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O W E N S L A K E UPDATE

Calendar Item 114(Informational Item)

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Owens Lake,

Inyo County

San Francisco

Los Angeles

Sacramento

Eureka

Lake Tahoe

Owens Lake

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Owens Lake Then & Now

Circa 1891

April 2010

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Approximately 110 sq. mi. in size. Los Angeles aqueduct completed in 1913. Lake essentially dry by 1930. Diversion of water led to dust (PM10) coming off

lakebed. Owens Lake is the largest single source of PM10

in the United States. Dust season: October 1 – June 30 In June 1999, CSLC issues 20-year lease to

LADWP for dust control purposes. 90% of emissions now controlled.

Fun Facts

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PM10 = Particulate Matter – 10 microns mean aerodynamic diameter

SCRD = Supplemental Control Requirements Determination

DCM = Dust control measure(s) BACM = Best available control measures HSM = Habitat suitability model (value acres) OLGEP = Owens Lake Groundwater

Evaluation Program LORP = Lower Owens River Project

Acronyms R Us

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Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District; enforces Federal, State and local air quality regulations and works to ensure that federal and state air quality standards are met;

Los Angeles Department of Water and Power; required to mitigate dust emissions on the lakebed.

California State Lands Commission; has jurisdiction over most of the lakebed; issues leases for dust control activities and other uses on the lakebed.

California Department of Fish and Wildlife; issues lakebed alteration agreements (permits) for activities on the lakebed.

Key Government Agencies

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One lease from CSLC and 12 amendments BACM on approx. 41 sq. mi. Breakdown of BACM currently on lakebed:

Current Dust Control Projects

BACM Area (Sq. Mi.)

Shallow flooding 35.2

Gravel cover 2.17

Managed Vegetation 3.7

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3.07 sq. mi. of new BACM in 6 areas.

Transition of 3.4 sq. mi. of shallow flood to other BACM.

Use of HSM & hybrid BACM.

EIR Cultural resource sites

avoided (compliance?) Lease amendment

needed.

Phase 7a

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Phase 9 Based on 2011

SCRD 2.86 sq. mi. of

emissive “lone areas”

1.87 sq. mi. of “watch areas”

LADWP appealed Now in litigation

Potential Future Dust Control Projects

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Commenced in January 2010. Intended to be:• a framework to manage the diverse resources

of the lake, while continuing to control dust.• broad collaborative process involving numerous

stakeholders. Organized into a Planning Committee,

Coordinating Committee, several work groups, & Agency Forum.

Owens Lake Master Plan

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LADWP Great Basin California Dept. of

Fish & Wildlife State Lands

Commission Inyo County Lone Pine Paiute-

Shoshone Tribe

Eastern Sierra Audubon Society/Audubon California

Eastern Sierra Land Trust

Sierra Club Lone Pine Chamber of

Commerce Rio Tinto Minerals Local Ranchers,

Residents & Businesses

Planning Committee

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Dust Control Habitat & Wildlife Water

Conservation Public Trust Values Public Access &

Interpretation Cultural Resources

Mining & Grazing Renewable Energy

(Solar) Economic

Development Monitoring &

Adaptive Management

Key Elements

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HSM developed by Habitat Workgroup to measure the quality of habitat.

Expressed as “Value Acres.”

To be used to ensure no net loss of habitat values and to enhance habitat values in other areas of the lakebed.

Habitat Suitability Model (HSM)

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Process commenced in January 2010. Draft Master Plan released for public comment in

December 2011. Revised draft Master Plan addressing public

comments was to be basis for EIR. At January 2013 Planning Committee meeting,

LADWP presents list of “must haves”. In a letter dated March 26, 2013, LADWP informs

stakeholders of its intent to develop its own plan (the “Master Project”).

On April 17, 2013, LADWP unveils its Master Project Concept to Inyo County Board of Supervisors.

Master Plan Progress

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Broad goals similar to the Master Plan.

LADWP would be lead agency on CEQA.

Proposes use of wide variety of DCM, including some non-BACM.

Goal to reduce water usage on lakebed to 41% of current 95,000 AFY.

Phased transitions.

LADWP’s Master Project

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LADWP required assurances:

1. 45 sq. mi. limit2. Ability to use non-BACM

DCM (because acronyms are fun).

3. Transition 2x as much land as currently allowed under the SIP.

4. Permanent right to implement and maintain the Project on State-owned land.

LADWP’s Master Project

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Master Plan Collaborative

approach with many stakeholders.

EIR w/ CSLC as CEQA lead agency

Uses HSM No agency would

abdicate its authority

Master Project LADWP-led effort.

Role of stakeholders unknown.

LADWP as CEQA lead agency.

Uses HSM LADWP requires

certain assurances

Plan vs. Project Comparison

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Solar Demonstration Project OLGEP LORP ANG Jet Crash

Other Activities

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Goals: meet renewable energy portfolio standards; provide data on the feasibility of solar facilities on Owens Lake.

Located on a 5.3 acre site in north part of lakebed (Phase 8; gravel).

Generate approx. 500 kW of electricity.

Ground-mounted photovoltaic solar arrays.

MND Lease from CSLC needed

(application received). Hope to be operational by

early 2014.

Solar Demonstration Project

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Concrete Ballast Foundations

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Pile-Driven Pier Foundations

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Study at Owens Lake to determine the feasibility of using groundwater in LADWP’s Owens Lake dust mitigation program.• Evaluate the groundwater supply under Owens Lake.• Develop a conceptual hydro-geologic model of the basin.• Study the potential impacts of the removal of the groundwater on

surrounding wells, seeps, springs, and vegetation. Study began in March 2009 and was completed in November

2012. Report recommends an additional 3-year environmental study

phase, including drilling and testing of additional well sites to collect necessary data on fault lines and hydro-geologic connectivity, followed by a 3-year limited pumping phase.

Commission authorization needed for additional wells or the use of groundwater for LADWP’s dust mitigation program on Owens Lake.

Owens Lake Groundwater Evaluation Program

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Restoration project covering a 62-mile long stretch of the Lower Owens River.

Commission a signatory to 1997 MOU between Inyo County, Fish and Game, Sierra Club, Owens Valley Committee, and LADWP.

MOU sets certain terms for restoration, including:• Continuous base flow of approximately 40 cubic feet per second

(CFS).• maintain and enhance adjacent off-road lakes and ponds; • enhance and maintain approximately 325 acres of wetlands habitat

in the Owens Lake Delta; and • preparation and implementation of a long-term management plan.

MOU parties in talks over proposed revisions to allow LADWP to increase capacity of the pump station located at the terminus of the River. The proposed change could allow LADWP to increase base or seasonal flows (i.e., release more water down the Owens River) and recover the additional water when flows exceed 50 CFS.

Lower Owens River Project

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Air National Guard Jet Crash

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Occurred December 27, 2012. Pilot safely ejected. Occurred in northwest part of lakebed.

Not in an area under lease for dust control purposes.

Notified of crash on January 9, 2013 by Inyo County Environmental Health Services.

Air National Guard Jet Crash

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Air National Guard removed wreckage. Approx. 300 gal. of jet fuel and some

hydraulic fluid spilled. ANG conducted soil sampling. Commission staff contacted LADWP, Great

Basin, CDFW, and Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board.

Residual hydrocarbons remain at surface. Does not appear to be a threat to the surface or groundwater quality.

Air National Guard Jet Crash