Letter to USFS-Water Drilling

United States Forest Service
District Ranger Inyo National Forest
Jon Regelbrugge
P. O. Box 148
Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546
December 9, 2007

In accordance with stated California Environmental Protection Agency, states Water Resources Control Board, Division of Water Rights, Environmental information for petitions, it is believed that a comprehensive California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) or National Environmental Protection (NEPA) is required before numerous known water drilling projects shall be authorized within the June lake Loop.

According to the General Manager of the June Lake Public Utility District (JLPUD), they have requested authorization from the USFS to drill water wells in the Fern Creek headwaters area to supplement a current shortage in the Fern Creek water supply system. Additionally, the JLPUD will be requesting authorization to drill water wells in the Snow Creek watershed area to supplement anticipated shortages in the Snow Creek water supply system servicing the June Lake Village area.

In addition to the aforementioned JLPUD water drilling plans, the June Mountain Ski area (JMSA) has numerous ground water drilling plans. According to the manager of the JMSA, they have requested authorization from the USFS to drill numerous water wells around the JMSA including in the Snow Creek watershed area. As stated, this increased water well drilling is to enable the JMSA to increase their snow making capacity by several hundred percent. They estimate that they will need approximately 500 afa which is more than the JLPUD uses to support the entire June Lake Village. The JMSA manager stated that they anticipated authorization by January 2008 and expect to start drilling by summer 2008.

The JMSA manager did state that an Environmental Impact Report was required and would be completed. The JLPUD General Manager, however, stated that there were no restrictions on ground water drilling except to drill deeper than 75 feet.

All of this planned ground water consumption coupled with Intrawest’s recently drilled wells to support the planned Rodeo Grounds development project is extensive and will have a significant and unknown impact on the entire local watershed.

Based on the aforementioned significantly extensive cumulative planned water consumption expansion, the June Lake Advocates (JLA) believe that a comprehensive EIR and/or a CEQA or NEPA is absolutely necessary to determine the impacts on the entire June Lake Eco system, watershed, riparian vegetation, aquatic life, macroinvertibre and fisheries. Additionally, impacts on downstream watersheds including Mono Lake must be determined.

The JLA believes that the planned extensive ground water consumption will be detrimental to both the future of the June Lake Loop’s economic and recreation basis.

The June Lake Advocates believe that both the USFS and the State Water Resources Control Board should not authorize any ground water drilling or additional surface water permits until a cumulative or EIR and or CEQA or NEPA is completed.

It is also believed that other water shortage solutions including outside of the area source and growth controls or moratoriums shall be considered.

Sincerely,


Al Heinrich, President
June Lake Advocates
P. O. Box 610
June Lake, CA 93529

CC: Deputy District Ranger Mike Schlafmann
State Water Resources Control Board
LADWP