20090805 027 PS.jpg | Nathan Weyland

In 1913 The Los Angeles Department of Water & Power diverted the Owens River to provide drinking water for the rapidly growing metropolis. Ten years later the Owens Lake had completely evaporated, along with any hope of heavy development in the region. Now DWP is entering the tenth year of a dust mitigation project on the lake, part of a lawsuit settlement between the utility and the residents of the valley, whose health was being damaged by particles blown off the lake by the constant winds. Here dust is raised on the dry lake by a passing construction vehicle.

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Filename: 20090805 027 PS.jpg
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2009 NATHAN WEYLAND // DO NOT REPRODUCE WITHOUT PERMISSION OF PHOTOGRAPHER
Image Size: 2500x1667 / 1.6MB; California's drought California's water Los Angeles Department of Water and Power drought drought in california dust mitigation owens dry lake owens lake owens valley water managing scarcity Inyo County
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In 1913 The Los Angeles Department of Water & Power diverted the Owens River to provide drinking water for the rapidly growing metropolis. Ten years later the Owens Lake had completely evaporated, along with any hope of heavy development in the region. Now DWP is entering the tenth year of a dust mitigation project on the lake, part of a lawsuit settlement between the utility and the residents of the valley, whose health was being damaged by particles blown off the lake by the constant winds. Here dust is raised on the dry lake by a passing construction vehicle.