my activities as conservation chair is to focus attention on the excessive groundwater pumping conducted by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP) and the destructive effects this pumping is having on Owens Valley alkali meadow habitat. This habitat is rare in California and is home to a number of rare species.
DWP's pumping is supposed to be managed in accordance with provisions of the Inyo-LA Long Term Water Agreement (LTWA). There are abundant data, however, showing DWP's management is not in compliance with the LTWA. For more information about the provisions of the LTWA and DWP's failed implementation of it, please visit the Owens Valley Committee website at www.ovcweb.org.
DWP Recognizes Bristlecone Chapter:
Over the years I've written many articles about problems in Owens Valley groundwater management and DWP's excessive pumping. I know they have some effect on public opinion, but I've never gotten direct responses from DWP or Inyo.
Last July, on behalf of the Bristlecone Chapter, I submitted to the Technical Group a written request that it address management problems at parcel Blk094 (south and west of Blackrock Fish Hatchery). Even this direct request for action has so far generated only an indirect response. DWP wrote a draft response to my request, but sent it to Inyo County Water Department (ICWD). ICWD didn't even disclose the existence of DWP's draft response until DWP itself mentioned the letter at the Standing Committee meeting in January 2008.
Recently, however, the Bristlecone Chapter made a big breakthrough: DWP actually communicated with us directly! President Steve McLaughlin recently received a letter from none other than DWP's Gene Coufal. The letter stated that DWP has been informed of CNPS activities on DWP land without its knowledge and permission. The letter states that requests for permission must be sent at least 30 days before a scheduled activity.
CNPS has been conducting field trips on DWP land throughout the entire history of our chapter, and, as far as I know, this is the first time a permit has been required. What is the activity which triggered the permit request? A field trip I will lead on June 7 to look at the management problems around parcel BLK094!
I've already submitted my permit application. Now that Mr. Coufal has decided it is OK to communicate with us directly, perhaps DWP General Manager David Nahai will follow suit and finally answer my letter requesting a meeting!
[May/June 2008 Newsletter excerpt]
