L.A. Growth and Water Supply

The article “L.A. Says Cut in Its Share of Mono Water Would Affect Entire State,” Metro, Sept. 12) is a classic example of the City of Los Angeles again crying foul that it can’t have its selfish and spoiled ways of holding onto natural resources that were questionably obtained in the first place.

Mono Lake is not under the sole domain of Los Angeles and belongs to the whole state of California. Mono Lake is a vital link in the ecological structure of the Sierra and for the City of Los Angeles to demand that its unlimited supply of water from the streams supplying Mono Lake not be interrupted is autocratic in concept.

Just because saving Mono Lake would result in Los Angeles having to purchase water from other sources is not a valid argument. Should the courts wisely rule to cut 80% of Los Angeles’ water supply from Mono Lake, the city fathers then will have to take a close look at the uncontrolled growth of the city and make the necessary adjustments to a reduced water supply.

Los Angeles was founded in a desert, and a desert it will become if the continued unchecked growth is allowed. To use the argument that future growth will be severely curtailed if Mono Lake is removed from our water supply system is only admitting something most of us have known for a long, long time--there are too many people, buildings and industry in the city! The Metropolitan Water District has already indicated it will not supply the water needs of Los Angeles because MWD doesn’t have enough to do this and meet its contractual obligations with other Southern California areas. The Colorado River water has been cut due to a Supreme Court order giving more of it to Arizona, so where does this leave Los Angeles? If Los Angeles’ population growth is held to its present levels, then adequate water is available to meet the city’s needs, but if the elected officials continue to pursue additional residents and industry without limits, we will become a desert again.

I for one want to save Mono Lake and if the city fathers don’t, then let them explain the eventuality of public showers and no green areas in the city. But at least the city will continue to grow, right?

CHRISTOPHER D. PASCAL

Rowland Heights