Owens Lake is a vast saline expanse, its surface crafted from a blend of clay, sand, and an array of minerals including halite, burkeite, mirabilite, thenardite, and trona. During wetter years, these minerals concoct a chemical mosaic akin to a miniature fishery within the lake’s dry basin, brimming with saline water. Under optimal conditions, vibrant pink halophilic archaea thrive across the lake’s salty terrain. Additionally, on scorching summer days when ground temperatures exceed 150°F (66°C), water seeps from the depths, giving rise to sludgy saline pools. More frequently, periodic winds whip up harmful alkaline dust storms, carrying away up to four million tons (3.6 million metric tons) of dust from the lakebed annually, posing respiratory hazards for nearby residents. This dust contains carcinogens like cadmium, nickel, and arsenic.
The lake serves as a vital habitat for migratory birds, particularly those that feed on its saline surfaces, making it a focal point for conservation and ecological restoration efforts.
In 2023, Owens Lake experienced its first flooding in over a century due to a series of storms that swept through California during the first quarter of the year, expanding its footprint from 5,000 acres to approximately 50,000 acres.
