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Inyo County certifies Owens River Water Trail EIR, clearing CEQA hurdle
Summary
The Board of Supervisors voted to certify the Final Environmental Impact Report for the Owens River Water Trail and adopt a mitigation monitoring and reporting program after a public hearing that included tribal, conservation and local support and questions about spoils handling and DWP coordination.
The Inyo County Board of Supervisors voted May 26 to certify the Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Owens River Water Trail and adopt the project’s mitigation monitoring and reporting program, a step county staff said is necessary before design and permitting can proceed.
County water staff described the project as a 6.1-mile ADA-accessible, non-motorized water trail along the Lower Owens River intended to provide recreation and restoration benefits. ‘‘Certifying the EIR is a CEQA action only and does not approve construction of the project,’’ mitigation manager Larry Freilich said in the presentation, noting grants the county has already secured and additional grant applications pending.
Supporters at the public hearing praised the county’s environmental analyses and urged the board to move forward. Longtime resident Michael Prather said the county’s response to Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) concerns was ‘‘thorough’’ and commended staff for technical work. Representatives from conservation groups and tribal interests argued the project will yield scientific information useful to broader restoration goals.
Several commenters and supervisors pressed staff on spoils management and potential impacts to wetland meadows if river elevations change. Freilich described a ‘‘hybrid’’ spoils option: roughly two-fifths of removed vegetation and root material would be hauled to the Lone Pine Landfill for daily cover and the remainder placed above the 200 CFS flood line to decompose in thinner layers, a method staff said minimizes roadbuilding and disturbance in the floodplain.
Board members also discussed coordination with landowner LADWP, which submitted extensive technical comments during review. Staff said the county’s analyses indicate river vegetation is buffered and that monitoring plans would be part of subsequent permits and lease negotiations; if LADWP requires substantial operational changes later, staff said an addendum to the EIR might be needed.
Following discussion, Supervisor Waddleton moved to certify the EIR and adopt the mitigation program. The board voted in favor and the motion carried.
What’s next: certification allows the county to pursue the ground lease, permits and design work required to move the project to construction, but construction cannot begin until required permits, a lease from LADWP and any additional permit-level mitigation are settled.
Sources: Presentation and testimony at the Inyo County Board of Supervisors meeting, May 26, 2026 (Larry Freilich, Water Department; public commenters Michael Prather; conservation and tribal representatives).
