Conway Ranch
Conway ranch is a small project that will only operate during the irrigation season. It will use the Federal Water Right of the Conway Ranch to divert water from Virginia Creek. It is contemplated to have a balance of maintaining the riparian habitat to the West of Route 295 with using water not needed for this purpose to develop hydropower as it drops into the Conway Ranch. The basic split might be a bit over 5 CFS to go to the Ranch and into Mono Lake via the hydropower pipe and a bit under 1 CFS to go down the existing diversion to keep the "meadow" and its existing riparian habitat wetted while reducing the highway sediment that is currently being washed into the ranch.
The exact placement of the power house will be in consultation with all interested parties. To start, our initial idea is to have a small building either on Conway Ranch near the existing Rt. 395 culvert crossing or just upstream on the BLM side.
In either case the building design would look like a small wooden out building not unlike a small horse barn. Approximate size - for discussion - would be a wooden 20 foot square located next to the creek. Its location in the hollow will minimize any visual statement.
We have started investigating this project by consulting informally with BLM and Mono County. This is being expanded as the issues of the site become clear. The formal process has started with a Preliminary Permit application filed in March 2008. The complete FERC Preliminary Permit Application with all graphics is available here.
The initial consultation maps are available also here:
Because project can run or only part of the year, the ability of the project to make major changes is marginal. Never-the-less, we are looking for comment, concerns, and any suggestions, so please call or write Kelly or Dick at the appropriate numbers under contacts.