
Current DWP water export:
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In this new year, the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (DWP) continues to take water away from Mono Lake. Water exports are now far in excess of the 4,500 acre-feet commitment made by the Mayor and documented in DWP’s Mono Basin Annual Operations Plan.
The impact of the Los Angeles fires on residents is huge, as is the challenge of wisely rebuilding. DWP leaders have been involved in the response around the clock; this Los Angeles Times article provides one profile. And questions about hydrants running dry have led to multiple investigations involving DWP. (Water distribution issues in the fire-affected area are not, however, linked to LA Aqueduct operations, or Mono Basin exports; Southern California overall has historically large amounts of water on hand, as this news article reviews in detail). The Committee looks forward to reengaging in conversations about Mono Lake and aqueduct operations in the coming weeks.
While the devastating fires have rightfully taken the full attention of the City and DWP leaders, continuing exports have raised many questions that need conversation. In the meantime, the Committee continues to track DWP’s exports closely due to their decades of impact on Mono Lake’s ecological health, air quality, and tribal and scenic resources. The counter above shows the current total.
In November, DWP exceeded the voluntary 4,500 acre-foot water export limit. Inquiries from the Mono Lake Committee and others went unanswered for weeks. In mid-December DWP water operations staff finally stated that DWP intends to take the maximum allowed amount of water—16,000 acre-feet—despite the commitments of City leadership.
The State Water Board took note of DWP’s reversal of its commitment and has accelerated the schedule for the hearing about Mono Lake as a result.
Note: The Mono Basin export counter at the top of this post represents the total amount of surface water exported by DWP from the Mono Basin during this runoff year (April 1, 2024–March 31, 2025). We are using provisional DWP daily data to calculate the per minute rate of water export and generate the counter output. Although water export is underway around the clock at a fairly steady rate, fluctuations in the flow can affect the export total over time; if necessary, we adjust the counter accordingly.
Top photo by Jessica Schneider.