‘Scientists See Stark Future for Mono Lake’

The Times’ editorial (“A Piece of the Mono Lake Puzzle,” Aug. 7) correctly points out that the process to resolve the Mono Lake issue may well involve finding a replacement water supply for up to 500,000 Los Angeles residents. However, this is not just a problem for the city to solve.

Any equitable solution to balancing the need for water by Los Angeles residents with the need for water to maintain the ecosystem of saline Mono Lake must involve all Californians and the federal government, for all parties hae a stake in the management of the Mono Basin’s natural resources. In such a resolution, it seems clear that the people of Los Angeles should not be unfairly burdened with a reduced water supply or paying an additional $30 million annually for replacement water and energy supplies.

Beyond the increased costs of water and energy, we also have a very real concern about the availability of a reliable and high quality replacement water supply. The most probable scenario would involve additional diversions from the environmentally sensitive Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

Fortunately, the recently released National Academy of Sciences report indicates Mono Lake will remain productive for many years, so there is ample time for a cooperative process to develop equitable solutions to providing water for both Los Angeles residents and maintaining the Mono Lake ecosystem. Toward that goal, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is prepared to shoulder its share of the responsibility in evaluating alternative water supplies and continued funding of Mono Lake research and monitoring programs. We are committed to the development of long-term management strategies, based on scientific fact, that will address both the needs of city residents and the lake environment.

DUANE L. GEORGESON

Assistant General Manager-Water

Dept. of Water and Power

Los Angeles