Owens Lake

These images serve as an aerial documentation of the Owens Lakebed concerning the massive multi-million dollar restoration efforts to mitigate dust pollution and protect native bird migrations. This is mandated by the Air Pollution Control District to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. Since the 1920’s, Owens Lake has been essentially dry in part due to the diversion of water from the lake to the County of Los Angeles via the L.A. Aqueduct. Minerals and salts have dissolved in the remaining water and have crystallized creating an alkali salt crust that covers a majority of the area today. Gravel pits, dirt roads, shallow flooding, halobacterium and algae form a kaleidoscope of colors and geometric lines reminiscent of abstract expressionism and color field theory.