inyo_courthouse1.jpgThe Los Angeles Department of Water and Power wants to sink a well in the Rose Valley area of Southern Inyo and pump 1.5 cubic feet per second, or 1,100 acre feet per year, into the aqueduct. Inyo’s Water Department objects to the lack of environmental review and the potential for significant damage in the area.

DWP’s pump and pipeline would go in about one mile north of the Coso Geothermal wells and ten miles north of Little Lake. When the County considered the Coso wells, there was considerable public objection on that.

DWP issued what’s called a Notice of Intent to Adopt an Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration. Water Director Bob Harrington advises the Board that DWP’s environmental review is deficient. He says that the level of pumping proposed by LADWP by itself and cumulatively with Coso pumping “may have a significant impact.” Harrington also says that DWP failed to abide by provisions of the Long Term Water Agreement.

In a letter for the Board of Supervisors to consider, it says that DWP’s proposed environmental review “should be withdrawn and a new CEQA analysis prepared after the Technical Group has conducted the work related to the project that is required by the Agreement.” The letter says DWP’s current environmental review is “legally inadequate.”

In other matters before the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, after department head reports at the start of the meeting at 10am the Board will hear from the Carson and Colorado Group for an update on the Slim Princess Restoration project. At 1:30pm, the Water Department will ask the Board for direction on agenda items for the August 29th Standing Committee meeting to be held in Los Angeles. At 3pm, the Board will hold a workshop to receive preliminary information on the CAO recommended budget for next fiscal year.

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