Can you believe that it’s almost Labor Day? This summer has been filled with fun ESLT events and outings, and I was able to find time for a staycation: why leave a place that so many folks come to visit?
I wandered along creeks and lakes that were once threatened by water diversions. Dedicated folks banded together and fought for community rights and natural resources
.
Protections were eventually put in place at Owens Lake and Mono Lake, and restoration began.
It’s an old story. And it may be happening again: local ranchers with leases in the Long Valley and Little Round Valley areas were informed by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) that the amount of water that is normally provided as part of the rancher’s leases would be severely cut back this summer by over 80 percent of historical allocations.
This is not an acceptable situation. We need a healthy balance of sustainable uses to ensure a strong local economy and protection for natural areas, wildlife habitat, and migration corridors.
And that’s why ESLT is part of a diverse and broad-based group of organizations and individuals working to help find solutions to keep local rancher’s livelihoods intact and the meadows green – meadows that are home to many species including the Bi-State sage grouse – while making sure that all of the citizens of Los Angeles do not go thirsty.
And that’s one of the reasons we are so proud to be certifying our 100
th
pollinator garden this month: water conservation is an important part of our
Eastside Pollinator Garden project.
When we come together, we can find
common ground and long-term conservation solutions that work for everyone.
Gratefully, Kay
