Since time immemorial, the Paiute and Shoshone have lived in Payahuunadü and stewarded the land. Just as water extraction has altered the landscape of the valley, it has severely impacted the cultural lifeways of the Indigenous people. The Paiute practiced agriculture through constructing ditches and managing native plant species, but they were deprived of their ability to do so by forced removal and assimilation. Once Los Angeles, working with the federal government, purchased extensive land and water rights in the valley, the opportunities for Indigenous land ownership and stewardship were severely limited, impacting the way of life and culture. While those impacts continue to be felt, the Paiute and Shoshone Tribes throughout Payahuunadü are preserving and upholding their culture. 

Vegetation across Payahuunadü has been affected by diversions of surface water and pumping of groundwater. In particular, alkali meadow has been affected by groundwater pumping. Alkali meadow relies on shallow groundwater to reach the roots of wetland plant species, such as alkali sacaton and inland saltgrass. Rare or endangered plant species like Owens Valley checkerbloom and Inyo County star tulip also grow in alkali meadow areas. Groundwater pumping has decreased the water table and degraded groundwater dependent vegetation, which in turn impacts the habitat for wildlife and makes it easier for exotic species to invade.

Part of what makes the Eastern Sierra so unique is its rural and natural character. The community values the open land and beautiful vistas, and some even credit that to LADWP’s possession of hundreds of thousands of acres. However, LADWP’s control of the land has come with major costs, and we should consider the ways we can protect this unique place while allowing for community growth. The lack of private land has limited housing and economic opportunities for towns and tribal communities.

In the 1939 Land Exchange between Los Angeles and the federal government, which created the current land base for the Bishop, Big Pine, and Lone Pine Tribes, water rights were not transferred with the land. This was due to a provision in the LA City Charter that says a two-thirds vote from the citizens of Los Angeles is required to transfer water rights. At the time of the Land Exchange, this provision was largely unknown by the Paiute and Shoshone and the Federal Indian Service (now the Bureau of Indian Affairs). The Land Exchange was completed with a promise that water rights would be addressed at a future, later date. To this day, the water rights of these tribes are still unresolved. The Owens Valley Indian Water Commission has been working to address this injustice and advocate for tribes in the valley.

All types of animals rely on water, just as people do. Riparian areas, which depend on a consistent water source, account for a large amount of plant and animal biodiversity although they only take up a small portion of the landscape. In Payahuunadü, animals are continually affected by water extraction which is reducing and changing habitat. The Great Basin Spadefoot Toad is one species that is affected by water extraction and the timing of water management in the valley. Spadefoot Toads rely on water and moist soils, and decreasing groundwater levels have impacted their lifecycle.

Payahuunadü is home to several unique fish species, including the Owens pupfish, tui chub, and speckled dace. These fish used to thrive in creeks, springs, and ponds throughout the region, but changes to their habitat have decreased their populations, resulting in concerns about the species. The pupfish and tui chub have been listed as endangered by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Owens speckled dace is a species of concern for California Department of Fish and Wildlife. All three species have been affected by changes to the natural hydrology of the watershed, including diversions from streams, reduction of riparian and aquatic habitat, and the introduction of non-native species.

The Eastern Sierra is part of the Pacific Flyway, an important migratory route for birds. Birds stop over in places like Mono Lake, which serve as an important source of open water and wetlands for food, rearing young, or taking cover. In California, about 95% of the wetlands have been lost to activities like agriculture and development. Water exports from Payahuunadü have left the region with less riparian and wetland areas, especially in places like the Lower Owens River and Patsiata, reducing the amount of available bird habitat. Paiute elders have spoken of a time when Patsiata was full and so many birds migrated through the area that they would block out the sun.

As a result of water extraction, one of the biggest impacts to health has been dust pollution from Patsiata (Owens Lake). Soon after Los Angeles began diverting water from the Owens River, Patsiata was impacted and went completely dry about 13 years later. This left toxic dust blowing off the drained surface of the lake, becoming the greatest source of PM10 (particulate matter less than 10 microns diameter) pollution in the country. This type of pollution can cause health issues such as reduced lung function and the worsening of respiratory diseases like asthma. Dust from Patsiata affects up to 40,000 people living in the region. LADWP has been required to mitigate the harmful pollution through dust control measures, overseen by the Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District. While mitigation has greatly reduced the amount of dust pollution, there are still concerns over how dust control will be maintained, especially with climate change impacts.

The way water moves, also known as hydrology, in the Owens River and its tributaries has been changed because of water diversion and extraction. The Lower Owens River used to experience seasonal changes in streamflow, with large flows occurring after spring snowmelt and spreading onto the banks and floodplain of the river. This spring flow would support riparian vegetation and habitat conditions, but it changed when LA began diverting streamflow into the aqueduct, leaving the last 50 miles of the river dry. The Lower Owens River Project is a mitigation project that is meant to restore some of the hydrology of the river, but its ecological success has been limited under current management practices.