Owens River Water Trail

The Owens River Water Trail project, managed by the Inyo County Water Department and funded by the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, involves the creation of a 6.1 to 6.3-mile non-motorized water trail on land owned by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power in Inyo County, California. The scope of work includes clearing tule and bulrush vegetation and beaver dam remnants to establish a 15-foot-wide navigable channel for kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards. Key infrastructure deliverables include an ADA-accessible boat launch facility at Lone Pine Narrow Gauge Road and a boat take-out facility near State Route 136, both featuring parking, vault restrooms, and interpretive kiosks. Safety measures include the installation of reflective mileage markers every half-mile and weather-resistant signage regarding water and wildfire safety. The project is designed as the first ADA-accessible water trail of its kind in the western United States, requiring specific accessibility features such as hardened ramps, transfer boards, and grab bars. Environmental compliance is governed by the California Environmental Quality Act, with a certified Final Environmental Impact Report and a mitigation monitoring program in place. Operational constraints include strict requirements to avoid cattle, maintain closed gates, and prohibit the deposition of spoils on the floodplain. The contract includes a long-term commitment for semi-annual vegetation maintenance for 20 years, with work scheduled during late fall and early winter to protect bird nesting seasons and align with vegetation dormancy.