California Water Plan 2013: South Lahontan Hydrologic Region Report

Several of California’s well-known natural resources are located in the South Lahontan Hydrologic Region. They include Mono Lake, Death Valley, the Owens Valley, and the Mojave Desert. Two of California’s fastest developing urban areas over the past several decades are also in the region — the Antelope and Victor valleys. Agriculture, although small in acreage, has remained steady over the years.

Projections of continued growth have induced local water agencies to develop new water supplies and increase the reliability of existing water supplies. With additional stakeholders helping to study and resolve these issues under Integrated Regional Water Management planning programs, these actions have intensified in recent years and are reflected in the following discussion.