KEEP LONG VALLEY GREEN
In 2018, The Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (LADWP) decided to de-water Long and Little Round Valleys,CA. The LADWP notified leaseholders in that it would be eliminating their irrigation allotments. This water not only helps to support local pasture, it also plays a critical role in maintaining wetland and meadow habitat – much of which were lost in 1941 when LADWP built the Long Valley Dam and created Crowley Lake.
”The rich meadows in Long and Little Round Valley are interspersed with lush riparian corridors, access to the Mammoth Lakes hot springs, and rich biodiversity which includes a wide variety of invertebrate, amphibian, and avian life.
Meadows Provide Significant Environmental and Community Benefits.
Today, the wetland meadows around Crowley Lake and Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountain streams support a biodiversity that includes a variety of invertebrate, amphibian, and avian life – including the native Bi-State Sage Grouse, a species of special concern. The meadows also decrease the risk of wildfire and suppress dust for local communities, and sequester carbon to mitigate climate change impacts.
Meadows Also Support the Local Economy.
Long Valley meadows are the basis for Southern Mono County’s ranching and recreation economies. Ranchers have stewarded these lands for generations, creating and maintaining habitat by spreading water for their operations. The meadows also support recreational tourism and activities such as world class fishing at Hot Creek and the beautiful viewscapes enjoyed by significant numbers of campers, hikers, bikers, and OHV’ers from around the world, including Los Angeles.
The History of Water in the Long Valley...
LADWP Intends to De-Water Long Valley. In mid-2018, LADWP notified agricultural ranch leaseholders in Long and Little Round Valleys in Southern Mono County that it intends to remove all irrigation water from future leases. The agency has not performed any study or analysis this proposal’s impact on Long Valley’s environment, agricultural and recreational economies, the health and safety of local communities, or any other potential effect required by law.
LADWP Historic Operations Destroyed Long Valley’s Original Meadow. Prior to 1941, Lake Crowley did not exist in Long Valley, but instead a large wetland meadow complex existed at the southern end of the valley.
As part of its construction of the Los Angeles Aqueduct system, LADWP constructed Crowley Lake Dam destroying these wetlands meadows.
Irrigation Created New Meadows In Long Valley. Following the destruction of the wetland meadows, LADWP allowed ranchers to irrigate areas around Crowley Lake. Since the early 1940s, ranchers have been allotted sufficient amounts of water to support their agricultural operations. This water also created and maintained wetland meadow habitats – habitats that were lost when LADWP created Crowley Lake. The water spread by ranchers mitigated – to some extent – the destruction of wetland meadows and environmental effects caused by LADWP’s creation of Crowley Lake.
The biodiversity in the includes a wide variety of invertebrate, amphibial and avian life. One native species of renown is the bi-state sage grouse, which is listed in California as a species of special concern. These birds utilize the lands in and around Long Valley as lekking (or mating) grounds. Biologists are concerned that the grouse may be directly threatened by LADWP’s plans to dewater the area.
In addition to various environmental impacts to the area, Mammoth Lakes Recreation is concerned about how LADWP’s plan will affect recreation in the area. Long Valley supports several fisheries, including two world-class fishing resources: Hot Creek and the Upper Owens River. Local fishing guides and tackle shop owners have expressed concern over how the loss of wetland habitats will affect the fishing resources in Long Valley.
Virtually no studies have been done to review the potential impact dewatering will have on Long Valley and the biodiversity in the area. Mammoth Lakes Recreation and others are asking LADWP to reinstate the irrigation allotments at their previous levels until a full Environmental Impact Review can be completed.
In addition to the direct impacts on fishing, LADWP’s actions may also impact winter recreation. Wetlands are one of the most efficient mechanisms for carbon sequestration – an important function in combating climate change. By destroying these wetlands, LADWP is lessening our planet’s ability to fight climate change—changes that are already impacting glacial fields in the Sierras.
If we don’t act now, we will never again see a green Long Valley. We will face the loss of critical wetland habitats, witness likely increases in invasive plant species, and will be forced to manage heightened risks of wildfire.
As part of its construction of the Los Angeles Aqueduct system, LADWP constructed Crowley Lake Dam destroying these wetlands meadows.
Irrigation Created New Meadows In Long Valley. Following the destruction of the wetland meadows, LADWP allowed ranchers to irrigate areas around Crowley Lake. Since the early 1940s, ranchers have been allotted sufficient amounts of water to support their agricultural operations. This water also created and maintained wetland meadow habitats – habitats that were lost when LADWP created Crowley Lake. The water spread by ranchers mitigated – to some extent – the destruction of wetland meadows and environmental effects caused by LADWP’s creation of Crowley Lake.