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11/26/2002	Volunteers lengthen list of LORP DEIR/S issues
"Lower Owens River Project Draft Environmental Impact Report/Statement" (LORP DEIR/S) takes a long time to say and--if you have a copy of it—much longer to pore over. Nevertheless, the project, which will rewater more than sixty miles of the Lower Owens River, deserves copious contemplation. With that in mind, concerned LORP DEIR/S readers met November 21 with Mark Bagley to discuss what to look for in the hefty document and to delegate tasks to people who’ve volunteered to help evaluate, process, and publicize the LORP DEIR/S. The resulting list of important issues and focus areas appears below. If you haven’t signed up yet, and if 1) you would like to help critique, process, or publicize the LORP/DEIR/S, or 2) you don’t want to read the LORP but still want to help (we’ve got plenty of tasks available, including photocopying and distributing flyers), or even 3) you don’t want to help but would like to receive one of our upcoming how-to-comment brochures on the LORP/DEIR/S, please e-mail us at lorp@ovcweb.org. Include your name, address, and phone number, and tell us whether you prefer to be contacted by phone or by e-mail. For more information about the LORP or the DEIR/S, see other news items and the issues list below or follow the LORP links in the "Issues" section of our website. The people who are chairing each of the main issues (in capitals below) are responsible for comments on that issue. They should analyze it with input from the other folks signed up for a particular sub-issue, seek help from other volunteers when needed, incorporate comments from others who send it, and prepare the first (rough) draft for submittal to the chairperson for document preparation no later than Dec. 12. This early date for the first draft is so we can use that information in preparing a flyer for public distribution by the end of December. We encourage other input. If you have not signed up for any issues or if you have comments on issues other than the ones you signed up for, please send your comments to the appropriate Chair for each issue you’re commenting on. (E-mail lorp@ovcweb.org if you’ve misplaced your list of issues, names of Chairs, and contact numbers.) The main items (in capitals below) cover the four physical areas of the LORP and chapter or subchapter heading in the document. For each of the first four main items and some of the others we need to look at the project description (Chapter 2), impact assessment and mitigation measures. In looking at the project description portion we need to analyze how the project described corresponds with the project as described in the MOU. We need to pay close attention to the goals for the project as stated in the MOU and determine if the project proposed is likely to meet those goals. RIVERINE RIPARIAN SYSTEM Water quality issues Flow release regime and potential fish kills Fish management; talk with CDFG to see what their concerns are Seasonal habitat flows: release from intake only vs. augmentation of flow from downstream spillgates--how might this affect the ability to achieve project goals? Beaver control Tule control Land management along and adjacent to river Habitat indicator species (not mentioned in DEIR?) General Wildlife discussion (not mentioned in DEIR) Cultural resources; coordinate with tribes to see what their issues are Where does the water come from? Will wells be used directly or for "replacement water"? Roads: (Access) where will they be? Burn Policy What levels/standards will be used to trigger changes to management? Lack of criteria in DEIR DELTA HABITAT AREA Habitat goals: What are DWP’s goals here? What is in MOU? Present conditions: what are they? Baseflows; water budget to maintain present conditions Pulseflows Seasonal flows Pump station alternatives; will the fight for a 50 cfs pumpback delay project? Transition area to brine pool; what are flows and management issues? Impacts to existing wetlands due to lower flows Wildlife and habitat indicator species Cattle drift and grazing management What levels/standards will be used to trigger changes to management? Lack of criteria in DEIR BLACKROCK WATERFOWL HABITAT AREA Habitat goals Flooding regime Inflows; where does the water come from? Outflows; where does the water go? Management of flow in and out for pupfish and tui chub Wildlife and habitat indicator species Land management: grazing, recreation, etc. Weed control Controlled burns? Burn policy is vague Tule control Cultural resources; coordinate with tribes to see what their issues are What levels/standards will be used to trigger changes to management? Lack of criteria in DEIR OFF-RIVER LAKES AND PONDS Wildlife and habitat indicator species (not mentioned in DEIR) DIVERSION, PUMP STATION, POWER LINE AND ROAD SURFACING o Pump station design: is the 50 cfs station really 50 cfs? Do both station designs have the capacity to properly release adequate flows to the delta? Can they adequately gauge the flows? Why don’t they have as complete a design for 50 cfs as the 150 cfs station? Impact of muck in pumpback forebay – will there be dredging and where will spoils go? Impacts on air quality Impacts on fish; talk with CDFG to see what their concerns are Impacts on wildlife Impacts on vegetation Cultural resources; coordinate with tribes to see what their issues are Impact of weeds T & E SPECIES MANAGEMENT Plants Wildlife Amphibians RECREATION PLAN Plan is vague Day use only? Hunting allowed Ask for no plinking How many people without crowding? Sustainability is important Trash/potties Boating? Motorized vs. non-motorized Address long term use ORV use? Mosquito control Equestrian use? Where are figures for different uses? LAND MANAGEMENT PLAN Grazing Woodcutting Road access; get rid of some, improve others Mosquito control MONITORING AND ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT Lack of reporting? How will they report to the public? Where does the money to monitor come from? Consider impact of discontinuation of monitoring Look at the MOU (including Attachment A: LORP Ecosystem Management Plan, Action Plan and Concept Document) Organizational structure? Who monitors? What does Inyo County pay for vs. DWP: 50/50? Are lack of money arguments valid, given expenditures in other areas? Make cumulative argument about their attempts to breach agreement What levels/standards will be used to trigger changes to management? Lack of criteria in DEIR IMPACTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE LORP AS A WHOLE (Ch. 10) Recreation Socioeconomics Public health and safety Noxious weeds Water Supply Impact Energy Growth inducing effects, including indirect impacts Impacts due to funding shortfalls ALTERNATIVES (Ch. 11) CUMULATIVE IMPACTS (Ch. 12) Related to pump station size; possible impacts from new wells, growth inducing impacts, financial analysis CONSISTENCY WITH INYO COUNTY GENERAL PLAN (Ch. 13) OTHER FEDERAL IMPACT CONSIDERATIONS (Ch. 14)
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