Owens River Water Trail

Inyo County | September 1st, 2015

The Owens River Water Trail is a signature recreation project—the first dedicated water trail on a river in California. The project creates a 6.3 mile water trail on th

The Owens River Water Trail is a signature recreation project—the first dedicated water trail on a river in California. The project creates a 6.3 mile water trail on the newly re-watered Lower Owens River in the scenic Owens Valley that is solely dedicated to kayaks, canoes, and other paddlecraft. Recreationists will find well designed parking areas, accessible paths to the river, and formal paddlecraft entry and exit points.  The Owens River Water Trail is also improves aquatic habitat; opening up the river and improving transport of organic sediments. The Lower Owens River is a component of the Lower Owens River Project (LORP) which, in addition to ecosystem recovery promotes sustainable recreation. The area of the proposed water trail has a moderately wide channel characterized by large areas of open water separated by relatively short lengths of channel that are obstructed or bridged by bulrush and cattail (collectively referred to as tules). Tules and coyote willow line the margins of the open water channel; ponds open to salt grass meadow.  Tree willow is the dominate overstory. The river has a sustained 40 cfs flow and a yearly seasonal habitat flow of up to 200 cfs. The project is expected to improve water quality. Years of low flows prior to 2006 allowed tules to colonize the channel. In places, thick beds of tule roots completely cover the river bottom and vegetation blocks the channel. The seasonal habitat flows meant to move muck out the system are diminished in the vegetation and the buildup of organic material, derived from decaying tules, cannot be effectively flushed by the habitat flow. The project improves water quality by opening these blockages. The newly established channel will better fit the river’s hydrograph and is expected to improve flushing of organic sediment and protect the fishery. Inyo County and LADWP jointly manage the LORP. A preferred Recreation use plan for the LORP, which has at its core a river trail, has the support of LADWP and parties to the MOU, and was developed by a diverse range of stakeholders including the LADWP, conservation organizations, ranchers, anglers, students, area Indian Tribes, local, state, and federal agencies, local businesses, and the general public. A water trail on the Lower Owens River has popular support, and now area businesses, local agencies and NGOs are meeting to discuss forming a Lower Owens River stewardship group. The entire project area is owned by the City of Los Angeles and is open to daytime use by the public. The Owens River Water Trail is 2.5 miles from the center of Lone Pine, easily accessible by bike or car. Lone Pine aspires to be identified as a River Town; this project establishes that connection. The Lone Pine economic plan associated with the project includes a concessionaire running regularly scheduled drop-offs and pick-ups of boaters between the river and the many local hotels.

Owens Valley Groundwater Basin Final Groundwater Sustainability Plan

Owens Valley Groundwater Authority | December 9th, 2021

The Owens Valley Groundwater Basin and Fish Slough subbasin (Basin) were assigned a low priority status by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and are not

The Owens Valley Groundwater Basin and Fish Slough subbasin (Basin) were assigned a low priority status by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and are not required to be managed by a Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA). GSAs in low priority basins are encouraged to complete a GSP. Following the adoption of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), the Basin was originally ranked as medium priority, but DWR proposed it be assigned high priority and ultimately ranked the Basin as low priority in December 2019. Despite the uncertainty in the Basin ranking before the final ranking was announced the Owens Valley Groundwater Authority (OVGA) elected to prepare a GSP for the Basin. This document is the GSP, and it was developed in accordance with Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) statutory and regulatory requirements. This GSP describes the Basin, develops quantifiable management objectives that account for the interests of beneficial groundwater uses and users, and identifies a group of management actions that will maintain sustainable conditions in the Basin for 20 years after plan adoption. This GSP also contains steps a GSA could undertake to manage pumping to address declining water levels in a portion of the Basin. Preparation and implementation of the GSP by the OVGA is discretionary as long as the Basin remains very low or low priority. This GSP does not pertain to lands in the Basin that are exempt from SGMA, e.g. Federal and state owned lands, Tribal Reservations, and Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) lands managed pursuant to the Long Term Water Agreement (LTWA). LADWP lands in Inyo County are referred to as adjudicated; other lands in the Basin are referred to as GSP lands in this document. Los Angeles-owned lands in the Basin in Mono County are not exempt from SGMA. Due to size, the file has been divided into five parts. Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5

Pacific Coast Salmon Fishery Management Plan

Pacific Fishery Management Council | March 1st, 2016

Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations et al v. Wilbur Ross et al

U.S. District Court, Northern District of California | December 12th, 2019

Pacific Salmon and Steelhead Trout: Managing Under the Endangered Species Act

Congressional Research Service (CRS) | November 30th, 2012

Along the Pacific Coast, 28 distinct population segments of Pacific salmon and steelhead trout are listed as either endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species

Along the Pacific Coast, 28 distinct population segments of Pacific salmon and steelhead trout are listed as either endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), with three additional populations identified as “species of concern.” While no species of anadromous trout or salmon is in danger of near-term extinction, individual population segments within these species have declined substantially or have even been extirpated. The American Fisheries Society considers at least 214 Pacific Coast anadromous fish populations to be “at risk,” while at least 106 other historically abundant populations have already become extinct. Human activities—logging, grazing, mining, agriculture, urban development, and consumptive water use—can degrade aquatic habitat. Silt can cover streambed gravel, smothering fish eggs. Poorly constructed roads often increase siltation in streams where adult salmon spawn and young salmon rear. Removal of stream-side trees and shade frequently leads to higher water temperatures. Grazing cattle remove stream-side vegetation and exacerbate stream bank erosion. Urbanization typically brings stream channelization and filled wetlands, altering food supplies and nursery habitat. Habitat alterations can lead to increased salmonid predation by marine mammals, birds, and other fish. Dams for hydropower, flood control, and irrigation substantially alter aquatic habitat and can have significant impacts on anadromous fish. In addition, natural phenomena stress fish populations and contribute to their variable abundance. Current management efforts aim to restore the abundance of ESA-listed native northeast Pacific salmonids to historic, sustainable population levels. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS, also popularly referred to as “NOAA Fisheries”) in the Department of Commerce implements the ESA for anadromous salmonids. When a federal activity may harm an ESA-listed salmonid, the ESA requires the federal agency to consult with NMFS to determine whether the activity is likely to jeopardize the survival and recovery of the species or adversely modify its critical habitat. Prior to the listing of salmonid “evolutionarily significant units” (ESUs) under the ESA, the Northwest Power and Conservation Council took the lead in the Columbia River Basin under the 1980 Pacific Northwest Electric Power Planning and Conservation Act, by attempting to protect salmon and their habitat while also providing inexpensive electric power to the region. Under this effort, federal agencies and public utilities have spent hundreds of millions of dollars on technical improvements for dams, habitat enhancement, and water purchases to improve salmon survival. Recent years have seen an increased interest by state governments and tribal councils in developing comprehensive salmon management efforts. This report summarizes the reasons for ESA listings and outlines efforts to protect ESA-listed species.

Pacific sea-surface temperature related to rain in California

Nature Portfolio (Springer Nature) | October 1st, 1977

California is experiencing the worst drought in modern history, and there is much concern and speculation about future rainfall prospects. We recently succeeded in relati

California is experiencing the worst drought in modern history, and there is much concern and speculation about future rainfall prospects. We recently succeeded in relating South Atlantic sea surface temperatures (SST) to rain in northeastern Brazil1, and here we use similar methods to relate sea surface temperatures over the North Pacific Ocean to rainfall in California. We found December SST in the north-east Pacific off Washington to have a limited but definite predictive value, and to account for about 45% of the variation in California rainfall for the period February–April.

Pajaro Valley Basin Management Plan Groundwater Sustainability Update 2022

Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency (PVWMA) | November 17th, 2021

Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency Basin Management Plan Update

Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency (PVWMA) | February 14th, 2014

Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency Revised Management Plan

Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency (PVWMA) | February 14th, 2002

Paradise Regained: Solution for restoring Yosemite's Hetch Hetchy Valley

Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) | July 15th, 2004

In this report Environmental Defense provides a planning-level analysis for replacing the water and hydropower benefits that the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir and O’Shaughness

In this report Environmental Defense provides a planning-level analysis for replacing the water and hydropower benefits that the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir and O’Shaughnessy Dam provide.We show how practical, proven water storage, conveyance and treatment alternatives can provide San Francisco a healthy, reliable and secure supply of water that is adequate for current and future needs.  We also explain how hydropower lost as a result of restoring the valley can be replaced without contributing to air pollution or global warming. The alternatives analyzed do not comprise all possible options, but they do demonstrate that workable solutions for restoring Hetch Hetchy Valley exist. We began this study with the premise that all solutions must be technologically feasible and affordable and must assure a dependable supply of safe drinking water. In addition to addressing the water and power needs of San Francisco and other Bay Area communities that rely on the Tuolumne River, solutions must also protect all affected California communities. Most obviously, any restoration plan must protect the Turlock and Modesto Irrigation Districts, whose uses of the Tuolumne River predate and are intertwined with those of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) and its customers. Of course, a restoration plan must also consider the Groveland area, both as a user of the Tuolumne River water and as a gateway community to the Hetch Hetchy region of Yosemite National Park. Our analysis focuses mainly on alternative ways to move and store San Francisco’s existing supply of Tuolumne River water. Environmental Defense developed the TREWSSIM (Tuolumne River Equivalent Water Supply Simulation) model to evaluate the SFPUC’s system performance under a range of water supply alternatives, with and without Hetch Hetchy Reservoir.TREWSSIM incorporates features of both the SFPUC’s planning model HHSM-LSM and the state-federal CALSIM model. The TREWSSIM analysis addresses not only water supply issues, but also water treatment and hydropower. Three expert consultants assisted in our analysis: Schlumberger Water Services provided engineering analyses and modeling assistance; Eisenberg, Olivieri and Associates analyzed water quality issues; and Somach, Simmons  & Dunn assessed the legal landscape. Academic experts provided peer review. The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency, and the Turlock and Modesto Irrigation Districts also provided information to help ensure an accurate report.