RIDGECREST — The Maturango Museum, 100 E. Las Flores Ave., Ridgecrest, will host a field trip to Owens Lake and the Lower Owens area from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 30, with a representative of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power as guide.
The outing will focus on the LADWP Owens Lake Dust Mitigation Program, which the department describes as the largest program of its kind in the world. Participants will see the dust control measures in place and the habitat created on former dusty playa. Binoculars are encouraged for viewing shorebirds and waterfowl on their fall migration.
Owens Lake sits about 5 miles south of Lone Pine along Highway 395, between the Sierra Nevada to the west and the Inyo Mountains to the east. The lake is dry except in especially wet years.
Trip organizer Terry Mitchell, who has lived in Ridgecrest since the mid-1980s and is originally from the Owens Valley, arranged the trip after contacting LADWP.
The group will leave from the museum and drive north on Highway 395 to the Interagency Center just before Lone Pine, where it will meet the LADWP representative. Participants will have about 20 minutes there to use the facilities and look around. The center closes at 4:30 p.m., and its gate is shut at 4:15 p.m., so those who want more time can return after the planned outing. The tour itself will last three to four hours, not counting travel to and from the lake.
From the Interagency Center, participants must carpool, with about four people per vehicle. Parking and safety concerns limit the number of vehicles, and the number of guests is capped, so organizers urge early sign-up.
Orange safety vests, required for high visibility, will be worn whenever participants leave their vehicles. Pets are not allowed. Parents are responsible for any minor children who come along.
Cost is $35 per person for museum members and $40 for nonmembers.
Participants should expect about 160 miles of round-trip driving without side trips, so vehicles and tires should be in good condition and gas tanks full. Beyond the Interagency Center, travel will be mostly on gravel and dirt roads, and walking and parking will be on uneven ground. Restrooms along the route will be scarce, likely porta-potties, and running water is unlikely.
The museum’s usual field trip dress code applies: hat, sunscreen, comfortable walking shoes, layered clothing, water and a camera. Participants should bring a picnic lunch to eat along the route, along with water and snacks. Alcohol is not allowed.
If the museum cancels the trip, participants will receive a full refund or may transfer their payment to another trip. No cash refunds will be given for cancellations by participants.
LADWP’s public access and safety guidelines, along with details on some of the areas to be visited, are available Tickets and more information are available at maturango.org.
Source: Maturango Museum website