LADWP Releases 2025-2026 Mono Basin Annual Operations Plan, Highlighting Commitment to Sustainable Water Management and Stewardship of Eastern Sierra Resources
LOS ANGELES, CA (May 16, 2025) — Today, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) released its Annual Operations Plan (AOP) for the Mono Basin’s 2025-2026 runoff year. The AOP sets forth how LADWP will manage water exports and stream releases in accordance with supply conditions, environmental priorities, and its amended water rights licenses. It is a critical tool for ensuring the City of Los Angeles continues to advance its environmental stewardship goals while meeting the water supply and storage needs of Los Angeles.
“The Eastern Sierra is a vital part of Los Angeles’ water system,” said Anselmo Collins, Senior Assistant General Manager, Water Systems at LADWP. “We are committed to being good stewards of this important resource and maintaining a careful balance between fulfilling the needs of the almost four million residents of Los Angeles and protecting the local environment. Our Annual Operations Plan reflects this careful balance.”
The 2025-2026 AOP projects an export of 16,000 acre-feet, subject to ongoing review and revision based on evolving supply conditions, amended water rights licenses requirements, precipitation forecasts, and storage availability.
How is the Annual Operations Plan Developed?
“Our staff work diligently throughout the year, analyzing water availability, supply, and storage needs, as well as environmental conditions. By using the flexible approach we have outlined in the Annual Operations Plan, LADWP is able to ensure that final export figures reflect real-time conditions and the latest data,” said Collins.
The AOP also incorporates findings from the April 1 snow survey and Mono Lake elevation readings, measurements that have been taken for decades to inform forecasting and water exports for the City of Los Angeles. This year, LADWP announced the lake level was 6,383.3 feet above sea level as of April 1, marking two years of steady elevation. Mono Basin is now one of the most protected watersheds in the U.S.
Protecting the Environment and Providing Essential Water for Angelenos
LADWP’s water supply from the Eastern Sierra, including the Mono Basin, is a vital component of diversifying the City’s water portfolio, contributing to safe, reliable, and affordable drinking water for Angelenos. The water is transported via the gravity-driven Los Angeles Aqueduct, which not only provides water to four million Angelenos but also generates clean hydropower along the way.
LADWP has a proven track record of effective water stewardship and ecosystem management. Since 1994, LADWP has reduced its water exports from the Mono Basin by 85% and invested nearly $50 million in habitat restoration. Today, that investment continues to pay off — habitats, fish populations, and native wildlife are flourishing in the region, reflecting progress in restoring the area to a healthy and balanced ecosystem. This proactive approach has also contributed to the ongoing health of Mono Lake, which continues to see positive elevation trends, while every other terminal lake across the West continues to decline.
For more information about LADWP’s work in the Eastern Sierra and to read the full 2025-2026 Mono Basin Annual Operations Plan, visit ladwp.com/easternsierra.
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