Final Push! Speak up to keep our water HERE!

Tomorrow! Final Push! Speak up to keep our water HERE!

Earlier this month, community members and advocates for Eastern Sierra water gathered to tell LA that we want to see more water stay here in the Eastern Sierra. Despite the public rallying behind Inyo county’s reasonable request for reduced pumping, LA has refused to reduce its planned extraction by even a single drop.

LADWP initially proposed pumping ~54,000 – 81,000 acre-feet (AF) of groundwater from Payahuunadü, also known as the Eastern Sierra, over the next year. The Inyo County Board of Supervisors recommended a substantial reduction to 46,540 AF. This number reflects minimal pumping in regions of the valley that are most adversely impacted by groundwater pumping. If adopted by LADWP, this plan would provide some much needed relief to areas that need it most.

The County’s recommended pumping reduction came from determined public input & advocacy for our ecosystems, as well as very productive and meaningful conversations between the Inyo County Water Department, the Inyo County Water Commission, the County Board of Supervisors, and the public. We want to extend our gratitude and acknowledgement to everyone who has come to a public meeting, spread the word, and spoken up for water in Payahuunadü. Your voices have made a difference.

Let’s show up and tell LA that we deserve better. Tomorrow, Wednesday, May 27th, in Independence, we will have a chance to speak to top decision makers from both the city of Los Angeles and the Department of Water and Power (LADWP). The Standing Committee meeting will take place at 11am at 224 N. Edwards St, Independence (in the Board of Supervisors meeting room).

Join the Eastern Sierra Water Alliance (ESWA) at this meeting (in person if you can, but online participation is also encouraged!) and speak directly to LA. Tell them what changes you’d like to see. Find links to the Standing Committee Meeting zoom HERE or via the QR code in the graphic below.

Share this widely with your communities, and we challenge you to bring a friend or family member.
Each person makes a difference. If we stand together, we can show LA that things have to change and we can also show our Inyo County officials that we care about our water and we want to empower them to stand up for us too.

News Staff