Owens Lake Returns

Thanks to the Sierra's record 2023 snowpack, Owens Lake is once again a lake -- at least for now. Aerial footage of the lake, Owens Valley, and the High Sierra crest, from California's Highway 395.

[@pattyeastman5393]

My mother, who is long past, said the Owens Valley was a Beautiful Valley with Oaks Farms, and the people had no choice to save their farms. Los Angeles won.

[@walterthomas9350]

Man that’s so sad…

[@stevencole7331]

Wow how fun it would be to kayak this long dead lake with the scenery that surround it

[@AndyLewicky]

that or SUP is a great idea, although I'd guess the water quality is fairly toxic

[@jackofalltrades3654]

I agree. I haven’t been out towards bishop since last year.

[@Trail_Trash]

Anyone interested in the Ruin of Owens valley should read The Story of Inyo written in 1933 by Chalfant.
The lake was 30-50 feet deep around 1910 and two paddle wheel ships ran on it providing supplies to Cerro gordo mine on the the NE shore and hauled the silver bullion back across to the south shore for the mule freight teams to complete the journey to LA.

[@AndyLewicky]

thanks -- will check it out!

[@JohnTrollmann]

Magnificent. Owens Lake as it should be.

[@CoreQ]

I realized how much bigger it gets through the whole winter ski trip.
i'm super exciting to see it return

[@sierbehashti3166]

They just need to start using less water in socal to restore the lake. Or redirect the aqueduct to draw water from the lake. Like turn Owens Lake into like a pseudo reservoir with a damn and embankments.

[@rosies1263]

You are so correct!!!

[@rosies1263]

Maybe that 1924 LA dam might have been saved by diverting water from it, keeping it at Owens lake by controlling flow before LA area people drowned

[@sentientflower7891]

Tulare Lake, Owens Lake resurrected momentarily by the wet winter.

[@CoreQ]

I see it grow bigger and bigger every week going to ski

[@malagisenze3613]

Is there a hwy in the U.S. with more prominent chutes and couloirs above it than 395?

[@jukkapekkaylitalo]

They should really think about moving the road little upper groud, if the El nino is as huge as they predict this year. It might get overflown by the floods or not.

[@lopezexplora]

Beautiful!! 😻 , got to get myself a drone

[@stevefoltz3838]

My uncle said back in the day, there were paddle ships out there.

[@AndyLewicky]

and a shrimp cannery!

[@robertlear8268]

In 1959 and 60, we went camping at Lake Mary in Mammoth and we would pass people water skiing on Owen's Lake. There were sailboats, too. Thank you LA DWP for destroying our habitat.

[@marcusfieldfield4069]

That was awesome short but sweet you have some of the best contract always something interesting

[@Trail_Trash]

@@robertlear8268 The lake has been pretty much dry since 1913 after LADWP started diverting water into the aqueduct before it reached the lake, You may be confusing the water sking with lake Diaz.

[@gilbertolivas1389]

​@robertlear8268 Bruh you know that the lake was dried up by 1926

[@dw8057]

Until it is piped to LA

[@bennywild]

I love the song in this video, but my Shazam/Spotify-fu is not good enough to find it. What is it?

[@boossersgarage3239]

yeah, video too short IMO, I was really getting into the music.