Rollin' on the...Owens River?

No, this isn't a post about Creedence Clearwater Revival or Mississippi River sternwheelers. Who'd have thought that I would entitle a post about the Owens River in such a manner.

On 8 July 2007 the Los Angeles Times (to read the story you may need to register; it's free) had a story by Louis Sahagun about a 6-mile kayak journey down the formerly dry river, rendered that way by Los Angeles' infamous Owens Valley "water grab" almost a century ago. Yes, there is water in the Lower Owens River once again.

I recall an email several years ago from a former University of Nevada-Reno student I had not heard from in probably 20 years or so: Randy Jackson, senior hydrologist for the Inyo County Water Department. He wanted to know if I would be interested in being involved in the plan to rewet 62 miles of the Owens River and study the revival of the ecosystem and how fast it would recover. I thought I was misreading his missive. What an opportunity! As it turns out I did not get involved.

In December 2006, water was diverted into the river. Flow is maintained at about 40 cfs (1.1 cms; 29,000 AF/year). Later this year, the LA Department of Water and Power plans to release pulses of 200 cfs (5.7 cms; 145,000 AF/year) to mimic floods.

The LA Times story recounts a 6-mile kayak trip taken by ecologist Mark Hill (see photo, courtesy of the LA Times) of the Lower Owens River Project (LORP). He was surprised at what he found on his day-long journey. Water depths are up to 10 feet in a few places - more than predicted. Ground water is being recharged and levels are rising faster than anticipated. Dissolved oxygen levels are high. Hill proclaimed that the river is "coming on strong".                         

So things are looking good. Who would have imagined this even 10 years ago?

The Owens River, looking north. Inyo Mountains on the right (courtesy LA Times).

Owens River, just north of Independence, CA, looking north towards Bishop (courtesy LA Times).

Just north of Lone Pine, CA - note the canopy (courtesy LA Times).

Carp have returned (courtesy LA Times).

Clear water (courtesy LA Times).

Be sure to read the story and view more pictures and a video. Learn more about the Lower Owens River Project here (thanks, Aquafornia!). The LORP is the largest river restoration project in the western USA.

"The more things change the more they remain the same."

Comments

[Aquafornia]

Yes, the news about the Lower Owens River is good.

There is another website that has some great pictures of the work as it progressed at http://lorp.info/index.html. The pictures are on the "Recent Activity" page.

My blog, http://Aquafornia.com, follows Southern California water issues.