Download Slides (3.2 MB PDF)

Martin Adams,
Director of Water Operations Nov. 2, 2012

Presentation Topics
The Los Angeles Water System
•
Watershed Management Goals
•
Eastern Sierra Nevada Watershed
•
Environmental Restoration Programs
•
1

LADWP’S SERVICE AREA
The City of Los Angeles
2

Sources of Water
Eastern
Sierra Nevada
Mountains
Delta
Los Angeles Aqueduct
State Water Project
Colorado River
Aqueduct
Local Groundwater,
Water Recycling, and
Conservation
3

Los Angeles Water Supplies
4

Los Angeles Water Supplies
Recycled
Water
1%
Local
Groundwater
11%
Los
Angeles
Aqueduct
35%
(imported)
Metropolitan
Water
District
53%
(imported)
Over 85 percent
of L.A.’s water
supplies are
imported and
subject to
variability or
reductions.
5

LADWP Water Supplies Reallocated for
Environmental Benefits
6

Watershed Management Goals
LADWP employs Best Management Practices
(BMPs) for land and water uses that :
•

LADWP’s Eastern Sierra
Nevada Watershed
314,000 acres
Contains six subwatersheds
Mostly open to
public for
recreational use
8

Mono Basin
Closed drainage basin
on eastern slope of
Sierra Nevada
Terminus of basin is
Mono Lake – 3x saltier
than ocean water
Mono Lake designated
Outstanding National
Resource Water
9

Mono Basin
10

Mono Basin
Mono Basin stream
ecosystem is healthy
11

Upper Owens River
Efforts focused on
enhancement and mitigation
projects
Land and recreation
management plans
established for watershed
protection
Aim is to protect water
quality and improve public
access
13

Owens River Gorge
Gorge dried up in
1953 as flow was
diverted for
hydropower gen
Gorge re-watered
in 1991
Brown trout
fishery is among
best in Western
U.S.
14

Middle Owens River
Land management
planning, including
grazing strategies
Fish and wildlife
habitat management,
including wetlands
Fish Slough
Conservation Area for
Owens tui chub and
Owens pupfish
15

Lower Owens River
Restoration Project
River management
maintains base flows
for healthy fish and
riparian habitat
Wildlife/wetlands
management benefits
riparian, birds, and
other animal species
16

Lower Owens River
Restoration Project
Land use management plan to promote biodiversity
and healthy ecosystem
Recreation management
17

Before
Lower Owens River
Restoration Project
After
18

Owens Lake
Watershed
Total Area:
approx. 110 sq. miles
Brine Pool Area:
approx. 31 sq. miles
Elevation difference:
approx. 46 feet from
the highest to lowest
point
19

Owens Lake Dust
Control Project
Managed vegetation
Annual consumptive use of
approx. 95,000 AF
Shallow flooding
20

Owens Lake Dust Control Project
Best Available Control Measures
Shallow Flooding
Managed Vegetation
Amount in service = 36.25 square miles
Capital Cost = $12.9-million per square mile
Average Water Use = 2,560 Acre-Feet per square mile
Annual Water Cost = $1.24-million per square mile*
Amount in service = 3.57 square miles
Capital Cost = approx. $15-million per square mile
Average Water Use = 960 Acre-Feet per square mile
Annual Water Cost = $0.46-million per square mile*
Gravel
Amount in service = 2.17 square miles
Capital Cost = approx. $33-million per square mile
Average Water Use = None
21

The Future
of Owens Lake
22

Summary
23

Thank You.
Questions?
24