Owens Lake Monitoring Wells T981 and T982
Summary
SCH Number
2021020284
Public Agency
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
Document Title
Owens Lake Monitoring Wells T981 and T982
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
2/16/2021
Document Description
LADWP is evaluating the potential for using groundwater at Owens Lake to supply a portion of water demand for dust mitigation. The investigation will assist in developing robust protocols for protection of groundwater-dependent resources while conserving water supply from other sources. As part of the evaluation, LADWP proposes to install monitoring wells (T981 and T982) in the northern portion of Owens Lake (see attached map). T981 will be 4 inches in diameter, at a depth of 900 feet, located immediately east of the Owens River Fault in order to improve the understanding of the effect of the fault on groundwater flow. T982 will be 3 inches in diameter, at a depth of 400 feet, installed near the north shore of the Owens Lake playa to verify the existence of a thick clay layer that separates the shallow surficial aquifer from the deeper aquifers. Each site was evaluated for biological and cultural resources to confirm avoidance of impacts to sensitive resources, and a tribal monitor will be present during ground disturbance. Both sites are approximately 100-ft by 100-ft, and located on existing access roads or berms turnouts that were built as part of the Owens Lake Dust Mitigation Program. All project construction activities and equipment laydown would be restricted to the existing compacted roads and turnouts. All applicable avoidance measures from the 2008 Owens Valley PM10 Planning Area Demonstration of Attainment State Implementation Plan, Appendix D, Mitigation Monitoring Program will be followed as appropriate.
Contact Information
Name
Jane Hauptman
Agency Name
City of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Olancha
Counties
Inyo
Cross Streets
N/A
Waterways
Owens Lake
Other Location Info
See attached map.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
15306
Reasons for Exemption
Class 6 consists of basic data collection, research, experimental management, and resource evaluation activities that do not result in a serious or major disturbance to an environmental resource. These may be strictly for information gathering purposes, or as part of a study leading to an action which a public agency has not yet approved, adopted or funded.
County Clerk
Inyo
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
Disclaimer: The Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) accepts no responsibility for the content or accessibility of these documents. To obtain an attachment in a different format, please contact the lead agency at the contact information listed above. You may also contact the OPR via email at state.clearinghouse@opr.ca.gov or via phone at (916) 445-0613. For more information, please visit OPR’s Accessibility Site.