Dust and Sediment Return to the Pollution and Solid Waste Subject Page. Return to the Images of the California Environment page. Click on an image to see a larger version. When the City of Los Angeles took the water from Owens Lake it created a massive alkali dust bowl.
Debris left by hydraulic mining a century ago is still evident in many areas.
Clear water from a wildernes area enters the turbid Feather River, where more than a century of mining, roads and railroads provide a heavy load of silt. These giant wheels lifted mining debris over a hill to a safe containment area.