LADWP Announces Annual Mono Lake Level Reading, Taking Final Measurement with Mono Lake Committee

Mono Lake's surface elevation measured 6,382.75 feet above sea level

LOS ANGELES (April 1, 2026) - Today, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), Mono Lake Committee, and partner organizations gathered at Mono Lake to mark the beginning of the new runoff year in the Eastern Sierra.

Annual Lake Level Measurements

LADWP has long observed April 1 as the date it performs the final Eastern Sierra snow survey of the season and records the elevation of Mono Lake. These measurements provide essential data to inform forecasting and water deliveries for the City of Los Angeles.

Today, the surface elevation measurement at Mono Lake was 6,382.75 feet above sea level.

"The elevation at Mono Lake is largely determined by hydrologic factors, such as precipitation, evaporation, and runoff, and, on average, has been trending up for the past three decades," said Chief Operating Officer and Senior Assistant General Manager Water System, Anselmo G. Collins. "The Mono Basin serves a meaningful role in our overall water supply portfolio, and we value this water - it reinforces our responsibility to the region, which is why we invest substantially in environmental enhancement projects and wildlife protection to sustain a healthy Mono Lake."

Since the State Water Resource Control Board's (SWRCB) issuance of Decision 1631 in 1994, LADWP has reduced its water deliveries from the Mono Basin by 85% and has invested nearly $50 million, improving the condition of the Mono Basin.

Long-Term Protection of the Mono Basin

LADWP exported 15,900 acre-feet from the Mono Basin in the 2025-26 runoff year (ended March 31, 2026), which was below the amount allowed by its amended water rights licenses from SWRCB. The licenses allow for a maximum export of 16,000 acre-feet if the lake's surface is between 6,380 and 6,391 feet above sea level on April 1.

LADWP is committed to safeguarding and maintaining the environment of Mono Basin and continually finding ways to develop a collective responsibility with other partners in the region that ensures a resilient future. There are over 60 ongoing, in progress, or completed LADWP-led environmental enhancement projects in the Mono Basin helping advance stewardship goals, such as preserving one of North America's stopovers on the Pacific Flyway, supporting millions of migratory birds.

"Our responsibility is to thoughtfully balance the use of water from Mono Basin, which is both unique and complex, ensuring we meet Los Angeles' needs while upholding our environmental commitments, said Adam Perez, LADWP Water Operations Director. "It's critical to have a diverse water supply portfolio that ensures drinking water resiliency, reliability, and affordability to the four million residents and businesses of Los Angeles."

The Value of Eastern Sierra Water

Behind every drop of water from the Eastern Sierra, including in Mono Basin are teams of experts solving challenges the public never sees. Delivering water from this source to the tap and caring for ecosystems from where the water originates from is a responsibility LADWP is committed to uphold. Balancing competing needs and variable rain and snowfall patterns demonstrate how unpredictable water supplies can be, which emphasizes the importance of sustainable water management approaches that prioritize balance to customers, rely on science, and advance climate resilience.

The Los Angeles Aqueduct provides a vital and reliable water supply to the city, ensuring all Angelenos have access to safe, affordable, and reliable water. Water from the Eastern Sierra is delivered to Los Angeles using the gravity-driven Los Angeles Aqueduct; on its journey, it generates clean hydropower for approximately 200,000 homes annually.

LADWP's only alternative sources of imported water are the State Water Project and Colorado River from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. Those sources have become overdrawn, environmentally depleted, less reliable, more costly, and require energy-intensive pumping.

As Los Angeles expands water conservation, recycled water, groundwater and stormwater capture programs, water from the Los Angeles Aqueduct will remain critical to build a resilient water supply portfolio.

Looking Ahead

The Los Angeles Aqueduct supply ranges from 10 to 50 percent of Los Angeles's total water supply portfolio depending on snowpack levels and includes up to 16,000 acre-feet from the Mono Basin annually. LADWP will integrate the April 1 snow survey and lake measurement data into the annual water supply and runoff forecasting for Los Angeles.

The lake level information will guide the Mono Basin Annual Operations Plan (AOP), expected to be released in May 2026. The AOP outlines how LADWP will manage Mono Basin operations for the coming year, including water deliveries to Los Angeles, stream management actions, and the approach used to balance environmental priorities with the city's water supply needs.

To read the latest precipitation reports, visit LADWP.com/Aqueduct.

To read more about LADWP's ongoing work in the Eastern Sierra, including Mono Lake, discover LADWP.com/EasternSierra.

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