–click on the image to view panorama–

Much of the water that flows down from the Eastern Sierras has been siphoned off by Los Angeles County since the early 1900s. The water level at Mono lake was in steady decline, the Owens river reduced to a sad trickle, and Owens Lake dried up, blowing toxic dust in all directions and dangerously polluting the otherwise pristine air of the high desert surroundings. After many years of litigation, Los Angeles County has finally been forced to mitigate some of the damage. The water level of Mono Lake is to be restored to what it was some 80 years ago, Owens River is once again flowing and some projects are underway to reduce the Owens Lake dust storms. In a decade from now, many of these tufa formations along Mono Lake will be under water once more.