Owens River Restoration Looking Good: Look What a Little Water Can Do…
By Tom Chandler on Jan 14, 2008 in Environment, News
Better than 60 miles of the Owens River — dried up when its water was diverted and shipped to south to Los Angeles almost a century ago — has been rewatered for a year, and the results are stunning. From the New York Times:
One of the largest river-restoration projects in the country has sent a gentle current of water meandering through what just a year ago was largely a sandy, rocky bed best used as a horse trail and barely distinguishable from the surrounding high desert scrub. Mud hens dive for food. A blue heron sweeps overhead. Bass, carp and catfish patrol deep below. Some local residents swear they have even seen river otters.
The rewatering — the result of a settlement driven by a lawsuit by Owens Valley residents and the Sierra Club — produced almost instantaneous results.
Trees are growing, and the once-dry riverbed is sprouting so many weeds, officials are mowing them down. Yes, it’s good news Monday here on the Underground — read the article and enjoy!
See you on the Owens, Tom Chandler.
Scott | Jan 14, 2008 | Reply
My grandparents had a cabin on the road that rises from Independence to Onion Valley. I spent a lot of time in that area as a kid. It was a great place to explore back then. It must be even better now that the Owens River is being re-born. It would be nice to go back and see how things have changed.
Taku | Jan 14, 2008 | Reply
Just went through there a year and half ago, and now would really like to see this section of river. Having seen some of the results here under the Big Sky of rewatering, it is wonderful to hear that the Owens is coming back. Thanks for note Tom.