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
- Lower Owens River Project
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
- History of the LA-Inyo Long Term Water Agreement (LTWA) that led to the Lower Owens River Project and the rewatering of the Lower Owens River.

Lower Owens River Project brochures from LADWP

Introduction to the Lower Owens River Project.pdf

Lower Owens River Project Restoration Steps.pdf

Lower Owens River Project Map Page 1.pdf

Lower Owens River Project Map Page 2.pdf

LORP Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Report- May 2006.pdf

Lower Owens River Project Contacts.pdf

LORP 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

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