Desert Gazette

Timelines

List

Tag: Los Angeles Aqueduct

  • Independence, California

    and the Southern Owens Valley

    Independence, California, is a small town in the Owens Valley’s southern stretch, backed by the towering Sierra Nevada to the west and the Inyo Mountains to the east. With around 600 residents, it serves as the Inyo County seat and a quiet gateway to rich history and dramatic desert landscapes.

    The town was founded in 1861, during the mining boom, and named in honor of the Declaration of Independence. While gold rush ambitions shaped its early days, Independence is better known for its historical and cultural sites today. The Eastern California Museum offers an impressive collection of Native American artifacts, pioneer relics, and mining tools, showcasing the region’s layered past. Just a few miles away is the Manzanar National Historic Site, a powerful and sobering reminder of World War II, where thousands of Japanese Americans were interned during a dark chapter in U.S. history.

    But the story of this region runs deeper than its buildings and monuments. In contrast, the southern Owens Valley, from Poverty Hill to Rose Valley—including the Owens Lake basin—is a geological and ecological study. This broad alluvial plain was once home to a large lake fed by snowmelt from the Sierras. During the Ice Age, Owens Lake sometimes overflowed southward, but it’s mostly dry today. Its water has been diverted to supply Los Angeles for a long time.

    The valley’s surface tells the story of time and erosion. Quaternary sediments—old alluvial fan deposits, lakebed clays, and basin fill—comprise much of the ground. You’ll also find volcanic rock from ancient lava flows like the Aberdeen Lava, along with rugged outcrops such as the Alabama Hills and Poverty Hill, made of granite, old volcanic, and metamorphic rock.

    The land is mostly flat to gently sloping, though it rises in places from 3,000 to 6,000 feet. Soils vary from gravelly and well-drained on the fans to fine and occasionally saturated in the low-lying basin. Many playa surfaces remain barren, having only recently reemerged from beneath the former lake. Vegetation reflects these conditions—on the basin fill you’ll see greasewood and saltbush, while the alluvial fans support shadscale, hop-sage, blackbush, and creosote bush. Grasslands include saltgrass and alkali sacaton. Though sparse, woodland species like mountain mahogany and water birch hang on in a few upland areas.

    The climate here is dry and extreme. Rainfall averages 4 to 8 inches annually, mostly falling as rain. Summers are hot, winters are cold, and the skies are often crystal clear, making Independence a draw for stargazers and astrophotographers.

    Water now runs in limited channels. The Owens River still threads through the valley, but much of it is captured and diverted south. Natural outflow from the region is rare, and the lake that once anchored the valley is now a dusty remnant of its former self.

    Still, there’s something magnetic about Independence and the valley that surrounds it. Maybe it’s the blend of natural beauty and historical depth. Perhaps it’s the vast open space. Either way, this stretch of the Eastern Sierra remains a place worth exploring for its past, present, and the ever-changing story written in its land.

  • Owens Valley History

    Early Inhabitants and Settlement

    The valley was originally home to the Paiute people, who practiced irrigation to cultivate crops along the riverbanks. In the 19th century, American and English fur trappers and mountain men were among the first non-indigenous individuals to explore the area. The discovery of silver and lead deposits in the nearby Cerro Gordo Mines during the late 1800s led to a mining boom, attracting settlers and leading to the establishment of communities like Keeler.

    Owens Valley Indian War

    Tensions between settlers and the indigenous Paiute people escalated into the Owens Valley Indian War in the early 1860s. Conflicts over land and resources resulted in violent confrontations, leading to significant casualties on both sides. In March 1862, settlers attacked a Paiute camp in the Alabama Hills, resulting in the deaths of eleven Paiutes and the destruction of their food supplies. Subsequent engagements saw the involvement of military forces and further loss of life.

    Water Diversion and the Owens Valley Water Wars

    In the early 20th century, Los Angeles sought to secure water resources to support its growing population. The city constructed the Los Angeles Aqueduct, completed in 1913, to divert water from the Owens River to Los Angeles. This diversion had devastating effects on Owens Valley’s agriculture and led to the drying up of Owens Lake. Local farmers and residents opposed the project, leading to acts of sabotage and legal battles known as the Owens Valley Water Wars. Despite their efforts, Los Angeles maintained control over the water resources, leading to long-term economic and environmental consequences for the valley.

    Manzanar Internment Camp

    During World War II, the U.S. government established the Manzanar War Relocation Center in Owens Valley. From 1942 to 1945, over 10,000 Japanese Americans were forcibly relocated and incarcerated at Manzanar as part of the internment program. The harsh conditions and unjust treatment of these individuals remain a poignant chapter in American history.

    Saline Valley Salt Tram

    An engineering feat of the early 20th century, the Saline Valley Salt Tram was constructed between 1911 and 1913 to transport salt from the Saline Valley over the Inyo Mountains into Owens Valley. Covering a distance of 13.4 miles with steep inclines, it operated intermittently until 1935 and stands as a testament to the industrial endeavors of the era.

    The history of Owens Valley reflects a tapestry of cultural heritage, resource conflicts, and resilience, offering valuable insights into the complexities of development and conservation in the American West.

  • Why is the Mojave Famous?

    Here is a look at what the Mojave is famous for, with pioneer trails and human history front and center:

    1. Native Peoples
      Long before wagon wheels, the Mojave was home to Native tribes like the Mojave, Chemehuevi, Southern Paiute, and Serrano. These communities knew the springs, passes, and seasonal rhythms like the back of their hand, and they left trails, trade routes, rock art, and village sites throughout the region. Their knowledge of water and survival shaped later explorers’ routes.
    2. Pioneer Trails
      • Old Spanish Trail: This historic trade route linked New Mexico to California, winding through the Mojave. Traders, herders, and explorers used it to move livestock and goods—often braving vast dry stretches and rugged terrain.
      • Mojave Road (aka Government Road): Originally a Native footpath, it became a vital wagon route in the 1800s, linking the Colorado River to Southern California. Army outposts like Fort Mojave and Camp Cady were built along it to protect travelers.
      • Salt Lake Wagon Road and Bradshaw Trail: These overland trails helped connect remote mining districts and settlements, pushing westward expansion through incredibly harsh country.
      • Butterfield Overland Mail Route: This short-lived but famous stagecoach line cut through the edge of the Mojave to deliver mail between St. Louis and San Francisco.
    3. Homesteaders, Miners, and Ranchers
      Once the trails were blazed, the floodgates opened to prospectors, settlers, and ranchers. Boomtowns sprang up around gold, silver, and borax. Think Calico, Tecopa, Kelso, and Ballarat—all born of dreams and dust. Cattlemen like Albert Swarthout carved out rough but sustainable ranches, running cattle from the low desert to summer pastures in the San Bernardino Mountains.
    4. Railroads and Route 66
      The Santa Fe, Southern Pacific, and Atlantic & Pacific Railroads stitched the desert into the country’s growing infrastructure. Later, Route 66 brought travelers through towns like Barstow, Needles, and Amboy, adding roadside Americana to the desert’s legacy.
    5. Modern Tribes of the Desert
      Today, the Mojave is home to desert dwellers of all stripes—scientists, artists, loners, and communities like the Mojave Indian Tribe, who still live near the Colorado River. It also draws off-grid homesteaders and folks seeking freedom in wide open country.
    6. Endurance and Ingenuity
      Whether you’re talking about ancient foot trails, covered wagons crossing dry washes, or early aviators launching into the unknown, the Mojave has always demanded toughness and adaptability. It’s a place that doesn’t hand out easy victories—but the stories it holds are worth every blister and rattlesnake dodge.