Owens Lake, located in eastern California’s Owens Valley, has undergone a remarkable transformation from a once dust-prone landscape to one of the largest and most successful air quality restoration projects in the world. Once an area that generated severe dust (PM10) pollution and health risks for surrounding communities, Owens Lake is now a model for environmental recovery and sustainable management.
Air Sciences Inc. has been integral in this transformation through its specialized expertise in air quality management, modeling, and mitigation planning. Serving as a prime contractor for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), Air Sciences provides technical leadership and scientific guidance that supports LADWP in meeting the goals of the Owens Lake Dust Mitigation Project (OLDMP). With over two decades of continuous work on the project and seven consecutive contracts since 2007, Air Sciences brings unmatched institutional knowledge and commitment to this complex, evolving program.
Working alongside key partners—including Land IQ LLC, Cordoba Corporation, and Jacobs Engineering Group Inc.—Air Sciences helps LADWP develop and implement innovative dust mitigation strategies tailored to Owens Lake’s unique environment. Using advanced atmospheric modeling, field measurements, remote sensing, and sophisticated custom-built data management tools, Air Sciences identifies active dust source areas, quantifies emissions, and supports the design of site-specific control measures.
Adaptive management lies at the core of the OLDMP. By analyzing real-time monitoring data and field observations, Air Sciences is able to provide LADWP with information to continually refine dust control methods to improve efficiency and reduce water use. The mitigation measures implemented for the OLDMP includes shallow flooding, managed vegetation, gravel cover, brine stabilization, and tillage. Each technique is designed to achieve high emissions control efficiencies—often 99% or greater—while maintaining flexibility to adapt to environmental and operational needs.
Air Sciences’ scientific expertise and regulatory experience have been critical in helping LADWP navigate this complex framework of air quality compliance. Air Sciences has supported LADWP with modeling, regulatory analysis, expert testimony, and strategic planning in engagement with agencies such as the Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District, the California Air Resources Board, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This collaboration has ensured that mitigation measures not only meet but often out perform control efficiency expectations.
Through ongoing research into soil properties, wind dynamics, surface crust behavior, and vegetation performance, Air Sciences has contributed to the advancement of dust control methods and monitoring practices. These efforts have contributed to broader innovations in dust mitigation, influencing practices well beyond the Owens Valley.
Today, thanks to the collaboration between Air Sciences, LADWP, and their partners, dust emissions from Owens Lake have been reduced by more than 95%. Air quality in the region has dramatically improved, and areas once dominated by emissive lakebed are now supporting wildlife habitat, wetlands, and native vegetation.
The OLDMP stands as a powerful example of science-driven environmental restoration. Air Sciences’ is proud to be an integral part of the project’s evolution—balancing air quality, water conservation, and ecological stewardship to ensure lasting benefits for both people and the environment.
Contact us to learn more about our work and how Air Sciences’ capabilities can advance your environmental objectives.
