As the “big melt” of the snowpack in California reshapes California’s landscape, some of the biggest lakes make dramatic comebacks.
Owens Lake has returned after it dried up in 1920s when its streams were diverted for Los Angeles’ thirst. The new water that has flooded the dried lake bed could damage the infrastructure meant to control dust. This problem was created when the lake had been drained many decades ago.
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power spent billions of dollar on a project that lasted years.
Mono Lake is expected to see a rise of several feet after three years of drought. This will be a welcome relief as the lake had struggled to reach its target level.
The difference between two lakes that are 115 miles apart shows the complex and different impacts of “big melting,” as the meteorologists call the process. Some areas benefit from the historic snowfall this winter, while others struggle to cope with the flows that are expected to peak in many parts.
These impacts also serve as a reminder that nature, in California’s heavily-engineered landscape where climate swings from too wet to too dry, has no shortage of ways to frustrate human efforts to control or remove water.
Holly Alpert is the acting water director of Inyo County where Owens Lake lies. She said that the rainy year painted a picture from the past. The groundwater level is rising, and rabbit and sage brush are expanding their range. Climate change has intensified California’s booms and buses, and Alpert says she’s already planning for the coming drought.
She said, “We are seeing so much water that I am thinking about how the valley would have looked before water export.” “The big year’s are really interesting. The water is beautiful, but the droughts are what really scare me. They tend to last for several years. “They seem to be getting worse.”
Los Angeles drank a lot of the water from Owens Valley more than a hundred years ago.
Los Angeles representatives quietly purchased land and water rights within the Owens Valley in the early 1900s. In 1913, engineers built the Los Angeles Aqueduct so that could divert much water from the Owens Valley over 230 miles into the growing city. The events, which sparked violent “water battles” between Owens Valley citizens and city interests, were the inspiration behind the 1974 film “Chinatown.”
Owens Lake will never be the Same.
Steve Bacon is an associate research professor in geology at Desert Research Institute.
The dried lake became the largest source of dust in America, a problem that affected the health of nearby residents and forced Los Angeles to take action after signing legal agreements.
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (which operates the aqueduct and has responsibility for dust) said that ratepayers spent about $2 billion to control the dust and the department’s efforts have resulted in a 99.4% reduction.
In most years, the lake bed is filled with a few thousand acres-feet, which includes a briny pool. Some areas have been covered with gravel, while others are flooded or have vegetation growing. This is all part of a patchwork project on the lakebed to control dust.
This work is at risk after a season of heavy snowfall and rain.
According to LADWP’s aqueduct manager Adam Perez, after March storms, flooding breached the LADWP aqueduct. About 7,000 acres-feet of water flowed directly into Owens Lake, before any damage could be repaired.
There’s more to come. By April 1, the Eastern Sierra Snowpack feeding Owens Valley streams had nearly tripled its normal size — a record-breaking year that caused historic flows.
The aqueduct can’t always handle these large flows. So, LADWP has to send water to the lake bed.
Perez stated that “when you look at the potential forecast for Owens Lake, we’re looking 160,000 to 170,000 acre feet of water.” This is a measurement of how much water would be needed to cover one acre of land. A acre-foot is about the same volume as two Olympic-sized pools.
The valley is green at the moment. Alpert stated that as you drive along 395, there are many flowers either side of it. It looks like an enormous body of water.
All spring, the department prepared for the lake to fill. Perez estimates the department will spend $20 to $40 million fortifying and protecting infrastructure. Workers raised and lowered the berms surrounding dust projects in an attempt to divert unwanted water away.
Perez stated that the department drained their reservoirs in the spring to better manage peak flow, which is expected by mid-June. The aqueduct currently supplies about 80% Los Angeles’s water needs. Crews direct excess water to spreading grounds – areas in the valley that allow water to seep into the ground and restore the water level.
Perez, however, expects that dust infrastructure will be damaged as salty water invades dust-controlling plants.
Perez stated, “We will be dealing with the water long after this summer.” “There will be losses.”
The dust that will be generated on the lakebed next year is unlikely to cause a problem. It is not clear what will happen after this.
It’s counterintuitive. “We think that more water will lead to less dust impact, but as it recedes, and dries up again, this could cause even more dust,” Alpert explained.
Mono Lake, the largest salt lake in America’s West, is located 2 1/2 hours north. This season’s heavy flow could speed up its restoration.
