Owens valley water conflict books

Virtually all the ground water in the owens valley aquifer system is derived from precipitation that falls within the owens valley drainage basin area. Kahrl, a california water expert, has written a brilliant book, by far the best i. Over the course of the next several years, water that would have previously flowed into owens lake was transported to the southland. By the time soil moisture is depleted, even if pumping stops, the water table may not recover in. The telling in words and pictures of one of the eastern sierras most incredible mule packing outfits mt. Thus was i introduced to the owens valley water war. The owens valley by jane wehrey arcadia publishing books. Confrontations escalated to several dynamitings of the aqueduct. Owens valley has a semiarid to arid climate, with average annual rainfall of about 6 inches 15 centimeters. This book, then, is scarcely the last word on the owens valley conflict. The legacy of owens valley raises concerns about how reallocation can occur. It is not the purpose of this work to propose a specific format for the settlement of the citys. New environmental and recreational values and air pollution concerns have ushered in demands to curtail the shipment of.

Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. The greatest good with further development of the valley for agriculture as described earlier, came a rising interest in the natural water supply that fueled american expansion. Museum tells story of california water conflict the. The water fight that inspired chinatown the new york times. A couple of the chapters in my 2001 book, the san fernando valley. Owens valley indian water commission protecting tribal. Groundwater recharge deep infiltration occurs primarily through the alluvial fans as water runs off the sierra nevada as a result of snowmelt or rainfall. News of the explosion came as a shock to most angelenos. A feat of engineering and a product of political maneuvering, it nurtured the regions growth while leaving conflict in its wake. The stated purpose of the mou is to resolve the conflict over the lorp and other provisions of ladwps 1991 eir. Owens valley indian water commission, bishop, california. And in inspiring officials at the state level to press for the construction of still larger delivery systems to benefit california as a whole, the example of the citys aqueduct. The owens valley indian water commission, or oviwc, is one of a growing number of organizations around the world working to protect water resources for current and future generations. The history of owens valley towns, pioneering families.

They figured out who owned water rights in the lush valley and began quietly purchasing land, posing as. This was a war more in legend than in fact, a war of no heroes and of two conflicting populist ideologies. Try searching on jstor for other items related to this book. The story that has emerged here is at once very different and more troubling than the conventional treatments of the conflict as a simplistic political morality play. True, tensions had been simmering in the owens valley for some time, but until now the trouble hadnt advanced beyond threats, bluster, and inconclusive standoffs. What little agriculture is attempted depends upon shortterm leases that permit the city to withhold the water at any time.

Owens valley tragedy university of california, irvine. The origins of the owens valleys dust problems date back nearly a century. Communities like ours all around the globe are struggling to maintain. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading water and power. The owens study area is approximately 1,030 square miles 2,668 square kilometers and includes the owens valley groundwater basin california department of water resources, 2003. As harrington, the county water director, wrote in a 2005 article in the owens valley monitor. The owens valley indian water commission is an organization involved in protecting the precious waters that sustain all life. A reading and book signing with author rebecca carrer. Owens valley, then, demonstrates the importance of distributional issues in water trades when the stakes are large. California history section 900 n street room 200 9. But the may 21 bombing signaled an escalation of the conflict to a new, more violent plane.

Rain shadow tells a tale of owens valley sierra wave. Bishop by brenden vaughan, pam vaughan and laws railroad. Owens valley residents began to fight the citys water export. Various tributaries to owens river form from this massive amount of receding water which carry the water down the 80 mile river ending in owens lake. Groundwater quality in the owens valley, california usgs. I finally asked the seventhday adventist doctor why. For many people, at least outside the far west, the mention of californias water wars tends to conjure roman polanskis chinatown. Pages contain marginal notes, underlining, and or highlighting. Enlisting the secret support of local political and business leaders, without letting owens valley farmers and ranchers, or even angelenos, know what he. Bishop was named after sam bishop, who drove cattle into the area and settled along bishop creek. For any fair commentary on the ladwp owens valley history, no writer should begin without first reading libecaps owens valley revisited. Owens valley indian water commission home facebook. University of california press, 9780520050686, 584pp.