Inyo-Mono Integrated Regional Water Management Program: Working with

DACs

Presented at the 2013 Sierra Water Work Group SummitJune 13, 2013

By Mark Drew, PhDRegional Manager, California Trout

Program Director, Inyo-Mono IRWM Program

Acknowledgments: Holly Alpert, Program Manager; Janet Hatfield, GIS/Data Management Coordinator; Rick Kattelmann, Project Development Specialist; Heather Crall, Outreach/Legislative Coordinator; Maya Weinhart, Program Administrator; CA Department of Water Resources; CA Rural Water Association; Sierra Nevada Alliance

Inyo-Mono IRWMP:The Region

• Began in 2008• ~11% of the state• ~ 50% of Lahontan

funding region• Headwaters for local

and City of LA water users

• Long history of water conflicts

Inyo-Mono IRWMP background: The people

Inyo-Mono IRWMP background: The Project

Inyo-Mono IRWMP background: The DAC project

Funding: DWR inter-regional funds via Prop. 84.Primary project goal: To address the needs of disadvantaged communities and Native American Tribes

pertaining to water resources within and beyond the Inyo-Mono planning region.Objectives: Identify limiting factors to achieving water-related needs (technical, managerial,

financial, etc). Identify best practices for engaging parties in water-resources management. Determine if and how legislation can be used as a tool to assist water-related needs. Determining accurate methods for defining and identifying DACs beyond the mean

household income metric. Develop and implement actions to affect change. Share learned information and understandings with other IRWMP regions and DWR.

DAC project tasks & timeline

Task 1: Project planning

Task 2: Outreach implementation & metric groundtruthing

Task 3: Needs assessment

Task 4: Capacity building

Task 5: Report compilation

Task 6: Findings dissemination

Task 7: Documentary

Summer SpringWinterFall SummerSpringWinter Fall Fall

2011 2012 2013

SpringWinter

2014

Some preliminary findings and next stepsReality check: Communities throughout region and beyond are struggling.

Lack of potable water Lack of reliable water supply for domestic, fire prevention etc. needs Lack of technical, managerial and financial resources Engagement remains a challenge

Next steps: Implementing specific needs assessment survey regarding climate change &

data/informational needs. Developing workshop and various trainings targeting identified needs. Examining viability of alternative metrics to characterize DACs. Working with counties to develop collaborative efforts to respond to state

mandates. Producing water documentary. Continued outreach and engagement.

Thank you!

Thoughts are welcome, we look forward to being in touch.

For more information, please visit:inyo-monowater.org

IRWM Programs are as much about managing relationships as managing resources!

EnvironmentalStewardship

Use WaterEfficiently

Protect Water Quality

Tribes & Non-profits

Private sectorPublic agencies

Resources

Stakeholder relationships