L.A. Ordered to Control Owens Lake Dust

Re “L.A. Loses Battle With Owens Valley,” July 3:

When every household and business place in Los Angeles installs water-saving fixtures such as low-flow toilets and shower heads and makes a determined effort to reduce unnecessary water use, I’ll be a bit more receptive to their complaints about how water prices would be influenced by returning water to the Owens Valley.

DEBORAH BURNS

Montclair

Regarding the battle over mitigating the dust from Owens Dry Lake: Both Michael Kenny of the California State Air Resources Board and Los Angeles city officials pleaded for a 90-day cooling-off period. Kenny, while working the crowd during the Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District’s closed session, continually stated he believed the 90 days would present an opportunity for the parties to work out an agreement without having to resort to litigation. The Great Basin board, in its wisdom, gave the city of Los Angeles and the State Air Resources Board those 90 days by extending the period in which L.A. may file a suit from 30 days to 120 days when it passed the State Implementation Plan. Now it’s time for Kenny and the city of Los Angeles to put up or shut up. You got your 90 days, now what are you going to do with them?

One cannot help but wonder where the Environmental Protection Agency has been in all this. Given that Mary Nichols, EPA’s top air official, served on the Department of Water and Power Commission, perhaps I expect too much.

RICHARD H. KNOX

Bishop

Though the Owens Valley vs. Los Angeles DWP episode will be regarded by many as another David and Goliath clash between the rights of the few against the “needs” of the many, it is tempting to hope that the most recent decision signals a deepening awareness of more fundamental issues. Accelerated erosion in the form of dust, sediment and desertification is having a profound impact on what we choose to call our “quality of life,” but the consequences may well be more dire.

Perhaps this is just the opportunity we need to address our development and use of resources for the long term rather than confine our energies to the maintenance of low water rates over the short term.

JOHN TROTTI

Santa Barbara