The Question: Should The Department of Water and Power be bringing water from the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains (The Mono Lake Region and the Owens Valley) to meet the needs of the human population in Los Angeles?

This format for a virtual debate will follow the structure for the classroom debate which is outlined by Karen Reynosa in the classroom debate section of this web site. Participants will:

1. Present an Opening Statement (for each position)
2. Develop Questions to use in Cross Examination of the 4 Perspectives (perspectives) on the Issue.
3. Respond to the Questions from the various perspectives.
4. Present a Closing Statement for each perspective.

The Issues we will be debating in the virtual debate will be the same as for a classroom debate, but participates in a virtual debate will present their written responses to the four areas outline above at appropriates times in our schedule using the form available here. Each participant will need to present Opening and Closing Arguments and Responses to Questions from each of the four perspectives (Teams) in the debate. However, participants are invited to substitute other perspectives for those in the debate's presentation outline if they are not satisfied with the positions described here.

Choose to respond to the four perspectives (teams) outlined in either Debate 1 or Debate 2. Be sure that you properly label the perspective from which you are writing your responses when you fill out our Virtual Debate Form, which is available at the end of this file.

The ISSUE: Fresh water resources from the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains are being diverted by the DWP from Natural Communities and Human Settlements in the region around Mono Lake and the Owens Valley to meet the needs of a growing population in Los Angeles.

The Question: Should the Department of Water and Power be bringing water from the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains (The Mono Lake Region and the Owens Valley) to meet the needs of the human population in Los Angeles?

Debate 1:

Perspective A- Residents of Inyo and Mono Counties:
Opposed to the diversion of water from the Eastern Sierras. Water loss from this region creates numerous hardships for the citizens of these counties including Owens Lake dust bowl hazard and recreation loss. Furthermore, the rights of the citizens have been abrogated by the city of Los Angeles. All citizens in this group are registered voters.

Perspective B- California Environmental Group:
This group is from any city other than those in Southern California. These environmentalists are vehemently opposed to water diversion into Los Angeles for numerous reasons including flora and fauna devastation and possible extinction. Group name and its spectrum of issues will be chosen by the team itself.

Perspective C- Citizens of Los Angeles:
Must continue receiving Eastern Sierra waters to sustain present style of living and allow for growth and development. All citizens in this group live in the city of Los Angeles and are registered voters. Citizens are willing to pay top dollars for their water.

Perspective D- Agriculture/Fishing Industries of San Joaquin and Owens Valleys:
Desperately require Eastern Sierra diversions for their livelihoods. Without this water many workers will be displaced and California's #1 industry will no longer be able to sustain high productive yields. Both industries have hired lobbyists and lawyers to represent their interests.

Debate 2:

Perspective A- Lawyers for the Mono Lake Conservation Law Suit (against the DWP):
A law suit brought against the DWP by a group of young environmentalists from Berkeley has reached the California Supreme Court where they won a settlement based on a 100+ year law (coming out of the gold rush days...) that stated that no one had the right to impede the flow of any natural stream or river. Based on this little known law, the youthful plaintiffs won the right to return the flow of fresh water to Mono Lake. The settlement is now in a situation where they have to defend the settle against counter suits brought by the 3 groups here outlined in the other 3 teams...

Perspective B- Lawyers representing Agricultural Interests in the Greater Los Angeles area:
Agricultural interest in the State of California have long considered there right to water as being established way back with the Land Grants by the Spanish. The agricultural interests fear that their right to the water supply on which they have depended for so long will be eroded with a diminished supply coming this arid region of our state...

Perspective C- Lawyers representing Residential Consumers who are objecting to rate increases for water:
Residents of Greater Los Angeles have already experienced a rate increase for the water they use, and they fear that they will see still higher bills in the future if the Mono Lake decision is allowed to be implemented...

Perspective D- Lawyers representing the Manufacturing and other Business Interests (not agricultural):
Business interests fear that an increase in their cost of doing business in Southern California will result in a loss of their competitiveness in the world markets of our modern global economy. They are fighting for a special water rate given to businesses in the area...to compensate for the increase in costs for this resource...

Evaluation of a participant's performance in the virtual debate will respond to the clarity of arguments related to each of the four perspectives of The Question, and the presentation of the following aspects of knowledge of the ISSUE:

1. History - Has the participant presented a clear development of the time frame and events which lead to the ISSUE become one of great concern to our society?
2. Politics - Has the participant described the important political decisions which have brought the ISSUE to it's present place on our social agenda?
3. Economics - Has the participant discussed how the development of the ISSUE has impacted our local economy?
4. Jobs - Has the participant presented a clear perspective of the types of jobs associated with the ISSUE?
5. Science - Has the participant clearly explained the role that science has played in:
   a. The development of the ISSUE to it's present place on our social agenda?
   b. What information acquired through the scientific method could help
   clarify the choices before our society and the decisions we will need to
   make?
   c. How science could assist society in resolving the ISSUE?

Our Project ISSUES Web Site has a form for you to present your debate statements and arguments. The form will include the following entries:

1. Name:
2. Email Address:
3. School:
4. City:
5. State:
6. The ISSUE PERSPECTIVE (The Title of the Team) you are Defending:
7. Your Written Statement presented to the Virtual Debate

This link will take you to the form on which you are to do you debating.