The Inyo County Board of Supervisors on July 22 adopted the 2025–26 Lower Owens River Project (LORP) work plan, budget and schedule, which continues operations, monitoring and targeted invasive species control along the Lower Owens River.

Water Department Director Holly Albert told the board the work plan mirrors prior years and includes maintenance of river conveyances, hydrologic and biological monitoring (including wetted acreage measurements in the Black Rock Waterfowl Management Area), adaptive management tasks, mosquito abatement via the Inyo‑Mono Agricultural Commissioner’s Office and salt‑cedar/pepperweed control. Albert said LADWP (Los Angeles Department of Water and Power) added work this year focused on pepperweed populations along the river and in Black Rock and that those infestations appear relatively immature and more likely to respond to current control methods.

Budget context: the combined work plan cost for both agencies is about $750,000. Under the current post‑implementation agreement with LADWP, Inyo County pays half, approximately $373,000, funded from the LARP (Lower Owens River Project) trust. Albert said that after the projected expenditures the trust will retain about $1.3 million at fiscal year end.

Board members thanked staff for the work and asked for follow‑up reports on invasive species and tree recruitment monitoring. Albert said data analysis on tree recruitment, pepperweed control results and bird use in the Black Rock area will be presented in the coming year.

The board voted to adopt the work plan and budget; there was no public opposition during the record. The motion passed with a recorded vote of “Aye” by the board and the chair announced the motion carried.

What’s next: staff will continue operations and monitoring under the adopted plan and report back to the board when the waterfowl and tree recruitment analyses are completed.