Owens Lake Studio 2010

Owens Lake studiO USC, Fall 2010 Instructor: Alexander Robinson Robin Abad Ocubillo Christopher Arntz Myvonwynn Hopton James Lively Jennifer Regnier Jennifer Renteria Gabe Mason Adrian Suzuki Lin Wang

University of Southern California Š 2011 Book design: Lily Kerrigan Cover front: James Lively Cover back: Myvonwynn Hopton

Acknowledgements

5

IntroductIon

5

Owens Dry Lakebed

6

The Design Problem

7

Studio Schedule and Objectives

9

desIgn ProPosAls

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Robin Abad Ocubillo Owens Habitat Hike:

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Chris Arntz tHe Guild: sHeetflOOdinG

bOardwalk, sun sHade, windbreak, bird blind, sand spOiler and

blinds

sHOrebird

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Myvonwynn Hopton watercOlOr: tHe salt pOnds

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James Lively fluvial tillaGe: a Hybrid bacM

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Jennifer Regnier backyard caMpOut: reiMaGininG

24

30

caMpsites

frOM an island

perspective

Jennifer Renteria Owens labryntH: an Owens

JOurney

via

landfOrM

Gabe Mason kinetic rytHMs: tHe cOnverGence tHe

33

Owens lake

and

delta

Adrian Suzuki keeler beacH: a skiMbOard

destinatiOn 36

Lin Wang tHe raw

41

subject mAPPIngs

59

grouP VIewshed AnAlysIs

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Dirty Socks Group

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Keeler Group

74

Cartago Group

81

PAnorAmA AnAlysIs

95

PostcArds

101

at

Owens lake

sIte ImPressIons

Of

COntents

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Acknowledgements With funding from Great Basin APCD and Special Thanks to: Ted Schade, Great Basin Air Pollution Control District Department of Water and Power Staff on Owens Lake and in Los Angeles: especially William VanWagoner, Nelson Meja, Robert Strub, Louis Rubalcaba, and Jaime Valenzuela.

Loe Pesce, Metabolic Studio Mike Prather, Eastern Sierra Audubon Margot Griswold, Ecologist Gina Bartlett and the Owens Lake Master Planning Committee USC Staff

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Owens Lake Owens Lake is located in the Owens Valley, 200 miles by road north of Los Angeles. With peaks on both sides rising above 14,000 feet, including Mount Whitney, and a valley elevation of about 4,000 feet, the valley is one of the deepest in United States. The valley’s water, fed primarily by the eastern Sierra Mountains watershed and captured through a series of Los Angeles Department and Water and Power (DWP) aqueduct projects (1913, 1941 and 1970), provide about 40% of Los Angeles’s water. The diversion of this water has had a profound and complicated impact on the culture and environment of the Valley. One of the greatest environmental impacts of the diversion was the effective emptying of the Owens Lake by 1930 (which many argue would have happened anyway due to local agricultural thirsts).

Before it dried out, the lake was up to 12 miles long and 8 miles wide and covered an area of 108 square miles. The lake had no outlet and over thousands of years became an alkali lake – a saline condition that while hostile to many forms of life, fostered certain insect life (e.g. brine shrimp) and served as an important feeding and resting stop for waterfowl and food source for local native american people. The lake has many other interesting natural, cultural and industrial histories, including a steam ship, Bessie Brady, that used to ply its water, carrying silver ore from the

mines of Cerro Gordo and reducing the mule train trip time to Los Angeles.

The current lake is less than one third of its original area and approximately 5% of its original volume, with a current elevation of 3,554 feet, compared to an original elevation of 3,600 feet. Of the 110 square miles of akali lake contained within the historic shoreline, a ~26 square miles remnant remains as a permanent hyper-saline brine pool. Once the lake was drained mineral deposits of trona ore were exposed and continue to be extracted.

Perhaps the most significant consequence of draining Owens Lake was the subsequent exposure of seasonal volatile akaline blooms whose particulates are collected in strong winds and can travel for miles in thick fog-like plumes. This airborn particular matter, once measured, ranked Owens Lake as the biggest one single source PM10 particulate matter emitter in the country – with measured conditions over 80 times acceptable healthy values. A long legal battle with the DWP ensued to mitigate this problem for the affected residents of the valley – eventually resulting in a 1998 agreement that the DWP would take measures to bring down the PM10 concentrations to acceptable levels. The DWP has since been trying to comply with this agreement by implementing a variety of pre-approved dust control methods on the lake and opening a new chapter for the lake.

Top: Textures and colors vary considerably on-site Bottom: Dust control measures has changed the landscape of Owens Lake Opposite: The 2010 USC Studio on the Lake.

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The Design Problem The current dust control operations on-site were rapidly deployed by the DWP to reach dust control mitigation requirements.

Now that these benchmarks have been reached, the DWP will be modifying operations according to a number factors and opportunities. To a large extent these include water conservation and solar power, but additionally it is their obligation to consider improvements that fall under the Public Trust Doctrine.

According to this doctrine, the state, the landlord of the lake, has an obligation to protect the recreational, ecological, aesthetic, scientific, and open space values of certain lands under its control.

Clockwise from top left: Deeo pond, pond with tillage, managed vegetation, salt flat.

Bottom: The lake has become an important bird habitat.

While the ecological and scientific aspects of the doctrine are well represented by a variety of experts involved with the lake, the remaining elements – recreational, aesthetic, and open space – have had relatively little attention. Usually, within this natural context, these elements would be planned by recreational/ resource planner or a specialized landscape architect, however, in this case the existing resource lacks the immediate value of pristine conditions and, more importantly, is highly mutable.

These are conditions in which landscape architects are accustomed to creating public value. For example the landscape of Central Park in New York City was in many ways a wasteland (or considered as such) upon which its designer, Frederick Law Olmsted sculpted a vision of nature.

While Owens Lake was once a significant and pristine natural feature human use and exploitation transformed it into an unexpected health hazard for the neighboring people, who originally suffered the most from its draining.

The long litigated dust mitigation has transformed this hazardous wasteland

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into a giant dust control infrastructural landscape as unwieldly as a super-tanker as described by a DWP operations manager, with a surface landscape that has an ironic resemblance to lawns and pools – an oasis for wildlife in this desert climate.

The design of the dust mitigations operations had a limited dialogue with the site and its users – the primary focus having been on implementing dust mitigations technologies on the difficult site conditions. Given that much of the lanscape may change in order to improve operations and effeciences the students in the studio were tasked with discovering ways in which the inevitable re-design of the dust control landscape could better create Public Trust Values – effectively improving the dialogue of the site’s design and its interface with visitors. Furthermore, the site itself has a rich set of histories, phenomenologies, operations, ecologies, etc. that are not well capitalized and could become present in future designs.

Some important questions for the studio were: What will the future dialogue be between site visitors and site?

How will people access the site?

How will an intervention / access frame how people perceive the site? What sort of impression will they have?

How should the site operations be modified to improve a dialogue with users (and the greater context)?

What is the best Public Trust manifestation of the site?

Studio Approach For landscape architects the Owens Lake and the dust mitigation operations of the DWP present an extremely rich and interesting subject. As natural agents of synthesis, the habit of landscape architects is to take on the comprehensive planning of the entire 100 square miles of the lakebed. This was done by Cal Poly landscape architects previous to the start of dust control operations and a great vision was fashioned, but the reality of implementation has resulted in something very different and ultimately unpredicted.

Given this and the current collaborative master planning process it seemed that while another such vision would not be unwelcome, more specialized services would be more helpful. With a site so complex and a great collection of experts involved through the current master planning process it seemed that in this case it would be best for landscape architects to offer their most specialized service – namely the integrated design of environmental spaces and experiences.

Serving to create or improve the human interface with Owens Lake.

In this context we would treat the existing DWP operations as a second nature: a

condition that while not “natural” exhibits similar qualities in function, scale, and intertia.

The dust control operations embody a particular and sensible order and perform a set of large scale valuable services, such as effective dust control and habitat. On the other hand, this “second nature,” as DWP readily admits, needs to be improved to use less water, and have better public access – and as efficiencies are slowly implemented – the plans that we provide could influence this process.

The studio was structured into two halves.

The first part was focused on analysis and the second part on a particular design.

The focus on the first part was to develop materials and analysis that would be critical for the design of the latter.

MID-REVIEW DELIVERABLES Subject Analysis – Each student focused on a discrete subject that could relate to public trust planning. These ranged from Geology and Cultural History to Dust Control Technologies and Precedents.

The purpose of these studies was to both consider the existing conditions and operations as well as to unearth narratives and subjects that could become part of the experience of a future visitor.

Viewshed Analysis – One of the major focuses of the studio was to divorce students from an emphasis on designing experience in plan. Because of the extreme scale of the site and unusual open and flat condition of the lakebed, it was critical that students carefully studied the experience of viewer – a viewer whose experience was dominated by perspectival impressions of the lake. This analysis in turn helped influence a notion of scaling experiences to what could actually be experienced.

Given the order and efficiencies of the DWP operations it was a more responsible approach that new interventions whose purpose was to improve the experience of visitors did not extend past the experience of visitors. Students worked in groups to perform analysis of the views that were accessible by the current highways and internal road infrastructure. In this way they discovered how little and how much of the lake is actually perceived.

the site.

Postcards – Students did quick studies of a design proposal related to the subject they focused on to begin the process of designing experiences.

FINAL REVIEW DELIVERABLES Final Design – The second part of the studio consisted of designing and choreographing access to the site and focusing on a single part of that experience in greater detail, to the level of material choices and detailed design drawings. The students prepared an overall storyboard describing the experience of a visitor coming to the site. Following this they went into greater detail about a part of that timeline and provided drawings for a couple “frames” of the experience.

The studio focused on the impact of the perspectival view, so the students were asked to focus on perspectives that are fair and scaled representations of their Panorama Analysis – Students did designs and to avoid over-using bird-eye detailed studies of single panoramas. or other unlikely seen views.

This was a more detailed version of the viewshed analysis.

Personal Montages – Students were asked to record their initial impressions of

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desiGn PROPOsaLs

usc owens lAke studIo, FAll 2010 robin Abad ocubillo owens habitat hike: boardwalk + sunshade, windbreak, bird blind, sand spoiler

The Owens Lake Habitat Hike takes visitors on a raised boardwalk with integrated bird blind / weather shelter.

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owens hAbItAt hIke: boArdwAlk + sunshAde, wIndbreAk, bIrd blInd, sAnd sPoIler

robIn AbAd ocubIllo

usc owens lAke studIo, FAll 2010

Visitors travel along a “transect” of the multiple habitat and vegetation types present on the lake. The top diagram describes the expereience of a user moving along this corridor.

robIn AbAd ocubIllo

owens hAbItAt hIke: boArdwAlk + sunshAde, wIndbreAk, bIrd blInd, sAnd sPoIler

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usc owens lAke studIo, FAll 2010

Detail drawings of the boardwalk and bird blind system.

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owens hAbItAt hIke: boArdwAlk + sunshAde//wIndbreAk//bIrd blInd//sAnd sPoIler

robIn AbAd ocubIllo

usc owens lAke studIo, FAll 2010 chris Arntz the guild: sheetflooding and shorebird blinds

The experential timeline describes a user experience on the site. This project proposes an ultimate birding experience, combining habitat design with a boardwalk and bird blind.

chrIs Arntz

the guIld: sheetFloodIng And shorebIrd blInds

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usc owens lAke studIo, FAll 2010

The bird blind resembles a wing and is situated in an attractive and intimate birding habitat.

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the guIld: sheetFloodIng And shorebIrd blInds

chrIs Arntz

usc owens lAke studIo, FAll 2010 myvonwynn hopton watercolor: the salt Ponds at owens lake Lone Pine

Route 136

Mainline Rd

THE SALT PONDS OF OWENS LAKE T10-2 is a potential site for a future salt water sink...

Fall 2010, Arch 542 al, Professor Robinson

Halobacteria

Salt Flats

Mountains Sierra Nevadas

Corrosion

WATER COLOR ANALYSIS T13-3

s an ti un Mo

Evaporation

yo In

Wind

e it Wh

PROJECT INSPIRATION: OWENS LAKE PHENOMENA & PRECEDENTS Salt

Myvonwynn Hopton

Keeler

OWENS LAKE

T10-1

T4-4

T3SE

T4-5

T10-2

Highway 395

T13-3

PROJECT CONCEPT: Create Land Art that also serves an infrastructural purpose, doubling the value of T10-2.

As a salt sink with accessible berms & paths, the place will celebrate the extreme conditions that simultaneously make Owens Lake an Incredibly harsh and beautiful environment.

T10-2

T10-1 T9

PAINTING LANDSCAPE WITH NATURE’S SMALLEST CREATURES!

Managed Vegetation

in

li

ne

T4-4

Habitat Shallow Flooding

Shallow Flooding Proposed Salt Sink

Ma

PROPOSED MAP Route to T10-2 & ViewShed

Route 190

Ponding

Los Angeles

T9

Rd

T4-5 T3SE

Gravel

Mitigated Vegetation

T10-2 DIAGRAM Circulation & Immediate Viewshed

Proposed Vegetated Islands In Shallow Flooding

Of the five standing bodies of water we passed along the Mainline on our site visit 9.13.2010, only salt pond T4-5 showed such a broad range of colors, with yellows, oranges, and deep reds. T4-4 had a slightly broader range than the other three pools, with greens present because of a type of green halophilic algae that live there. T4-4 was rippling with the wind, aerating the water and kicking up the green algae, where as T4-5 on the other side of the Mainline was totally still, allowing the color of the red halophilic bacteria to dominate. The salt concentrations contribute to the water’s creamy yellows and whites. The stillness of the pool allowed it to capture the reflection of blues, purples and browns of the mountains and sky.

Olancha

EXPERIENTIAL TIMELINE: TRAVELING TO THE SALT PONDS OF OWENS LAKE

...to Lone Pine

Olancha

...to OWENS LAKE & DEATH VALLEY

WHITE INYO MTNS FROM HWY 190

NATURAL SPRINGS & GRAZING

DIRTY SOCKS NATURAL SPRING

ENTRANCE THROUGH DESERT

FIELDS OF MANAGED VEGETATION

SHALLOW SALT SINK GREEN PONDS AT T10

MIXED SHALLOW FLOOD & ISLANDS AT T9

DEEP SALT SINK RED PONDS AT T10

Landscape Elements Distance

0.10 miles directly across road from parking

4.66 miles along 190 from 395 to Turn off for Dirty Socks

0.72 miles RT from 190 to Dirty Socks

3.11 miles From 190 to Owens Lake

0.75 miles From managed veg. to parking

5 minutes driving

2 minutes driving (+15 minutes to Walk around & enjoy spring)

4 minutes driving

2 minutes driving

Side-trip to experience the color and reflections of the natural pool

Direct route through the desert, contrasts the water and colors of the Lake

Experience the golden salt grass and irrigation, contrasting the to standing water of T9 & T10

Add vegetated islands to T9, increase habitat & “naturalness”

A lovely desert oasis

Rugged, sparse

Wonder! Beautiful yellow with the mountains & sky

Birds and Blue’s of T9

0.50 miles Round-trip Through the Salt Ponds

Mode of Travel Travel Time Design Intent

Grab the attention of visitor’s driving 395

travel along the most scenic entrance route

20 minutes walking (+ Added Minutes for Soaking in the experience!)

2 minutes walking (+15 Minutes to stop at VC)

Showcase natural phenomenon by creating a series of pools, changing in depth and size that will respond differently to sun and wind; some building thick salt crusts, others turning green in the wind, some staying red. Path along berms for reflection and enjoyment of this harsh and unique environment

Design Elements Visitor Experience

Curiosity...

Turn right at the Cows!

Adventure

Intense colors Wind & Calm Simultaneously

Marvelous, Bizarre, & Beautiful!

Icon Key Grazing

Wildlife

Shore birds

Seeps & Microorganisms Springs

Natural Managed Vegetation Vegetation

Irrigation

Standing Water

Evaporation

Salt Crystals

Parking

Accessible

Pedestrian

Car

Signage

Roadways/ Pathways

Modified BACM Islands

Visitor Center (VC)

Land Art

Watercolor proposes an encounter with a set of designed salt ponds on Owens Lake.

myVonwynn hoPton

wAtercolor: the sAlt Ponds At owens lAke

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usc owens lAke studIo, FAll 2010

At the base of the entrance mound looking north. Can not see pools yet...

The Day is warm and still, with nothing disturbing the ponds or the Halobacteria...

At the base of the entrance mound looking north. Can not see pools yet...

The Day is warm and still, with nothing disturbing the ponds or the Halobacteria...

The Shallowest Pools get aerated and turn green as the wind kicks up and the algae are hard at work...

And now in Technicolor...A young explorer at the Western Stair Viewing Salt Crystals.

The Shallowest Pools get aerated and turn green as the wind kicks up and the algae are hard at work...

And now in Technicolor...A young explorer at the Western Stair Viewing Salt Crystals.

THE SALT PONDS OF OWENS LAKE IN PERSPECTIVE

THE SALT PONDS OF OWENS LAKE IN PERSPECTIVE

Perspectives show a sequence of experiences in the salt pond area, including a gateway built from a portion of the aqueduct.

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myVonwynn hoPton

wAtercolor: the sAlt Ponds At owens lAke

usc owens lAke studIo, FAll 2010 james lively Fluvial tillage: A hydrid bAcm

This experential timeline decribes the journey of bike rider through a variety of landscape conditions and to multiple attractions.

jAmes lIVely

FluVIAl tIllAge: A hybrId bAcm

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usc owens lAke studIo, FAll 2010

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FluVIAl tIllAge: A hybrId bAcm

jAmes lIVely

usc owens lAke studIo, FAll 2010

The proposal employs berms and ditches to control dust while also serving as a set of pathways and micro habitats.

jAmes lIVely

FluVIAl tIllAge: A hybrId bAcm

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usc owens lAke studIo, FAll 2010

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FluVIAl tIllAge: A hybrId bAcm

jAmes lIVely

usc owens lAke studIo, FAll 2010 jennifer regnier backyard campout: reimagining campsites from an Island Perspective

This project proposes a sophisticated camping area situated inside a ponded flood cell.

jennIFer regnIer

bAckyArd cAmPout: reImAgInIng cAmPsItes From An IslAnd PersPectIVe

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usc owens lAke studIo, FAll 2010

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bAckyArd cAmPout: reImAgInIng cAmPsItes From An IslAnd PersPectIVe

jennIFer regnIer

usc owens lAke studIo, FAll 2010

The campgrounds are oriented to maximize views of the sunsets.

A series of open space features create a vibrant community in the middle of the lake.

jennIFer regnIer

bAckyArd cAmPout: reImAgInIng cAmPsItes From An IslAnd PersPectIVe

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usc owens lAke studIo, FAll 2010 jennifer renteria owens labrynth: An owens journey via landform

This project creates the environment for a spiritual journey on the lake.

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owens lAbrynth: An owens journey VIA lAndForm

jennIFer renterIA

usc owens lAke studIo, FAll 2010

The project draws inspiration from the colors observed at the Owens Lake.

jennIFer renterIA

owens lAbrynth: An owens journey VIA lAndForm

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usc owens lAke studIo, FAll 2010

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owens lAbrynth: An owens journey VIA lAndForm

jennIFer renterIA

usc owens lAke studIo, FAll 2010

jennIFer renterIA

owens lAbrynth: An owens journey VIA lAndForm

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usc owens lAke studIo, FAll 2010

A labryinth choreographs a series of experiences and directs visitors to a viewing point.

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owens lAbrynth: An owens journey VIA lAndForm

jennIFer renterIA

usc owens lAke studIo, FAll 2010

jennIFer renterIA

owens lAbrynth: An owens journey VIA lAndForm

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usc owens lAke studIo, FAll 2010 gabe mason kinetic rythms: the convergence of the owens lake and delta

This experential timeline proposes a user experience that takes users on a quad, kayak, bicycle, then finally by foot.

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kInetIc rythms: the conVergence oF the owens lAke And deltA

gAbe mAson

usc owens lAke studIo, FAll 2010

A diamond shaped boardwalk carries users over a diamond shapeddust control topography. Stainless steel bird blinds can be fitted with reeds to provide shelter from the sun.

gAbe mAson

kInetIc rythms: the conVergence oF the owens lAke And deltA

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usc owens lAke studIo, FAll 2010

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kInetIc rythms: the conVergence oF the owens lAke And deltA

gAbe mAson

usc owens lAke studIo, FAll 2010 Adrian suzuki keeler beach: A skimboard destination

This project proposes skim boarding as a novel and ideal recreation activity for lake visitors.

AdrIAn suzukI

keeler beAch: A skImboArd destInAtIon

33

usc owens lAke studIo, FAll 2010

Topography is designed to maximize skim-boarding fun. Keeler serves as the gateway and host to the new recreational opportunity.

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keeler beAch: A skImboArd destInAtIon

AdrIAn suzukI

usc owens lAke studIo, FAll 2010

The facilities provide optimal skim boarding conditions and spaces from which to watch the sport.

AdrIAn suzukI

keeler beAch: A skImboArd destInAtIon

35

usc owens lAke studIo, FAll 2010 lin wang the raw

“The Raw” confronts and highlights naturally occuring conditions on the lake.

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the rAw

lIn wAng

usc owens lAke studIo, FAll 2010

The sectional views of the intervention highlight the ways in which wind, sun, and climate are modified by the design.

lIn wAng

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usc owens lAke studIo, FAll 2010

The project has two distinct sides that illustrate the range of conditions present on the lake.

38

the rAw

lIn wAng

subjeCt maPPinGs Students were instructed to produce a series of maps and documents relating to the following selected subjects: 1. Human Health and Comfort 2. Public Perception & Value 3. Recreation & Access 4. Dust Mitigation Control Measures 5. Habitat 6. Natural History 7. Owens Lake Bed Site Operations 8. Cultural / Site History 9. Precedents

usc owens lAke studIo, FAll 2010

MOUNT WHITNEY +14,505’

COSO MOUNTAINS 6,686’ BLACK MOUNTAINS +6,384’ ALABAMA HILLS +5,000’ OWENS LAKE +3,556 PANAMIT LAKE +1,100’ LAKE MANLY -282’

SEDIMENTARY FILL -6,500’ (10,000’ deep)

“graben”

“horst”

BREAK IN CRUST fills with sediment

PLUTON EXPANSION magma accretes in thickening layers beneath the crust surface

JURASSIC period

subject mAPPIngs

tectonic plate EXPANDS EASTWARD

CENOZOIC era 100 mya

CRETACEOUS period

prehistory of the mohave region saline lakes

50 mya

PALEOGENE period

PLEISTOCENE e HALOCENE e

TRIASSIC period

150 mya

“horst”

BREAK IN CRUST fills with sediment

MESOZOIC era 200 mya

BLACK MOUNTAINS

GLACIAL LAKES HUMANITY

“graben”

“horst”

DEATH VALLEY

PANAMIT RANGE

TECTONIC EXPANSION western edge of North American Plate cools and expands, creating grabens of Mojave Region

PANAMINT VALLEY

COSO RANGE

BREAK IN CRUST fills with sediment

graben geology

42

“graben”

VOLCANIC INTENSITY western shoreline of North American continent pushed 200 miles west

TECTONIC SUBDUCTION collision of tectonic plates

EVENTS TIMELINE

tectonic plate EXPANDS WESTWARD

OWENS VALLEY

MIOCENE e PILOCENE e

“horst”

ALABAMA HILLS

FORMATION of SIERRA NEVADAS

SIERRA NEVADA MOUNTAINS

GRANITE BATHOLITH hot magma cools and hardents, forming the material of the Sierra Nevadas

CALIFORNIA CENTRAL VALLEY

ACTION

FORMATIONS + ELEVATIONS

PANAMINT MOUNTAINS max. elev. +11,053’

Robin Abad Ocubillo

robIn AbAd ocubIllo

usc owens lAke studIo, FAll 2010

BEN T

HWY 395 43.2 miles north to Bishop 135 miles north to Mono Lake 200 miles south to Los Angeles

ON

UPPER OWENS RIVER historic + modern

RAN GE

OWENS RIVER historic prehistory - 1913 323,000 gals / second

HOT CREEK historic + modern

LAKE CROWLEY historic + existing LONG VALLEY DAM 1941 - present 650 acres

OWENS RIVER DELTA modern 800 acres 1.1% of lakebed 37.5 gals / second received from LORP

LAKE DIAZ modern 1872 - present

SEDIMENTARY INFILL prehistoric + modern < 10,000’ deep depoisted in trench valley (’graben’) over millinia

PUMPING STATION modern 2000 - present 336 gals / second into mainline 37.5 gals / second into delta

SIER

NORTH DIVERSION modern 2000 - present water diverted from aqueduct to mainline for dust control

WATER MAINLINE modern 2000 - present 33 miles

WH

RA

BISHOP IRRIGATION CANALS historic 1850s - 1950s

HWY 136 105 miles east to Death Valley 235 miles to Las Vegas

ITE MO

BISHOP CREEK historic + modern 20,854,490 gals/ year

LOWER OWENS RIVER PROJECT modern 2000 - present 62 miles 1,500 acres 374 gals / second

UN TAI

BIG PINE CREEK historic + modern 16,907,011,351 gals / year

NS

TOWN of KEELER modern 1880 - present population 66 (2010)

BIRCH CREEK historic + modern

TINEMAHA RESERVOIR modern 1913 - present 53,488 gals

NEVA

OWENS VALLEY WATERSHED historic + modern 75 mile long “graben” 35 creeks on western slopes 4 creeks on eastern slopes

DWP HEADQUARTERS 2000 - present Sulfate Yard

DA INY

BRINE POOL modern 1934 - present 16,000 acres 22% of lakebed

LOWER OWENS RIVER PROJECT modern 2000 - present 62 miles 1,500 acres 374 gals / second

LOWER OWENS RIVER historic prehistory - 1913 323,000 gals / second

DRY LAKEBED EXTENTS historic prehistory - 1930s 71.71 mile perimeter 72,940 acres

+ 3,553.55’ (2010)

O O M UN

PLEISTOCENE LAKE SYSTEM of MOJAVE REGION

+3,554’ (1986) +3,565’ (1906) +3,597’ (1878)

TAI

COTTONWOOD CREEK historic diversion to aqueduct modern

NS

Owens Lake (dry)

COTTONWOOD CREEK historic + modern

MOU S

div er sio

tio n de ta il

io n

MOUNT

y s ect

M IN T

A IN S

PANA

SOUTH DIVERSION modern 2000 - present water diverted from aqueduct to mainline for dust control

MAINLINE BERM ROAD modern 30 miles long

DUST CONTROL AREAS modern 2000 - present 27,520 acres 38% of lakebed 981 gals / second

E

extents + extinction

SEEPS and SPRINGS historic + modern 355 discrete locations 469 acres 0.64% of lakebed

RANG

40 MILES

robIn AbAd ocubIllo

lo g

LOS ANGELES AQUEDUCT modern 1934 - present 419 miles long 228,000 gals / second to Los Angeles

CHINA LAKE prehistoirc

30

geo

HWY 190 105 miles east to Death Valley 235 miles to Las Vegas

WINGATE PASS

SEARLESS LAKE prehistooric

SLATE RANGE

20

ben

GE

10

PANAMINT LAKE prehistoirc 416,000 acres

RAN

0

US

S GLACIAL OWENS RIVER

LOS ANGELES AQUEDUCT modern 1934 - present 419 miles long 228,000 gals / second to Los Angeles

gra

ARG

TA IN CO SO MO UN

HAIWEE RESERVOIR modern

n + de ss ica

B LA C K

N T A IN

LAKE MANLY prehistoric

the dry saline lakes of the mojave region

TOWN of OLANCHA modern 1880 - present population 134 (2010)

Robin Abad Ocubillo

0

diversion + dessication

1

2

3

4

of local hydrologic resources

subject mAPPIngs

5 MILES

Robin Abad Ocubillo

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usc owens lAke studIo, FAll 2010

44

subject mAPPIngs

chrIs Arntz

usc owens lAke studIo, FAll 2010

chrIs Arntz

subject mAPPIngs

45

46

usc owens lAke studIo, FAll 2010

myVonwynn hoPton

subject mAPPIngs

47

usc owens lAke studIo, FAll 2010

Precedents for design on the lake. The diagrams at the bottom code the suitability of each precedent to the Owens Lake.

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subject mAPPIngs

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Dust Dust Control Measures at Owens Lake Lake - Effects Parameters & Futures Control Measures at Owens - Effects Parameters & Futures Elements

Managed Vegetation

Gabe Mason - ARCH 542A - Prof. Robinson Gabe Mason - ARCH 542A - Prof. Robinson

Shallow Flooding

Gravel Blanket

Salinity Intensities & Salinity Intensities Lakebed & WaterWater Flow Sources

Positive/Negative Effects of Elements +

H Salinity Intensity L Seeps and Springs Lakebed Low Point

Neutral

_

+

Habitat Effects

Public Trust Values

-

Public Access Recreation

Increases habitat functions and values; welcomes diversity from shorebird species, rabbits, mice, foxes, coyotes, gophers; Promotes growth of native plants

Resurrection of Owens Lake foodweb for resident shorebirds, and promotion of visiting wildlife; establishment of TAM which are habitat to Alkali Skipper and Owens Valley Tiger Beatle. Cattails (Typha spp.), sedges (Carex spp.), saltgrass (Distichlis spicata) and other species associated with saturated alkaline meadows of the region can colonize these areas to an extent Increase in Mosquito populations; Possible negative impact to Brine Pool due to overflow during storm events. However, the existing saline soil conditions inherent to the lake bed are poor conditions for most plants including exotic pest plants such as tamarisk, puncture weed and Russian thistle and noxious grasses such as Cenchrus.

Possible threat to existing TAM wetlands, shorebirds, and plant life

Increases public access through creation of rows/nodes maintenance roads to managed vegetation plots

Increases public access through creation of maintenance roads

Increases public access in 360 degrees

Reduces possible recreation areas (though recreation is practically nonexistent on Owens Lake, so possible negative effects are minimal)

Possible increase in water related recreational activities? (Negative effects are minimal as none exists currently)

Reduces possible recreation areas (though recreation is practically nonexistent on Owens Lake, so possible negative effects are minimal)

Water could resurrect aesthetic qualities of the former lake

Flat grading of site could provide equal viewing opportunities anywhere

Possible spread of invasive Salt Cedar (Tamarix ssp.) and Mosquitos; Possible threat to Snowy Plovers due to increase of predators and steep berms; Possible reduction of TAM

1 Mile

+

View Shed -

Vegetation could add aesthetic value through increase of greenery

Variance of color gradient equivalent to 1’-0” rise/fall in elevation

Berms from managed vegetation possible disruption?

Berms from Shallow Flooding possible disruption? Minimal light glare from reflecting water

Phase Construction, DCMs, & Water Use

Color must be the same as lakebed; Homogenous surface could reduce aesthetic quality (though Owens Lake surface currently looks somewhat homogenous due to salt crust)

Phase I Phase II Phase III

Parameters of BACM Construction

Materials/ Infrastructure

3,500 miles of drip irrigation tubing currently in use, 26,000,000 plants, salt grass plugs for starting growth, greenhouses, 14 pump stations, 1.2 miles of berms, 17 miles of roads, subsurface drainage systems underneath each field collects irrigation flows and removes high salinity shallow groundwater

7,300 shallow flood bubblers; According to LADWP: 49.8 miles of roads/berms, 8 miles of 72” diameter steel trunkline, 18.2 miles of 30-54” diameter fiberglass mainline, 150 miles of 6-12” diameter fiberglass mainline, 300 miles of pipe (as large as 5’-0” in diameter), hundreds of miles of fiber optic cable, 4 control valve facilities, 10.6 miles of perforated drain line, 50.45 miles of 4-30” HDPE submain pipeline, 19 miles of 4-12” PVC lateral pipeline, 5 pump stations

Phase IV

Dumptrucks; minimum 1/2”-1 1/2” gravel size; gravel obtained from Dolomite mine and others in the Inyo mountains, and a shale pit

Phase V Phase VI Phase VII

Height of Berms

4-8’

Sheet Flooding: 3-4’ Pond Flooding: 4-8’

0’

Annual Water Use

960 acre-feet per square mile 1.5 acre-feet per acre

2,560 acre-feet per square mile 3-5 acre-feet per acre

0 acre-feet per square mile

Maintenance

Prior to planting leaching of soil to reduce salinity is necessary; Implentation of irrigation and fertilization schedules, drainage and vegetation monitoring, repair and replacement of irrigiation and drainage infrastructure

Grading, addition of supplemental water outlets, berming to ensure uniform water cover, and prevention of water channeling, and regular maintenance of pipelines, valves, pumping equipment, berms, roads, and other infrastructure

Annually adding 7,000 cubic yards per square mile (complete gravel replacement every 50 years), visual monitoring to ensure gravel blanket does not fill with sand or dust, or becomes flooded, and add if necessary

Employment

One full-time employee per 230 acres of vegetated area

One full-time employee per 580 acres of flooded area

One full-time employee per 5 square miles

Existing Dust Control Measures Managed Vegetation Tillage (formerly Moat and Row) Shallow Flooding

Water Costs

Shallow Flooding

$460,000 per square mile

$1,240,000 per square mile

$0 per square mile

Tillage (formerly Moat and Row)

*City of Los Angeles buys water from the Metropolitan Water District at $450 per acre-foot

Graveling

L

1 Mile

Annual Operation/Maintenance Costs: $17.5 Million

$15,00,000 per square mile

$12,900,000 per square mile

Construction

Prior to planting irrigation and leaching water is applied to soil to reduce salinity. Typical Irrigation Layout for 40-acres of vegetation: implementing irrigation pipe layout, drip tube laterals, furrows, and flush fields. Construction may include 16’ wide perimeter service road

Requires a lot of infrastructure for water transmission, distribution, outlet, excess water retention, collection, redistribution, and the construction of electrical power lines, access roads and water control berms to protect against wave erosion

Dust Control Effectiveness

With 50% plant coverage of live, dead, and/or dormant stems in a designated area, dust control effectiveness was 99%. Plant coverage can vary depending on clay or sandy soils, in that clay soils require less coverage than sandy soils.

Best Potential Sites for Control Measures

$22,000,000 per square mile

*Total Project Capital Cost: >$520 Million

Best Potential Sites

H

Managed Vegetation

Operations/ Maintenace Capital Cost

Graveling Water Use

With 75% surface water coverage of a designated area, dust control effectiveness was 99%

Proposed Dust Control Measure Areas Managed Vegetation Graveling

Prior to gravel deposition, the gravel area should be the last DCM installed to minimize deposition of particles by wind (gravel area should already be surrounded by non-emissive areas); additional construciton of flood control berms, drainage channels, basins is also necessary

Shallow Flooding Existing Dust Control Measures

The control effectiveness of a gravel blanket is 100%

Managed Vegetation Tillage (formerly Moat and Row)

Sandy soils with low salinity; proximity to springs/seeps; Northern area of Owens Lake

Hybridity Potential

Clay soils; proximity to springs/seeps; Southern area of Owens Lake

Away from wetlands; unsaturated soils; West/Northwest perimeter of Owens Lake Shallow Flooding Graveling

YES!

1 Mile

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OWENS LAKE

LAND USE / MOBILITY / REGULATION

The Great Basin Unified Air Pollution District :

Limits emissions and requires that reasonable precautions be taken to control dust emissions from activities such as road building, grading, gravel mining and hauling. Any gravel mining and hauling activities will be required to apply for an Authority to Construct and obtain a Permit to Operate from the GBUAPCD. The permit will include Conditions of Approval.

2008 Owens Valley PM10 Planning Area Demonstration of Attainment

Turnout Los Angeles Aqueduct Highways 2-4 lane / 24-175’ w Service Roads 1-lane / 10’ w Access road 1-lane / 15’ w Gravel Managed Vegetation Ponding Shallow Flooding Solar Power (Lease) Grazing (Lease) Agriculture (Lease) GBUAPCD Monitor Sites Towns of Keeler, Lone Pine and Olancha Pedestrian Lane / 3’ w

OWENS LAKE

WATER USE / VOLUME / FLOW

Los Angeles Aqueduct Highways 395/190/136 DWP Mainline 1 ft. contour

spans 31.8 miles 5 - 7% slopes are ideal for water retention

Gravel

0.14 sq. miles @ $22 million/ sq.mile 3.7 sq. miles @ 960 acre-feet/ mile minimal sq. miles

Managed Vegetation Ponding Shallow Flooding Lower Owens River Project, wetland delineation

35.2 sq. miles @ 2m569 /acrefeet/mile

Topographically, the bed of Owens Lake is relatively flat with only 50 feet of topographic relief from the historic shore to the lowest portion of the lake bed (3553.53 MS).

2008 State Implementation Plan Draft Subsequent Environmental Impact Report September 16, 2007 Sapphos Environmental, Inc Page 3.5-6

Standard Bicycle Lane / 4’ w

State Implementation Plan

2010-11 Owens Valley Projected Water Distribution (acre-feet)

Solar Potential • Solar resource x solar cell efficiency x area of module = energy output per day (kWh) • Local weather data shows 89% sunny days • Capacity of existing transmission lines and corridors • Great Basin Unified Air Pollution District requires 99% sheltering of the solar array panel area in order to achieve compliance.

Compact Vehicle / 5’ w

* **

*Owens Lake portion of LORP water segment is released in an annual seasonal (April - July) habitat flow of up to 200 cf/s;

Standard 4-WD / 6’ w

** The City of Los Angeles is required to provide a base flow of 40 cubic feet per second (cf/s)

The residual minerals resulting from the evaporation of the freshwater is deemed to be insignificant given the extremely high salinity of existing

Owens Lake Planning Committee, Owens Lake Solar Development June, 2010

Safety Vehicle / 8’ w

surface waters; however, the Water Quality Monitoring and Reporting Program shall monitor operational water volumes and flows, and analyze the quality of project surface waters and groundwater.

Utility Vehicle / 8’ w

DWP Mainline carries up to 80 PSI

Air Quality Control Sand flux is measured with Sensits and Cox Sand Catchers.

Data measures hourly sand flux rates at different locations on the lake bed. Sensits are electronic sensors, placed 5.75 inches above the lake bed surface, that measure the kinetic energy of sand-sized particles as they make contact with the sensor surface.

2008 Owens Valley PM10 Planning Area Demonstration of Attainment State Implementation Plan

AdrIAn suzukI

Service Vehicle / 10’ w

Submain pipelines carry 40 PSI Lateral pipelines carry 13 PSI Spring Shoulder Season — May 16 through June 30 The average temperature for Keeler in June is March is 78°F. Higher air temperatures and more solar radiation mean that more of the water applied to DCM areas is lost to evaporation.

Fall Shoulder Season — October 1 through October 15 The first two weeks of October are not a period when the lake bed typically experiences highly emissive conditions; therefore, to conserve water resources, full levels of dust control will not be required until October 16.

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GROuP viewshed anaLysis Groups of students were assigned to evaluate views of the lake along the major roads around and through the site, including 395, 190, 136 and on the mainline. Students used the Forest Service methodology and their own layout and representations.

usc owens lAke studIo, FAll 2010 FO R E G RO UND E X PE RIEN C E W E IGH TED C U MUL AT I V E S I T E V I S I T T R ACK Sept em b er 1 1 - 1 3 th. 10 p e op l e . 4 Ca r s. 4 GP Se s . 2 5 h o u rs . 4 1 9 mi l e s .

Tr a cks I n cl u d ed :

Lone Pine

S a t urda y 9 /1 1 A u d ob on Tou r ( 10) S unda y 9 /1 2 C ar tago G rou p ( 3) Di r ty S ock s G roup (3) Keel er G rou p ( 3 ) A l ex R ob i n son ( 1) Mo nda y 9 /1 3 DWP Tou r ( 1 0 )

Keeler

36

Y 1

HW

C u m u l a t i v e Tr a c k s Width of site visit GPS track points are sized by speed of car, value weighted by the number of people in the car and summed to create a gradrient isohyetal mapping from cool to warm colors (warmer = more people observing).

HW

Y

19

0

5

HWY 39 LEGEND

Cartago

Historic Shoreline Highway DWP Dust Mitigation BACMs Shallow Flooding, etc.

Managed Vegetation, etc.

Gravel

Olancha

Wetland;s All Types

0 0.5 1

2

3

4

Inyo_Towns

Miles

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To guide and geographical place their work students employed GPS units loaded with custom maps of the lake to navigate the over 100 miles of roads surveyed.

dIrty socks grouP MyvOnwynn HOptOn JaMes lively adrian suzuki

keeler grouP Jennifer reGnier Gabe MasOn lin wanG

cArtAgo grouP rObin abad OcubillO Jennifer renteria cHris arntz

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The Dirty Socks group studied the southern 1/3rd of the mainline, middle section of the 395, and the portion of the 190 and 136 near the DWP Sulfate Facility.

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Each group also examined a number of panoramas and approximated the amount of area that is visible from each, in the foreground, middleground and background.

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The Keeler group studied the southern section of the 190, southern section of the 395 and the northern 1/3rd of the mainline.

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keeler grouP

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keeler grouP

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Each group also examined a number of panoramas and approximated the amount of area that is visible from each, in the foreground, middleground and background.

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ALGAE POOLS

INFRASTRUCTURE

b

a “THE GEYSER”

PLATEGLASS FACTORY

g

f OWENS RIVER DELTA

DOLOMITE MINE

k

l

3800 DISTINCTIVE

BACKGROUND DISTINCTIVE

BACKGROUND TYPICAL

GROUND AVERAGE

3750

BACKGROUND

3700

MIDDLEGROUND

3650

MIDDLEGROUND TYPICAL

MIDDLEGROUND INDISTINCTIVE

FOREGROUND DISTINCTIVE

FOREGROUND TYPICAL

FOREGROUND INDISTINCTIVE

FOREGROUND

3600

3550

3500

AQUEDUCT

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grouP VIewshed AnAlysIs

HIGH

MODERATE

HIGHWAY

OWENS RIVER

INDISTINCTIVE

BACKGROUND INDISTINCTIVE

MIDDLEGROUND DISTINCTIVE

VERY HIGH

TYPICAL

LOW

MAINLINE

b f

e

d

c a

VERY LOW

VERY HIGH

HIGH

0.0 MODERATE

0.5 LOW

1.0 VERY LOW

HISTORIC SHORELINE

AQUEDUCT

HIGHWAY

OWENS RIVER

MAINLINE

HISTORIC SHORELINE

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

5.5

6.0

6.5

7.0

7.5

8.0

Points of Interest . Viewshed Ana

usc owens lAke studIo, FAll 2010

SALT ENCRUSTATION

RUINS

BIRD HABITAT

e

d

c HUMAN HABITATION

ALABAMA HILLS

OWENS RIVER

i

h RELICS

Left: view shed analysis modifies the existing forest surface standard methodology with the edition of English picturesque technology. This layout shows the section between miles two and ten of the 395.

j

RUINS

SWANSEA

m

n

o

h g i m n o

l k

j

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

5.5

6.0

6.5

7.0

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

5.5

6.0

alyses . Owens Lake

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3800

3750

BACKGROUND

3700

3650

3600

3550

3500

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

5.5

6.0

6.5

7.0

7.5

8.0

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

5.5

6.0

6.5

7.0

7.5

8.0

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

5.5

6.0

6.5

7.0

7.5

8.0

3800

3750

MIDGROUND

3700

3650

3600

3550

3500

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

3800

3750

FOREGROUND

3700

3650 DISTINCTIVE

BACKGROUND DISTINCTIVE

BACKGROUND TYPICAL

TYPICAL

INDISTINCTIVE

GROUND AVERAGE

3600

BACKGROUND

3550

MIDDLEGROUND

3500

BACKGROUND INDISTINCTIVE

MIDDLEGROUND DISTINCTIVE

MIDDLEGROUND TYPICAL

MIDDLEGROUND INDISTINCTIVE

FOREGROUND DISTINCTIVE

FOREGROUND TYPICAL

FOREGROUND INDISTINCTIVE

AQUEDUCT

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HIGH

MODERATE

HIGHWAY

OWENS RIVER

LOW

MAINLINE

VERY LOW

VERY HIGH

HIGH

MODERATE

LOW

VERY LOW

HISTORIC SHORELINE

AQUEDUCT

HIGHWAY

OWENS RIVER

MAINLINE

HISTORIC SHORELINE

grouP VIewshed AnAlysIs

0.5

1.0

1.5

MAINLINE southbound

FOREGROUND

VERY HIGH

0.0

1-mile Resolution . Viewshed A

usc owens lAke studIo, FAll 2010

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

5.5

6.0

6.5

7.0

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

5.5

6.0

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

5.5

6.0

6.5

7.0

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

5.5

6.0

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

5.5

6.0

6.5

7.0

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

5.5

6.0

HWY 395 northbound

HWY 136 southbound

Analyses . Owens Lake cArtAgo grouP

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N O R T H

N O R T H

E A S T

from the Sierra Nevadas

N O R T H

N O R T H

E A S T

MAINLINE

S O U T H

W E S T

N O R T H

W E S T

MAINLINE crossroads

Panoramas . Viewshed Analyses . Owens Lake S O U T H

W E S T

N O R T H

E A S T

HWY 136 Owens River Delta

E A S T

N O R T H

W E S T

S O U T H

HWY 395

N O R T H

E A S T

S O U T H

HWY 395

Panoramas . Viewshed Analyses . Owens Lake

The Cartago Group studied the middle 1/3rd of the mainline, northern section of the 395 and northern section of the 136. Each group also examined a number of panoramas and approximated the amount of area that is visible from each, in the foreground, middleground and background.

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PanORama anaLysis Panorama analysis examined in more depth the values of a single panorama.

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OBJECTS and RELICS

ELECTRIC LINE MARKERS “warning: high voltage underground power cable”

T28 ROAD SIGN human and auto wayfinding

TAIL WATER VAULTS access wells at the low end of T28 basin

‘HONEY WELL’ HIGH VOLTAGE BOX filters fluid used in houses electric hydrolic controls controls GATE VALVE access well for buried valve

WATER TRUCK FILL STATION refills trucks which spray roads to control dust

ELECTRIC LINE MARKERS “warning: high voltage underground power cable”

STILL WELL CONDUITS equalizes water levels in T28S flood basin with smaller still well

ELECTRIC LINE MARKERS “warning: high voltage underground power cable”

MOUND soil, granite, gravel

REGULATORY SIGN “stay off berm”

DRAIN LINE used with va

T28N FLOOD BASIN T28S FLOOD BASIN 325 acres

SHALLOW FLOOD BASINS

T28N FLOOD BASIN 475 acres

STAGING AREAS

ROADS and BERMS

STILL WELL eliminates false water elevation readings from wave action

TRIANGLE east corner

PUMP STATION T26 north corner

BERM ROAD T28S / T26 2 miles to terminus

BERM ROAD T28N / T28S 1.6 miles to terminus

MAINLINE northbound 5.7 miles to owens river delta 9.5 miles to hwy 395

N O R T H

136

T26 FLOOD BASIN 580 acres

E A S T

395 190

aqueduct viewpoint roads lakebed

attractivness ‘TYPICAL’ integrity ‘HIGH’ INYO MOUNTAINS

BACKGROUND attractivness ‘TYPICAL’ integrity ‘VERY LOW’

MIDGROUND attractivness ‘DISTINCTIVE’ integrity ‘VERY LOW’

FOREGROUND

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PAnorAmA AnAlysIs

infrastructural landscape

an viewshed analysis of the altered environment of the owens lakebed

MAINLINE southbound 17.25 miles to hwy 395

usc owens lAke studIo, FAll 2010

E CLEANOUT acuum truck

FLOOD FLOW EMITTERS 4” pvc

ELECTRIC LINE MARKERS “warning: high voltage underground power cable”

DRAIN LINE collects water at low point for recirculation

MOUND soil, granite, gravel

SAFETY? CONES mobile bollards

RELIEF VALVE releases excess pressure from water main

AIR VAC extracts air from line

FLOW METERS BOLLARD monitors water GATE VALVE volume access well for COMFORT? STATION buried valve recieves emergency release of human biowaste

CATHODE BOX monitors electric mainline

FLOOD EMITTERS 4” pvc

STA. 4 SIGN human wayfinding

This analysis examines the infrastructure present in a panoramic view.

DRAIN LINE CLEANOUT used with vacuum truck

T27N FLOOD BASIN 548 acres

T27S FLOOD BASIN 537 acres

SUMP

T28N FLOOD BASIN 475 acres

PUMP STATION T27 west corner

MAINLINE northbound 5.7 miles to owens river delta 9.5 miles to hwy 395

BERM ROAD T27S / T27N 1.7 miles to terminus

W E S T

S O U T H

SIERRA NEVADA MOUNTAINS ALABAMA HILLS

COSO RANGE

robIn AbAd ocubIllo

Robin Abad Ocubillo

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chrIs Arntz

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myVonwynn hoPton

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jennIFer regnIer

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The panorama examines what is visible from the Horseshow Meadow Road.

jennIFer renterIA

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TRACING SUN LIGNT

-Panaroma Analysis for Owens Lake

Lin Wang

N View on Sierra Mountian at 6:30 pm on September 12th, 2010

Observation of Sunlight Patterns

Sunrise

Foreground

Sunset

80 F 70 F 50 F Wind Direction

Middleground

7 mph

Background

5:30 am

6:00 am

6:30 am

12:00 pm

6:30 pm

7:30 pm

8:30 pm

Best Time/Position for Observation

Precedent Study of Sun Marker in Chaco Canyon The light and shade can be an iterpretation of time Evening at Owens Lake

Warm and Cold Color in Light and Shade The colors of mountains, vegetations, water and salt bed are different in the light and shade.

Some of the colors will fade away as time pass by.

Shape of the Shadow

From 6:30 to 7:30

６：３０ ｐｍ

color of sunlight

color of mountains

color of vegetations color of salt bed and desert

color of water

The line of shadow

６：３０ ｐｍ ７：３０ ｐｍ

Albert Bierstadt (1830-1902)

Color in light

７：３０ ｐｍ

Color in Shade From 6:30 to 7:30

shadow of mountain at 7:30 pm

Summer Solstice

shadow of mountain at 6:30 pm

lIn wAng

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POstCaRds Students were assigned to produce a postcard of what a tourist might share with their friends and family following a visit to Owens Dry Lake in the future. Each postcard relates to a subject that was the focus of their studies.

usc owens lAke studIo, FAll 2010

Springtime at Owens Lake!

Lone Pine

Owens Lake Vernal Marshlands

136 Keeler

Horseshoe Meadows Road Lookout Owens Lake Brine Pool

395

190

Olancha

thousands of migrating shorebirds flock to Owens Lake Seasonal Marshlands every spring and autumn

postcard proofs Robin Abad Ocubillo

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Chris Arntz

usc owens lAke studIo, FAll 2010

Myvonwynn Hopton

Top: James Lively Bottom: Adrian Suzuki

PAnorAmA AnAlysIs

97

usc owens lAke studIo, FAll 2010

Jennifer Regnier

98

Jennifer Renteria

PostcArds

Post Card

usc owens lAke studIo, FAll 2010

Before

Place Stamp Here

Developing a better system of dust control is of paramount importance. Positioning water conservation, viewshed enhancement, habitat preservation, recreation, and access will be key components in the rebuilding of the Owens Valley Recognizing that water has been its timeless attraction, the current existence of the delta in the north should be nurtured and grown, catalyzing nature blooms that will be wide in scope and rich in depth Alternating dust control measures can reduce costs and resources, while enriching views, welcoming wildlife, and providing access and recreational opportunities.

Post Card Front

Post Card Back Gabe Mason

Lin Wang

PostcArds

99

site imPRessiOns Following our visit, each student was asked to document their intitial impressions of the site.

usc owens lAke studIo, FAll 2010

RELIC

WIND WEND HEAT

HOT

ABRASIVE

WANDER

EROSION

DETRIUS

RELINQUISH

CORROSION

DETRIMENT

RELICT dried up

INFRASTRUCTURE VAST

STERILE

RAZE

HAZE

WINDAN oe. to turn, twist

DESOLATE

DIVEST RUIN

WANT

DETRIMENT mf. harmfully

HAITAZ pgr. hot

RELIQUIAS oe. remains

WENDH pie. to turn, weave

VASTER onf. to spoil, ruin

RUINA l. a collapse

of. VEIN worthless

RELIQUUS l. remnants

RUDERE l. to gnaw away

RADERE l. to scrape, scratch

DESTRUCTION

STEREOS gk. firm, solid stiff, hard

VANUS l. idle, empty

SOLUS l. alone

SRAT w. plain

WESTEN oe. a desert

STREOWIAN oe. to sprinkle, strew

VASTUM l. waste

STRAUJAN gth. to sprinkle, strew

of. wilderness, destruction, waste, ruin VASTUS l. empty, desolate

EXTENSIVUS l. stretched, spread

EXTENDERE l. to lengthen

TENDERE l. to strain, stretch

TERERE l. to wear away

RAZD pie. to scrape

EXTENSIVE

DEVASTATION

STÉRILE mf. not bearing fruit

DETRIUS l. matter produced by erosion

WENDAS pgr. blowing

DESERT

me. waterless, treeless region

VANTA onf. to lack

HAITAN pgr. heat

STRUCTURE WASTE

RELICTION

ÉRODER f. to wear away

HITZE gr. hot

HAT oe. fierce

VACANT

DRY

skt. STARIH a barren cow

VACARE l. to void, empty

l. SOLARE to make lonely

STRNOTI skt. strews, throw down VASTARE l. to empty, deprive

DREUG pie. barren

STERE pie. to spread, extend, stretch out

language evolution

landscape as language

language across landscape

landscape evolution

landscape etymology Robin Abad Ocubillo

102

sIte ImPressIons

l latin

w

welsh

gk greek

gr

german

mf middle french

f french

skt sanskrit

gth

gothic

onf old north french

pie proto indo-european

pgr

proto-germanic

me oe

middle english old english

of old french

Robin Abad Ocubillo

usc owens lAke studIo, FAll 2010

Adrian Suzuki

sIte ImPressIons

103

usc owens lAke studIo, FAll 2010

Myvonwynn Hopton

104

sIte ImPressIons

usc owens lAke studIo, FAll 2010

Jennifer Regnier

sIte ImPressIons

105

usc owens lAke studIo, FAll 2010

Impressions of Owens Valley

Gabe Mason ARCH 542A - Prof. Robinson

A view of Owens Lake from Ranch De La Cour illustrates the arbitrarily placed patches of the dust control quilt

Los Angeles Department of Water and Powerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pump station #4 buttresses the adjacent wetland area A variance of shrubs, salt flats, soil, and water add aesthetic beauty to what is now a quasi-controlled environment

Hundreds of powerlines throughout the lake support dust control measures adulterate natural views

Cattle grazing in southern Owens Lake echoes the pastoral qualities of the past, but the powerlines do not

Gabe Mason

106

Jennifer Renteria

sIte ImPressIons

usc owens lAke studIo, FAll 2010

SALT on the dry lake bed is a unique charactor on Owenslkae.

Varies apperances of the salt can be seen when the landscape is added with diďŹ&#x20AC;erent textures.

Lin Wang

sIte ImPressIons

107

fa l l 2 0 1 0

ow e n s l a k e s t u d i o ow e n s l a k e s t u d i o

university of southern california

fa l l 2 0 1 0 , u n i v e r s i t y o f s o u t h e r n c a l i f o r n i a