Replacement of Lone Pine town supply well W344
Summary
SCH Number
2026090019
Public Agency
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
Document Title
Replacement of Lone Pine town supply well W344
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
9/1/2026
Document Description
Domestic water for the town of Lone Pine is currently supplied by two town supply wells, W344 and W346. Well W344 is typically operated in winter months due to lower water demands and has a pumping capacity of 2.1 cubic feet per second (cfs). The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) maintains and operates both wells (located on LADWP property) for Inyo County Water Department. Inyo County utilizes this well water to provide domestic water for the town of Lone Pine. An inspection of W344 found evidence of well casing deterioration including enlarged casing openings, elliptical well shape, bulged casing, and thick material buildup. From this inspection it has been determined that the casing of W344 is deteriorating and is susceptible to collapse, which could render the town of Lone Pine without a backup well for domestic water.
To maintain reliable water supply for the town of Lone Pine, LADWP is proposing to construct a replacement town supply well, named W433. This replacement town supply well will be located at the same site, within the same wellfield, and pump from the same aquifers as the existing well W344 and remain on LADWP owned property. W433 will be constructed with an 18-inch diameter casing and screen using high-strength/low-alloy steel, as is the current industry standard for municipal wells allowing easier well and pump maintenance. Well W433 will be screened at the same intervals (between 70-144 feet and 235-390 feet) as the existing well W344, which will ensure that the replacement well will draw from the same aquifers as the existing well W344. The pumping capacity of well W433 will be equal to or less than 2.1 cfs, the same as existing well W344, and will exclusively provide water to Inyo County Water District for domestic water supply for the town of Lone Pine. Thus, replacement well W433 will have the same purpose and substantially the same capacity as the well structure it replaces. After activation of the replacement well W433, the existing well W344 will be either abandoned or converted to a monitoring well.
Contact Information
Name
Marshall Cyr
Agency Name
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
Job Title
Environmental Specialist
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant / Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Lone Pine
Counties
Inyo
Regions
Citywide, Southern California
Cross Streets
Bush Street
Zip
93545
State Highways
US 395
Airports
Lone Pine Airport
Schools
Lo-Inyo Elementary School, Lone Pine High School
Waterways
Lone Pine Creek
Township
T15S
Range
R36E
Section
28
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Section 15301, Class 1; Section 15302, Class 2
Reasons for Exemption
In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act, this project is Categorically Exempt from CEQA review pursuant to Section 15301, Class 1 and Section 15302, Class 2. Class 1 consists of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of the existing or former use. Class 2 consists of replacement or reconstruction of existing structures and facilities where the new structure will be located on the same site as the structure replaced and will have substantially the same purpose and capacity as the structure replaced. In addition to qualifying for the Class 1 and 2 Categorical Exemptions, the replacement well does not trigger any of the exceptions to those exemptions—e.g., no cumulative effects, scenic resources, hazardous waste sites, mapped resources of hazardous or critical concern, unusual circumstances, or historical resources.
County Clerk
Inyo
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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