Mono Lake: A 2025 Plea for Change
Table of Contents
- 1. Mono Lake: A 2025 Plea for Change
- 2. Los angeles DWP Defies Mono Lake Pledge in Water Diversion
- 3. How do the DWP’s water diversion practices at Mono Lake conflict with the Public Trust doctrine?
- 4. DWP Water Diversions at Mono Lake: A Deep Dive
- 5. Geoff, the DWP diverts substantially more water from Mono Lake than originally planned. what are the implications of this for the lake’s health and the habitat?
- 6. The DWP had initially indicated plans for reduced diversions,a move that was welcomed by environmental groups. What led to this change in approach?
- 7. President Trump recently criticized environmental regulations limiting water exports from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, claiming they hindered firefighting efforts. what’s your stance on this assertion, and how does it relate to the current situation at Mono Lake?
- 8. What are your hopes for the future of Mono Lake, and what actions can be taken to protect this valuable resource?
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s (DWP) decision to take almost all of its allotted water from Mono Lake through March has dealt a significant blow to conservationists who have long advocated for its restoration. This move marks a stark departure from last spring’s hopeful indication that the DWP might significantly reduce its water extraction from the iconic Eastern Sierra lake.
Since 1941, Mono Lake has served as a vital water source for Los Angeles, with the DWP diverting its tributaries to meet the city’s needs. This historic reliance on the lake, however, has come at a steep environmental cost. Known for its breathtaking tufa rock formations, its role as a crucial habitat for migratory birds, and its stunning backdrop of the Sierra Nevada mountains, Mono Lake has been at the center of an 80-year-long environmental struggle.
Decades of water diversion have led to drastic drops in Mono Lake’s surface level, reaching historic lows in the 1980s. This depletion has substantially increased the lake’s salinity, jeopardizing the tiny crustacean species that form the base of the local food chain, ultimately impacting the migratory birds that depend on the lake.
There was a glimmer of hope in July when Mono Lake, fueled by excessive snowmelt, reached its highest level in 17 years. However, the water level is now declining, pushing the lake further away from a critical state goal set in 1994: to restore its surface elevation to 6,392 feet. The lake currently sits 9 feet below this target.
Last May, the DWP reached out to stakeholders with an apparent olive branch, suggesting a potential reduction in water extraction during the upcoming winter season. This gesture, though, seems to have been short-lived.
As 2025 progresses, the urgent need for real action to restore Mono Lake to health becomes increasingly apparent. The time for collaboration and responsible water management is now.
Los angeles DWP Defies Mono Lake Pledge in Water Diversion
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP) has sparked controversy by exceeding its planned water diversions from Mono Lake despite a commitment to reduce water intake. In its annual operating plan, the department had indicated a plan to take only 4,500 acre-feet from the lake’s tributaries through March 2025, significantly less than its full allotted amount. This plan, hailed by environmentalists as a step towards restoring the shrinking Mono Lake, represented a “new path forward, and upward,”according to the Mono Lake Commitee.
However, just six months later, the department began exceeding its self-imposed limit, ultimately diverting over 8,545 acre-feet by January 29th.According to a live tracker maintained by the Mono Lake Committee, the DWP is on track to reach its full annual allotment by the end of March, when a new water year begins.
“We always try to maximize aqueduct deliveries to the city,” stated Adam Perez, DWP’s Los Angeles Aqueduct manager, explaining the agency’s decision. “That’s in part because water from the Eastern Sierra is one of the city’s cheapest supplies,” he added. Perez cited the ongoing drought and low water levels as key factors influencing the decision to increase diversions.
Geoff McQuilkin, executive director of the Mono Lake Committee, expressed disappointment at the DWP’s decision, calling it a “deflating disappointment” for those who had pushed for voluntary reductions in water diversions. “It wasn’t illegal,” he conceded, “but reducing diversions in the frist place was a voluntary action. That was kind of the point — to show that we’re all working together… taking a collaborative approach forward. And that’s what’s so disappointing that DWP said, ‘Yeah, we’re not going to do that.'”
This situation underscores the increasing tension surrounding water rights and environmental concerns in California. president Donald Trump’s recent claim that environmental regulations limiting water exports from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta hindered firefighting efforts has fueled this debate.
Bruce Reznik, executive director of L.A. Waterkeeper, refuted this claim, stating, “More Mono Lake water wouldn’t have stopped that fire, and the Delta woudl not have stopped the fires.” He emphasized that for months, Southern California’s water supply system has been nearly full, with large reservoirs near capacity. The recent water shortages experienced during the Palisades Fire were attributed to local delivery problems caused by inadequate pipeline capacity to handle the sudden surge in demand, leading to pressure loss in the system.
How do the DWP’s water diversion practices at Mono Lake conflict with the Public Trust doctrine?
DWP Water Diversions at Mono Lake: A Deep Dive
The decision by the Los Angeles department of Water and Power (DWP) to increase water diversions from Mono Lake has sparked controversy and raised concerns about the future of the iconic natural landmark. To delve deeper into this complex issue, we spoke with Geoff McQuilkin, Executive Director of the Mono lake Committee, a dedicated environmental advocacy group working to protect and restore the lake.
Geoff, the DWP diverts substantially more water from Mono Lake than originally planned. what are the implications of this for the lake’s health and the habitat?
“The DWP’s actions are deeply troubling. Mono Lake is already struggling with decades of reduced water levels and increased salinity due to excessive diversions. While officials cite drought conditions and the need to meet city demand, increasing diversions only exacerbates these existing problems, threatening the delicate ecosystem that depends on the lake’s stability. The tiny brine shrimp, the foundation of the food web for migratory birds, are especially vulnerable to these changes. This directly impacts the millions of birds that rely on Mono Lake for sustenance during their long journeys. The DWP’s actions seem to prioritize short-term water needs over the long-term health of the lake and the environment it supports.”
The DWP had initially indicated plans for reduced diversions,a move that was welcomed by environmental groups. What led to this change in approach?
“We were cautiously optimistic when the DWP suggested voluntary water reductions. It seemed like a step in the right direction,a commitment to working collaboratively towards a shared goal of ecological restoration. However, their recent actions demonstrate a lack of genuine commitment to these efforts. Their clarification, focused on maximizing water availability and affordability, fails to adequately address the ecological consequences of their decisions. It’s a disappointing departure from the path of collaboration we had hoped for.”
President Trump recently criticized environmental regulations limiting water exports from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, claiming they hindered firefighting efforts. what’s your stance on this assertion, and how does it relate to the current situation at Mono Lake?
“The president’s comments are misleading and lack factual basis. More Mono Lake water wouldn’t have prevented the recent wildfires, and Delta regulations played no role in firefighting efforts. Southern California’s water storage system currently has ample capacity. The fire crisis stems from compound issues like climate change-driven droughts and lack of investment in wildfire prevention and management strategies. Blaming environmental regulations is a distraction from addressing the real underlying causes.”
What are your hopes for the future of Mono Lake, and what actions can be taken to protect this valuable resource?
“We continue to believe that a sustainable future for Mono Lake requires a multi-pronged approach: increased public awareness about the lake’s importance, aggressive conservation measures, and responsible water management practices. The DWP needs to uphold its commitment to the lake by implementing sustainable water diversion strategies and prioritizing the ecological health of the basin. We urge the public to engage in this conversation,advocate for responsible water policies,and support organizations like ours that are working tirelessly to protect this natural treasure for generations to come. The future of Mono Lake is in our hands.”
