100 YEARS AFTER LOS ANGELES
STOLE THE WATER FROM OWENS VALLEY,
THEY'RE FINALLY GIVING IT BACK
Owens River is flowing for the first time in nearly a century. Since 1913, Owens Valley, California has been nothing but sand and scrub and dusty horse trails. In 2008, there’s mud hens and blue herons and songbirds and catfish. For the first time since the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power stole the valley’s water, the Owens River is once again winding through 62-miles of Inyo Country, bringing all kinds of fish and birds with it.
The Lower Owens River Project is one of the biggest river restoration projects in the United States, resulting in a permanent water supply for the creation of nearly 2000 acres of wetland and riparian habitat. Songbirds, water fowl, bass, carp, catfish, and possibly a couple of river otters have already moved back into this formerly-parched region.
The water is being re-diverted from the Los Angeles aqueduct by court order. The Owens River was originally diverted during the infamous “California Water Wars” to supply L.A. County with irrigation and drinking water, leaving Owens Valley dry.
Enjoy your water, Inyo County! 100 years is a long time to fight the good fight. Your perseverance has been rewarded with cool, clear water - and fishing and kayaking and bird watching! I'm sure the whole valley knows how precious their water is, and I hope they'll take good care of it.
A big shoutout goes to the LADWP, Inyo County, the California Department of Fish and Game, the State Lands Commission, the Sierra Club, the Owens Valley Committee, and everyone who helped make it happen.
Sources:
The Lower Owens River Project is one of the biggest river restoration projects in the United States, resulting in a permanent water supply for the creation of nearly 2000 acres of wetland and riparian habitat. Songbirds, water fowl, bass, carp, catfish, and possibly a couple of river otters have already moved back into this formerly-parched region.
The water is being re-diverted from the Los Angeles aqueduct by court order. The Owens River was originally diverted during the infamous “California Water Wars” to supply L.A. County with irrigation and drinking water, leaving Owens Valley dry.
Enjoy your water, Inyo County! 100 years is a long time to fight the good fight. Your perseverance has been rewarded with cool, clear water - and fishing and kayaking and bird watching! I'm sure the whole valley knows how precious their water is, and I hope they'll take good care of it.
A big shoutout goes to the LADWP, Inyo County, the California Department of Fish and Game, the State Lands Commission, the Sierra Club, the Owens Valley Committee, and everyone who helped make it happen.
Sources:
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