Owens Valley water wars

Water flows through the Mono Gate No. 1 return ditch below Grant Lake Reservoir, near Lower Rush Creek and Mono Lake.  (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

The Bishop area community of 40 Acres in the Eastern Sierra. The DWP has reached an agreement with the community to keep a diversion gate locked but has provided a bolt cutter for residents to cut the chain in the case of a water emergency.  (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Mono Lake Committee Executive Director Geoffrey McQuilkin, left, and Policy Director Lisa Cutting stand in the spillway at Grant Lake Reservoir in the Sierra Nevada.   (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Water flows through the Mono Gate No. 1 return ditch below Grant Lake Reservoir, near Lower Rush Creek and Mono Lake.  (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Former Mammoth Community Water District Manager Greg Norby walks along the bank of Mammoth Creek.   (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

The spillway at Grant Lake Reservoir.  (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

A chain and padlock secure a water gate on a ditch with water diverted from Pine Creek to the Bishop area community of 40 Acres.   (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Water flows through a diversion gate on a ditch with water from Pine Creek to supply the Bishop area community of 40 Acres.   (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Frank Stewart shows off a bolt cutter that could be used in an emergency to cut a chain and padlock securing a gate on a ditch with water diverted from Pine Creek to the Bishop area community of 40 Acres.  (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Clouds drift over a frozen Grant Lake Reservoir in a view from the lake’s dam in the Sierra Nevada.   (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)