Help Us Stop LADWP's Newest Water Grab:
Make Your Voice Heard Against Deep Aquifer Groundwater Pumping |
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On September 10, 2024, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) filed a California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Notice of Exemption and Notice of Determination (NOE/NOD), for a project to install two new wells in the Owens Valley. LADWP argues that because these proposed wells are "replacements" for existing wells, despite going significantly deeper than the existing wells, they should be exempt from new environmental review, as replacement wells would fall under the 1991 Environmental Impact Report (EIR).
One of the wells (the “new Laws well”) is to be drilled in the Laws wellfield near Well 247. The other (the “new Big Pine well”) is to be drilled in the Big Pine wellfield near Well 379. Both new wells would be drilled to approximately 700 feet, far deeper than either W247 or W379. Clearly, these are not replacement wells, but new water extraction projects which were not evaluated in the 1991 EIR. To make matters worse, LADWP has put four additional deep aquifer wells “in the hopper” for development.
LADWP is trying to avoid public and environmental scrutiny by using the misleading and incorrect language of "replacement" wells. It is critically important that our community push back hard against these efforts to increase extraction without any environmental analysis. |
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Contribute a public comment. Providing comments is how we make our voices heard. Each and every voice makes a difference! We can show 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.
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What to say in your comment? |
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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: -
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.
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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.
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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.
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Failure to Engage Tribal Nations and the Public:
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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.
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- 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.
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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.
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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.
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