City of los angeles general plan

_________________________________________________________________

CITY OF LOS ANGELES CONSERVATION ELEMENT

Adopted September 2001

II-41

acquisition and maintenance, salt cedar plant nuisance abatement and

for county water department environmental programs.

Mono Lake. In 1940 the DWP extended its aqueduct system to Mono Basin,

diverting snow melt waters from Lee Vining, Walker, Parker and Rush

creeks, the main sources that feed Mono Lake. The 65 square mile salty,

alkaline lake lies 6,000 feet above sea level in the high desert of the

eastern Sierra, below the Tioga Pass entry to Yosemite National Park.

More than 250,000 people a year from all over the world arrive by road,

foot or on skis to enjoy the eerie volcanic beauty and magnificent

views. The lake is believed to be a million year old remnant of an

inland sea. Minerals carried by waters that flow through volcanic and

geologic formations maintain the high saline content of the lake, which

provides a unique ecosystem that supports millions of rare brine shrimp

and other organisms. The organisms provide food for migratory birds and

are harvested commercially. Two large volcanic islands (Paoha and

Negit) provide migratory stop-over and nesting sites for thousands of

ocean feeding birds, including phalaropes, which arrive in midsummer on

their way from the arctic to nesting grounds in Baja, California. An

estimated 90% (50,000 birds) of the California and 20% of the world sea

gull population nest on the islands. 

Diversion by the DWP of as much as 95,000 acre feet of water annually,

along with Owens Valley resources, provides Los Angeles with its least

expensive and purest sources of water. But diversion has severely

impacted the Mono Basin, causing the lake to drop as much as 40 feet

since 1941. The drop exposed 21 square miles of lake bed. This resulted

in a doubling of the water's salinity (three times saltier than the

ocean) and left a residue of dry salt and mineral crystals, similar to

that of Owens Lake, that was stirred into dust clouds by high winds. 

In the late 1970s, continued low snowfall in the eastern Sierra,

combined with the DWP's diversion of stream water caused the level of

the lake to drop significantly, exposing land bridges to Negit Island.

Coyotes traversed the exposed land, destroying a colony of nesting

gulls (1978). The Audubon Society and the Mono Lake Committee

petitioned the court to prohibit the diversion of creek waters,

contending it was causing irreversible ecological damage. 

Heavy snowfall during the winters of 1983 and 1984 led to another court

action. The abundant snow melt following the heavy snowfalls caused the

two DWP dams to overflow, sending water and trout down the dry stream

beds that fed the lake. When the DWP resumed its stream diversion,

California Trout, Inc., a sport fishing organization, and the Mono Lake

Committee filed suit requesting enforcement of a state fisheries law

that prohibits killing of fisheries to supply water to an aqueduct. 

---

_________________________________________________________________

CITY OF LOS ANGELES CONSERVATION ELEMENT

Adopted September 2001

II-42

After a decade of litigation and negotiation, the state Water Resources

Control Board (1994) issued Decision No. 1631, which establishes a

schedule of stream flows; fixes the amount of water the DWP can divert

from the basin, based on the elevation of the lake; and requires

preparation of a stream and waterfowl habitat restoration plan.

Following a settlement agreement between Los Angeles and interested

parties concerning the monitoring program, the board (1998) approved

the stream and waterfowl habitat plan.

The plan permits the DWP to export 16,000 acre feet of water a year

from the basin. This figure will increase to 30,000 acre feet per year

when Mono Lake reaches an elevation of 6,391 feet. The lake had risen

to 6,385 feet by 2000, sufficiently covering the land bridges between

Negit Island to ward off coyotes. It is anticipated that it will take

approximately 20 years for the 6,391 level to be achieved.

To assist Los Angeles in replacing aqueduct water due to the reduced

diversion, the state legislature (1994) approved a bill allocating $36

million for water projects in Los Angeles, primarily for the East

Valley Reclamation Project in the San Fernando Valley. The East Valley

Project will provide an estimated one-third of the amount of Mono Lake

water lost as a result of the settlement. The DWP will supply remaining

water needs by purchase and from other sources.  

Conclusion. The city is responsible, in whole or in part, for

management of facilities and properties it owns or operates outside its

borders. Its stewardship includes consideration of potential impacts on

and management of natural areas and scenic resources.

Continuing issues:

N

 Meeting the city's water, power and other needs while at the same

time striving to be a good steward of natural resources and to minimize

impacts on the environment.

N

 Compliance with environmental protection legal agreements involving

City owned or operated facilities which are located beyond the city's

borders.

Habitats and scenic areas outside the city objective, policies and

programs:

Objective: protect important natural habitats and scenic sites outside

the city which are owned by the city or are impacted by city

facilities.

---