Help Us Stop the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s Newest Water Grab
Make Your Voice Heard Against Deep Aquifer Groundwater Pumping
What can I do?
Contribute a public comment. Providing comments is how we make our voices heard. Each and every voice makes a difference! We can show the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) that we care about groundwater and are paying attention to their pumping in the valley.
As LADWP has not provided the public clear opportunity to engage, with no public hearing or board agenda appearance, concerned citizens must provide a written public comment via email.
Submit your written comment to Jane Hauptman, Manager of Environmental Planning and Assessment, Email: jane.hauptman@ladwp.com
The window for written public comments closes on Friday, October 11th, according to LADWP's Environmental Reports page. Written comments will show LADWP that the people of Payahuunadü, and all those who love it, will not let this project fly under the radar without proper public and environmental review.
What to say in your comment?
Make your comments personal to you. What motivates you to speak for the groundwater of Payahuunadü? Why do you care about LADWP’s conduct?
Here are a few talking points you may want to include:
No New LADWP Wells:
These wells are not “replacements” under CEQA as tapping the deeper aquifer was not contemplated in the 1991 EIR or the Long Term Water Agreement, making these proposals to tap into the deeper aquifer via the Laws and Big Pine wellfields new projects that require new study and environmental review.
Pumping from deeper aquifers attempts to side-step the existing monitoring system to evaluate environmental impacts, and it risks a host of potential damages to our valley’s ecosystems.
While LADWP claims deep aquifer pumping will prevent vegetation damage, LADWP is still failing to mitigate the impacts they have already inflicted upon our valley through excessive groundwater pumping. LADWP should focus on proper mitigation before moving forward with further attempts to pump more groundwater, especially without review on the long-term effects of this strategy.
Failure to Engage Tribal Nations and the Public:
LADWP must consult with local Tribes when undertaking a project as part of California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Assembly Bill (AB) 52. LADWP has failed to initiate Tribal Consultation Procedure in considering this project exempt from proper CEQA review, leaving local Tribes out of the conversation and planning of projects on their traditional homelands.
LADWP has once again failed to properly communicate changes in water management and planning to the general public, making this information available only to those who are able to actively seek it out. Members of the public have the right to clear information on projects which have the potential to create long-term ecosystem effects.
Establishing Precedent:
This project sets a concerning precedent for the normalization of deep well aquifer pumping in the valley, an area which has been devastated by groundwater pumping and left unrecovered. With LADWP already planning the development of additional deep aquifer wells to follow this initial project, it is critical that members of the public express concern for this new strategy.
Attempting to label these new, deeper wells as “replacement” wells and slip them into the 1991 EIR as an addendum, therefore avoiding environmental and public review, sets a dangerous precedent for not only the valley, but water across the state. LADWP must not skirt the procedures of the California Environmental Quality Act in this way.
If you have any questions, please email allison@friendsoftheinyo.org.