TEAM completed five surface water and groundwater availability assessments for use in land planning by Mono County. Each assessment gathered and reviewed pertinent documents and data related to watersheds and their associated communities in Antelope Valley, Lee Vining/Mono City, Tri-Valley and Crowley.  Water rights issues were also assessed as part of this comprehensive evaluation.

To meet the project goals, TEAM hydrographers and hydrogeologists evaluated surface water and groundwater availability from volumetric, water quality, and regulatory perspectives. The groundwater assessments evaluated groundwater recharge based on the sub-drainages presented in Mono County’s geographic information system. TEAM also assessed existing groundwater pumping in each area, spring flows, evapotranspiration, and groundwater inflow and outflow from each area.

Each of the assessments provided Mono County with guidance and recommendations for handling future water supply, water quality and related water rights issues, and further enhanced TEAM’s understanding of the natural resource challenges faced by local governments and smaller communities in the Eastern Sierra region.