Fort Independence Travel Plaza Power Project

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), America’s largest municipal utility, is working to install 13 new power poles, replace 39 existing poles with new poles, install 10 new anchors, and conduct overhead work for a 34.5 kV line extension to provide power for a new Fort Independence Travel Plaza on LADWP and Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) lands.

Why does this project matter?

Situated east of US-395, and partially within the Fort Independence Community of Paiute Indians Reservation, the project serves as a critical driver for tribal self-determination, environmental health, and regional economic stability in the Eastern Sierra. Involving a major collaboration with the LADWP, it extends renewable electrical power lines to the reservation. The project area has the potential to support rare plants, Swainson’s hawk, aquatic resources, and tribal resources.

What is ESA doing to help?

ESA conducted a biological resources assessment including vegetation mapping, rare plant survey, focused listed riparian bird survey, Swainson’s hawk nest survey, aquatic resources delineation, and prepared a biological resources assessment report to support CEQA and NEPA requirements. ESA also conducted a cultural resources assessment to identify archaeological resources within the project area and prepared a cultural resources assessment report to support requirements for CEQA, NEPA, and the National Historic Preservation Act.