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 As a direct result
of the Committee's efforts, both state and federal
governments have provided Los Angeles millions of dollars
in matching grants to help build water reclamation plants
and to help finance conservation in Southern California,
stipulating that DWP agree to credit the water created to
Mono Lake's protection. The Committee continues to work
with Los Angeles on becoming more water independent,
seeking funding and public support for reclamation
projects throughout the Southland which will help ensure
Mono Lake's long-term protection.
Replacement water
supplies are typically compared to Mono Basin diversions
on an acre-foot to acre-foot basis. However, it's
significant to note that conservation by Los Angeles
residents in recent years has made LA's water supply
stretch farther than ever before. In fact, despite growth
of almost a million people between 1975 and 1995, LA's
water usage (of 550,000 - 600,000 AF/yr) had not changed.
As a result, replacement supplies will, in the future,
serve even more people than past diversions from Mono
Lake.
 In 1989 the state
legislature passed AB 444, establishing a $60
million fund of investment capital to help Los
Angeles build water reclamation and conservation
facilities (DWP did not apply for this money
until 1994, by which time only $36 million
remained). The bill was intended "to benefit
Mono Lake's ecosystem and contribute to the
permanent protection of the Mono Basin
environment."
- In 1992 the Western Water Bill, H.R. 429, was
signed into law. It authorizes a contribution of
federal money for "a project to develop
120,000 acre-feet per year of reclaimed water in
Southern California (which) is expected to offset
water diversions from the environmentally
sensitive Mono Lake Basin."
- In 1995, the city received about $10 million to
support water reclamation and conservation
development.
Reclamation Sources:
| West Basin reclamation facility. |
100,000 acre-feet |
| East Valley reclamation facility |
35,000 acre-feet |
| Conservation, other reclamation
sources |
6,250 acre-feet |
| Total |
141,250 acre-feet |
 Several task forces have moved forward
with plans to price and manage water in more
environmentally sound ways. The Mono Lake Committee was
part of the Los Angeles Mayor's Blue Ribbon Committee on
Water Rates which in 1991 set new, conservation- based
rates for the city. The Committee is also on the steering
committee of the California
Urban Water Conservation Council which helped
negotiate an agreement between urban water agencies
throughout California to "consider water
conservation on an equal basis with other water
management options." The Council developed a list of
"Best Management Practices" for water
conservation which are expected to save 700,000 acre-feet
of water annually by the year 2000 in Southern California
alone.
The Committee also works in Los
Angeles with other groups belonging to the Los Angeles Water Conservation Council,
like the Mothers of East Los Angeles, which carry out the
work of water conservation, and operating programs like
the Ultra-low-Flush Toilet
Distribution Program. By making Los Angelenos aware
of the source of their water supply at Mono Lake, the
Committee hopes to maintain support for Mono Lake at both
ends of the aqueduct.
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