A Long-Dry California River Gets, and Gives, New Life

[XemaSab]

What Los Angeles took a century ago — a 62-mile stretch of river here in the parched Owens Valley — it is now giving back.

One of the largest river-restoration projects in the country has sent a gentle current of water meandering through what just a year ago was largely a sandy, rocky bed best used as a horse trail and barely distinguishable from the surrounding high desert scrub.

Mud hens dive for food. A blue heron sweeps overhead. Bass, carp and catfish patrol deep below. Some local residents swear they have even seen river otters.

So much reedy tule has sprouted along the banks, like bushy tufts of hair, that officials have called in a huge floating weed whacker, nicknamed the Terminator, to cut through it and help keep the water flowing — a problem inconceivable in years past.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/12/us/12water.html?ref=us

[benddem]

1. neat!!

a good environmental story

[nosmokes]

2. This is such great news!

I used to go up and fish the Owens with some pals ewver Spring in the Pleasant Valley area just above Bishop.striking scenery, although I did think the Pleasant Valley was bit of a misnomer.I recall one year a wind storm came up and we huddled in a couple of different tents. I 'm looking at the sand being blown through the rain fly and the side wall of my top of the line Patagonia tent. we learned from the ranger the next day the anemometer at the Bishop weather station registered wind speeds of 107mph before it broke.and still one of my all time favorite bumper sticker is: LA SUCKS The Owens Valley dry. Thanks for the post Xema sab. Made my day.

[losthills]

3. Gracias.

The world needs more trout...

[earth mom]

4. I love this...BUT...

how long before the land speculators show up?


:grr:

[NNadir]

5. It's Chinatown Jake.

I used to live in LA, and sometimes ski at Manmouth Mountain.

I always had a huge sense of guilt, especially after watching Chinatown, loosely based on the life of Mulholland.