|
L.A. rolls out ultimate weed wacker |
|
|
Saturday, 08 December 2007 |
 The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is using “The Terminator” to cut overgrowth of aquatic plants on the Lower Owens River. The floating lawn mower is a part of general maintenance on the Lower Owens. Photo courtesy LADWP By Mike Gervais
Register Staff 12-6-2007
It may look like something out of a science-fiction movie, but it’s actually part of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s new maintenance plan for one of the “newest” rivers in the state.
The menacing device with sharp blades protruding from its bow and stern currently winding its way up the Lower Owens River is actually nothing more than a beefed-up weed-wacker that will clear the way for higher water flows in the Lower Owens.
“The Terminator,” as it’s known, is being used by LADWP to begin trimming vegetation along the channel exactly one year after LADWP returned flows to the Lower Owens River.
The vegetation trimming is important as the LADWP plans to release high seasonal water flows through the Lower Owens to mimic peak snowmelt runoff. Dense vegetation can hinder measurements of flows next spring when the LADWP begins sending 200 cubic feet per second flows through the river.
Beginning last month, LADWP crews, working with a contractor, have been using a 28-foot long boat equipped with sets of shredding blades at the bow and stern. Separate engines operate each set of blades that will get rid of cattails, tules and other vegetation in portions of the Lower Owens.
The contractor will operate the Terminator, with LADWP crews working on the shore to remove the debris.
“This is necessary for the maintePublic Relations Manager Chris Plakos. “You don’t want one type of vegetation to dominate if you can help it.”
And with a name like “The Terminator,” one can only hope the boat can get rid of dominant species of water vegetation, and if not, it’ll be back.
The Terminator was launched into the river using a crane “to minimize riverbank disturbance,” a press release from the LADWP states.
The boat is moored every evening when work on the river finishes.
The Terminator moves upstream cutting through the vegetation, which will be removed from the water using an excavator. The debris will be hauled away and stockpiled until it dries, at which time it will be available for use “as compost in future revegetation projects in the Owens Valley,” the press release states.
The Terminator will be operating through December, getting rid of troublesome vegetation on about nine miles of river channel. Without the Terminator, it could take crews months to trim back the vegetation by hand.
“You might be able to do this with heavy equipment, but that just leads to other issues” on the banks of the river, Plakos said.
Crews will use the Terminator to remove vegetation about a quarter mile upstream and downstream of Mazourka Canyon Road, Manz Reward Road and Lone Pine Depot Road. The Terminator will also reach from State Route 136 at Keeler Bridge to the LORP pumpback station and in the Islands area north of Lone Pine.
The LORP plan calls for the LADWP to release seasonal water flows up to 200 cfs to imitate peak snowmelt runoff to recharge groundwater and maintain important river channel features. “Cleaning the channel in selected areas will help facilitate the passing and measuring of the 200 cfs flows through major road culverts, and will also help reduce the amount of mosquito habitat needing treatment,” the press release states.
“This is mainly for the first seasonal habitat flows in February,” Plakos said. Right now, he added, it is unclear if the Terminator will ever be back to the Owens Valley to help clear more vegetation in the future.
Permanent flows were returned to the entire Lower Owens River, more than 62 river miles, in December last year. The seasonal habitat flow will help achieve the goals of the LORP, which are to create and sustain healthy and diverse habitat for native fish, water flow, shorebirds and other animals, as well as creating a warm water recreational fishery.
The LORP project is being implemented by the LADWP and Inyo County, and according to the press release from LADWP, “has been called the most significant environmental river restoration effort in the United States.”
|
|
Last Updated ( Tuesday, 29 January 2008 )
|
