The Owens Valley Committee

We watch the water

Welcome to OVC Web

The Owens Valley Committee is a non-profit citizen action group dedicated to the protection, restoration, and sustainable management of Owens Valley natural resources, especially water.  The Committee monitors compliance with and implementation of water management agreements, educates the public, encourages participation in local government, and advocates an inclusive and open decision-making process.

OVC is a party to the 1997 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that established the goals and objectives of the Lower Owens River Project.

ACTION ITEM: Oppose industrial-scale solar in Owens Valley!

Not content with drying up Owens Valley, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is now proposing to install the valley's first industrial-scale solar facility at one of the most scenic and historic parts of the valley. Over two square miles at the base of the Inyo Mountains Wilderness across from Manzanar will be bulldozed, bladed, and covered with photovoltaic solar panels. Meanwhile, rooftops in Los Angeles (which could produce far more electricity) are unused. The project's draft EIR is available here (select Southern Owens Valley Solar Ranch) and OVC comments on the draft EIR here. Although the comment period on the draft EIR is over, it is not too late to help:

1) SIGN THE PETITION at Change.org.

2) WRITE LETTERS to LA Mayor Eric Garcetti (mayor.garcetti@lacity.org) and Chairman of the Board of Water and Power Commissioners, Mel Levine. They need to be reminded that Owens Valley has already sacrificed far more than its share for the growth of Los Angeles. LA should work toward self-sufficiency rather than increasing its dependence on Owens Valley resources.
Sample message to Mayor Garcetti / Mel Levine
DEIR comments by Bill Powers regarding feasibility of rooftop solar in LA
Sierra Club arguments against the proposed solar project

Mel Levine
Los Angeles Department of
Water and Power
Room 1555-H, 15th Floor 
111 North Hope Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012


DONATE TO OVC ONLINE USING PAYPAL:
DONATE TO OVC VIA U.S. MAIL:
Owens Valley Committee
PO Box 77
Bishop, CA 93515

Attend the annual OVC fundraiser with guest speaker Bill Powers!



Southern California's unquenchable thirst affects rural northern California as well as Owens Valley. OVC supports the work of the AquAlliance to protect the northern Sacramento River watershed.








Inyo County Water Calendar

Visit the OVC Facebook page!

News (Click listing for details, go to News for more listings, or download our most recent newsletter

2/15/2014   March 22, 2014 OVC fund raising event to feature Bill Powers
1/18/2014   OVC elects Board of Directors for 2014
6/11/2013   OVC newsletter available
5/26/2013   OVC leaves Owens Lake Planning Committee
5/16/2013   Eden Interrupted: Historical perspectives on Owens Valley agriculture
4/14/2013   DWP's Marty Adams to again speak to Inyo Supervisors
4/7/2013   OVC story on KCET
4/3/2013   DWP abandons Owens Lake Master Plan negotiations
2/18/2013   Comments on dust control measures DEIR due March 18, 2013
2/8/2013   Idle No More picketing of LA Aqueduct Centennial commemoration
 

OVC Events

3/22/2014   Annual OVC fundraiser