Doggie tragedy in the Owen's River Gorge?

Discussion Topic

Return to Forum List

This thread has been locked

Messages 81 - 100 of total 110 in this topic

<< First | < Previous | Show All | Next > | Last >>

jeff constine

Trad climber

Ao Namao

Apr 26, 2016 - 06:50pm PT

just don't bring any pest's no problems.

Escopeta

Trad climber

Idaho

Apr 26, 2016 - 07:09pm PT

^^^^ The best way to not 'lose' a dog in the ORG

rottingjohnny

Sport climber

Shetville , North of Los Angeles

Apr 26, 2016 - 07:17pm PT

Constinetanople.. No pests..? What about crabs..?

jeff constine

Trad climber

Ao Namao

Apr 26, 2016 - 07:53pm PT

OR that right winger Rubio douch bag.

Bob Harrington

climber

Bishop, California

Apr 26, 2016 - 09:26pm PT

Here's some info on Gorge flows:

Short story-- Flows have been high in the Gorge over the past week or two because LADWP has problems with one of the hydro plants and is using the river channel in the Gorge to move water down from Crowley to Pleasant Valley. Releases have been about 116 cfs. Obviously, take care with your selves, kids, and dogs. As Merle said about the Kern, "it ain't deep nor wide, but it's a mean piece of water my friend."

Long Story-- Flows in the Gorge are going to change. The Gorge was dry from the mid-20th century, when LADWP diverted flow from the Gorge for hyropower generation, until 1991 when a rupture in the penstock (the big pipe) forced LADWP to put water into the river channel. Mono County and Calif. Fish and Game sued LADWP to keep some water in the Gorge and a long period of negotiation ensued over what that amount of water should be. The 36 cfs flows that we've become accustomed to over the past couple of decades result from an interim agreement between the parties in place while they negotiated a permanent flow schedule. They reached that agreement in 2014, and began implementing the permanent schedule in 2015. You may have noticed flows were a bit high at certain times last year.

Starting in 2018, in most years, LADWP will begin releasing large flows for periods of either 7 or 25 days during the spring/summer where flows above the Middle Gorge Power Plant will peak at 480 cfs and below the Plant they will peak at 600 cfs. During these times the Gorge will be closed to recreation including climbing. The purpose of the high flows is for fishery and riparian habitat enhancement. The details of the rather complicated flow schedule are on LADWP's website, in their environmental documents, look for a "negative declaration" on the "Owens Gorge Flow Restoration Project." I'd cut and paste the schedules or post a link but I can't get their web site to open at the moment.

Despite some of the comments here, the Gorge is quite popular both for locals and visitors and it will be a challenge to keep folks informed about and compliant with the closures. Notwithstanding the long history of conflicts between LADWP and the Eastern Sierra, LADWP has been a pretty friendly and non-intrusive land manager when it comes to climbing and it behooves us all to work with them on this. In 2018 and thereafter, info on when the high flows are scheduled should be available in April so that the word can get out about the peak flow schedule.

phylp

Trad climber

Upland, CA

Apr 26, 2016 - 09:34pm PT

Thanks, Bob. Useful info.

overwatch

climber

Arizona

Apr 26, 2016 - 10:05pm PT

That's one way to get to climbers out.

Capt.

climber

some eastside hovel

Apr 27, 2016 - 05:18am PT

Excellent Bob. Thank you.

Flip Flop

climber

Earth Planet, Universe

Apr 27, 2016 - 06:01am PT

Bob,
Do you know the "real story" of the rupture (collapse)?

( I'm not talking to protect the heroic)

Bob Harrington

climber

Bishop, California

Apr 27, 2016 - 06:51am PT

Flip flop, I truly don't know.

justthemaid

climber

Jim Henson's Basement

Apr 27, 2016 - 07:29am PT

That's one way to get to climbers out.

Drown them like rats? :)

Incredibly helpful info Bob. Thanks for taking the time to post something helpful rather than hateful.

I am however curious how they plan to keep both climbers and fishermen out during the seasonal closures. April is still pretty popular down there for both groups- they may have a struggle on their hands.

Flip Flop

climber

Earth Planet, Universe

Apr 27, 2016 - 07:42am PT

I'm spillin the beans.

Here's the story.

There is an old goat who fishes the Owens.
He was a longtime LADWP employee and a few months from retirement.
He, knowing the Fisheries Act,
And the peak flows,
And the power of a vacuum,
Made one brilliant mistake.
"Did I open the petcock?" He chuckled.
Did you see the pipe collapsed?
It was beautiful.
And the river was restored for the first time in 50 odd years.
Forevermore .
There is an old goat who fishes the Owens.

phylp

Trad climber

Upland, CA

Apr 27, 2016 - 08:50am PT

I am however curious how they plan to keep both climbers and fishermen out during the seasonal closures.

Well, in the past all they did was put up a sign. I doubt they would do any enforcement. I guess if you go in when they say it's closed and then you get swept away in a raging torrent, that's your problem.

Howie S

climber

Mammoth Lakes, Ca

Apr 27, 2016 - 10:03am PT

"Don't bring pets to the crag, problem solved. SO STUPID. You get what you ask for."

Oh Jeff...You love my dogs...

Dogs and people on the Sierra Eastside is just the way things are, get over it. Sad incident, and just like people sometimes die in nature, so do dogs...

It's easy enough to put your dog on a leash when climbing, and then you don't worry about them, and they don't bother others.

Interesting info of the flows coming in the future, thanks Bob.

Bad Climber

Trad climber

The Lawless Border Regions

Topic Author's Reply - Apr 27, 2016 - 10:17am PT

Thanks, Bob. Interesting. A simple sign at each of the access points should take care of the problem, I would think. Some cliffs, even in high water, would still be safely accessible? I do know about high flow rates being necessary for riparian health. Overall, I'd say this is a good thing.

BAd

i'm gumby dammit

Sport climber

da ow

Apr 27, 2016 - 10:18am PT

My dog is awesome at the crags. Until people show up.

So now I guess we know where the real problem lies.

Marty Lewis

climber

Bishop, CA

Apr 27, 2016 - 05:20pm PT

Thanks Bob Harrington for the lowdown on the flows.
Thanks Howie great comments.

I heard about this thread so I decided to take a look.
Helped me remember why I rarely go on supertopo.

When you own a dog it is part of your family and you love it as much as any human.
I just can't believe how many rude insensitive as#@&%es are posting nonsense about dogs.
If a kid died would there be a bunch of dicks spraying?

And to all you dog haters: Half the crags in this country allow dogs, half don't.
Go to the ones that don't. PLEASE. I here Yosemite is pretty sick!

Yes dogs take dumps and can be obnoxious. The same can be said for humans. Let's close the crags to humans because they take dumps and can be obnoxious.

Peace out.

rottingjohnny

Sport climber

Shetville , North of Los Angeles

Apr 27, 2016 - 07:25pm PT

The same can be said for crabs and Marco Rubio...

herm

Trad climber

Bishop

Apr 27, 2016 - 07:33pm PT

When my kids were little I was hydrophobic about them getting anywhere near whitewater. They wouldn't be in the ORG if the flows were up.

Dogs, they do what they want.