New Water, New Life

New Water, New Life. Owens Lake Project. , Owens Lake is now a Key Migratory Stopover , In the late 1800s, the shoreline of Owens Lake shifted at the hands of people. Even before the City of Los Angeles began diverting water from Owens River, farmers had tapped its tributaries, causing the lake level to drop. A century later, water and life are returning to Owens Lake. Shallow pools and ponds constructed to mitigate dust provided an unanticipated benefit as wildlife habitat. Now those dust mitigation features are being designed purposefully for the benefit of wildlife. Improvements include creation of habitat islands, diverse vegetation, and shallow foraging habitat that beckons birds. , A Call for Conservation , California has lost 90% of its wetlands to development. As natural landscapes shrink, wildlife loses valuable habitat, including nesting space and feeding grounds. As habitat decreases, wildlife populations decrease as well. , When the Dust Settles , While dust control takes several forms at Owens Lake, it is the vegetation and water that attract the birds. Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is working to conserve water while maintaining important wildlife habitat. , New Life , Managed sites like Owens Lake serve as critically important wildlife habitat. Shorebirds and waterfowl in particular thrive in the shallow pools. There they feed on protein-packed invertebrates like brine flies that provide fuel for long migrations.