Owens Lake, California, DSWE Surface Water Proportions 1990-2025

Annual variability of water levels in Owens Lake, California derived from USGS Dynamic Surface Water Extent (DSWE) data based on Landsat satellite imagery. Grey to white tones represent dry rough to flat terrain, respectively. The range of colors from light green to dark blue represent increasing periods of inundation within each year measured at the scale of individual 30-meter by 30-meter ground areas of the Lake and surrounding impoundments. The first water‑impoundment development northeast of the lake’s center is visible in imagery from 2000. In subsequent years, the water storage compartments around the northern and eastern edges of the lake expand and show variable inundation as more water is diverted into them and into the lake to reduce dust harmful to human health. Most recently, the impact of heavy rainfall due to atmospheric rivers flowing over the region is evidenced. Because Landsat systematically orbits earth and all recorded images are converted to DSWE, animations and related examinations like this are possible for all lakes throughout the US. These data can be viewed interactively via USGS WaterMAP - Interactive Satellite-Derived Hydrology Datasets.