Mammoth Creek provides  a major part of the community's water supply.

Mammoth Creek provides a major part of the community’s water supply.

Even as a new Los Angeles mayor takes office and Department of Water and Power officials will likely change, Mammoth Community Water District officials try to settle what many perceived as a ruthless DWP attack on Mammoth’s water. As of last Friday, the two sides had reached an agreement on terms and conditions.

Water District lawyer Steve Kronick said, “The staff and legal counsel have reached an agreement on terms and conditions that they are willing to recommend to their Boards and Councils.” The details remain confidential.

Kronick said this development was communicated to Judge James Garbolino by email. The two sides had asked the Judge to take their trial briefing and hearing schedule off calendar if they reached some agreement by June 14th. A status conference remained set for July 29th.

Water District officials were stunned by LA’s attack that came sixty years after Mammoth secured water rights’ permits from the State. The Water District hired a top-drawer public relations firm to get out the word about DWP’s legal assault on a small town. Settlement negotiations followed and seemed to nearly reach conclusion when something happened, and it all fell through.

Talks recently resumed, and apparently some deal is possible. The Los Angeles political grapevine has it that Mayor Eric Garcetti may replace the head of DWP and the utility’s commissioners. Would this create a new spin on attacking Eastern Sierra water rights? A factor Mammoth officials may consider.

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