Owens Lake Dust Mitigation Project – Phase 7

UltraSystems Environmental Inc. provided cultural resources surveying and construction monitoring services (archaeological and Native American) for Phase 7 of the Owens Lake Dust Abatement Project, a long-term program conducted by the County of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) to mitigate the effects of extreme dust pollution across the Owens Lake bed and surrounding region through the use of Dust Control Measures (DCMs). Phase 7 was concerned with the southwestern and southern edges of the lake, and construction of 20 shallow-pond and moat-and-row containment sites within 15.1 square mile area. A cultural resources survey in the study area prior to the start of Phase 7 recorded 15 sites and 223 isolated artifacts within the area. Prehistoric sites along the perimeter of the lake bed, and historic mining-related sites throughout the lake bed area required mitigation. UltraSystems Native American monitors documented cultural resource monitoring activities, and were consulted on the disposition of prehistoric findings.