This is the first of the new work from my ongoing project photographing the Lower Owens River.
The Lower Owens River Project is focused on a major habitat restoration effort in Eastern California that's goal is to undo the ecological damage caused by the loss of Owens Valley water to Los Angeles that began in the early 20th Century.
Having been through the Owens Valley in 2006, before the water was returned, the restoration immedaitely caught my attention and I've been following this story as closely as I can. Unfurtunately there is not much being written about it and and I've seen very few photographs of the changes. I just want to say thank you for providing a window into an ongoing restoration that deserves far more attention than it is recieving.
I like this series. It is art and advocacy simultaneously. I am particularly impressed by the quality and simplicity of your method.
Since you spent time in Owens Valley as a child with your Grandfather, do you have any thoughts on the pace of reclamation and restoration? I think about Weston's descriptions and your photos seem less bleak than it.
Doc, you are correct, there is not much at all written about the progress of the project. In fact, the last update on the LORP website is from February of this year. This got me thinking that I should also post this on my blog, www.richardboutwell.blogspot.com
Mike, the area immediate the river is really the only area that looks this way-- the rest is sage brush. I have a negative that I will print this week that shows the surrounding area. I havn't read California and the West for several years, but it is still fairly bleak in most places. It is tough to photograph the bleak, but I did try. It is just so much nicer to photograph water and trees.
So, do I see any significant changes at this point? Yes and no. It is somewhat hard to tell. There are locked gates that keep you out of the area from the east side of the river, and there is barbwire along the whole of the road that runs on the east side of the river. That is where they are creating the lakes. You can climb through the barbwire, but then it is a LONG walk to the river from that point.
After I get all the negatives printed from this last trip I am going to approach Inyo Water to get access to all the closed-off areas. I hope I can start working there in the fall.
What most people don't realize is that this is much more than just opening the gates and letting water flow back into the river. They are creating waterways that will recreate small lakes for fish and waterfowl, and creating ways to water pastures so cattle don't disrupt the rehabilitation efforts.
There were always trees along the river, even when it was dry, but they were mostly tamerisk (salt cedar). Inyo Water has been bulldozing and burning those trees (which are actually invasive plants). I walked into one of those areas that was burnt when I was out in May, but it was too hot, and too far of a walk to do with an 8x10. (Although I generally don't like off-highway-vehicles, I am considering borrowing one on my next trip out there in order to go down those roads that are too soft and narrow for my father's truck).
There are certainly more birds than I ever remember as a kid. More even that when I would cruise the back roads to photograph five years ago. I did come across a place east of Lone Pine that might give an indication to how beautiful it will all be in the coming years. Though that also raises a concern, which was one reason for me doing the project in the first place.
My grandfather said to me once something to the effect of, "In a way, LA saved this valley. By taking all the water, they kept all the people away." What will happen to the Valley once people know about how beautiful it really is?