LORP Intro
Background Information and Resources about the Lower Owens River Project
Studied by 7th and 8th Grade ESWP field programs since 2001
Background Information
The Lower Owens River Project (LORP) is the largest river restoration of its kind ever undertaken in the United States. This dynamic adaptive management project, initiated in December 2006, encompasses re-watering a 62-mile-long stretch of river and adjacent floodplain left essentially dry after the river was diverted into the Los Angeles aqueduct in 1913. In addition to the new riverine-riparian habitat, the project also includes the 20,400-acre Blackrock Waterfowl Management Area, several Off-River Lakes and Ponds, and the Owens River Delta Habitat Area. (Inyo County Water Department LORP page)
Colorized Photo of Black Rock Spring from 1909, before the aqueduct
LORP and LA Aqueduct Information
- Inyo County Water Department
- LADWP Aqueduct Pages
- Includes history, current conditions (you can see real time flows in CFS), and quite a bit more.
- Owens Valley Committee - a local organization in the Eastern Sierra
Lower Owens River Project brochures from LADWP
Introduction to the Lower Owens River Project.pdfLower Owens River Project Restoration Steps.pdfLower Owens River Project Map Page 1.pdfLower Owens River Project Map Page 2.pdfLORP Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Report- May 2006.pdfLower Owens River Project Contacts.pdfLORP Before and After Photos
7th and 8th grade students in the Owens Valley have been collecting data since before the water was returned to our river. Every year they collect more data, which helps scientists determine how this project to restore a dead river by returning its water is working. This data has been used by botanists, wildlife biologists and fisheries biologists. Thank you for your help!
Blackrock in 2002 - Before Rewatering
Blackrock in 2006 - First Water Returns after 93 years
Blackrock in 2008 - After Rewatering to 40 cfs
