Owens Lake

E71549

Owens Lake is a largely dry, saline lake in California’s Eastern Sierra region, known for its dust pollution issues and ongoing environmental restoration efforts.

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Observed surface forms (1)

Surface form Occurrences
Owens Lake basin 1

Statements (49)

Predicate Object
instanceOf dry lake
endorheic lake
saline lake
basinCountry United States of America
surface form: United States
causeOfProblem severe windblown dust storms
country United States of America
surface form: United States
elevation approximately 1,086 meters above sea level
approximately 3,560 feet above sea level
environmentalIssue loss of aquatic and wetland habitat
violation of federal air quality standards
geologicalSetting Basin and Range Province
historicalEvent desiccation following completion of the Los Angeles Aqueduct in the early 20th century
historicalMaximumDepth approximately 15 meters
approximately 50 feet
historicalUse site of soda ash and salt extraction
transport of minerals by the Carson and Colorado Railway
knownFor air quality problems
dust pollution
environmental restoration efforts
historic desiccation due to water diversions
large-scale dust mitigation projects
locatedIn California, United States
surface form: California

Inyo County, California NERFINISHED
locatedInDesert Owens Valley
locatedInRegion Eastern Sierra
surface form: Eastern Sierra Nevada
locatedNear Inyo Mountains
Sierra Nevada
Lone Pine, California
surface form: Town of Lone Pine, California

Town of Olancha, California
majorPollutant particulate matter (PM10)
managedBy Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
nearbyProtectedArea Inyo National Forest NERFINISHED
Manzanar National Historic Site
outflow endorheic (no natural surface outflow)
partOf Los Angeles Aqueduct
surface form: Los Angeles Aqueduct system watershed
primaryInflow Owens River NERFINISHED
recognizedAs important bird habitat in the Pacific Flyway
regulatedBy California Air Resources Board
Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District
restorationGoal reduce PM10 emissions
restore wildlife habitat
restorationMeasure gravel and brine coverage for dust control
managed vegetation plantings
shallow flooding of lakebed areas
salinity highly saline
status largely dry lakebed
supports migratory bird populations
surfaceCondition playa with brine pools and shallow ponds
waterBodyType saline soda lake

Referenced by (6)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Owens Valley contains Owens Lake
Owens River flowsInto Owens Lake
Owens River formerOutflow Owens Lake
Owens Valley water wars involves Owens Lake
Owens River mouthLocation Owens Lake
this entity surface form: Owens Lake basin