Harper Lake
Encyclopedia
Harper Lake is a dry lake
located in the Mojave Desert
near the small community of Lockhart in northwestern San Bernardino County
of Southern California
. The lake is accessible from Harper Lake Road, which runs north off of State Route 58
midway between Boron
and Barstow
.
into the early 20th century, until agricultural development depleted the groundwater
that sustained its level. The lake and marsh wetland
s attracted large numbers of migrating bird
s and supported a variety of resident desert wildlife in the oasis
habitat. With adjacent agriculture only the southwest corner of the reduced lake was marshland, sustained by a small amount of surface runoff from nearby farms. Into the early 1990s the wildlife was still supported by the remnant habitat
.
farm next to the lake shutting down, and the migrating and resident wildlife dropped. When a new solar power plant was built just to the west of the lake 35.0316°N 117.348 °W, it was required to pump groundwater
to the lake. However, this never occurred as the company that owned the 160 megawatt plant went bankrupt. After the bankruptcy was resolved, the concerns of Edwards Air Force Base
regarding bird strike
s and bureaucratic issues halted restoration progress.
, the new owners of the Solar Energy Generating Systems
power plant, delivered water to the lake as requested by the Bureau of Land Management
-BLM through an informal agreement. In 2005, a new petition was filed by Friends of Harper Lake with the BLM and California Energy Commission
, which approved the amendments to the project. Up to 75 acre.ft of water per year will be managed by the BLM and transferred to the lake as part of the mitigation
agreement for solar field expansion.
crashed on the lakebed, resulting in the death of a test pilot for the constructor, Lockheed
.
Dry lake
Dry lakes are ephemeral lakebeds, or a remnant of an endorheic lake. Such flats consist of fine-grained sediments infused with alkali salts. Dry lakes are also referred to as alkali flats, sabkhas, playas or mud flats...
located in the Mojave Desert
Mojave Desert
The Mojave Desert occupies a significant portion of southeastern California and smaller parts of central California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah and northwestern Arizona, in the United States...
near the small community of Lockhart in northwestern San Bernardino County
San Bernardino County, California
San Bernardino County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, the population was 2,035,210, up from 1,709,434 as of the 2000 census...
of Southern California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. The lake is accessible from Harper Lake Road, which runs north off of State Route 58
California State Route 58
State Route 58 is an east-west highway across the California Coast Ranges, the southern San Joaquin Valley, the Tehachapi Mountains, which border the southern Sierra Nevada, and the Mojave Desert. It runs between its western terminus near Santa Margarita and its eastern terminus at Barstow...
midway between Boron
Boron, California
Boron is a census-designated place in Kern County, California, United States. Boron is located east-southeast of Castle Butte, at an elevation of 2467 feet . The population was 2,253 at the 2010 census, up from 2,025 at the 2000 census...
and Barstow
Barstow, California
Barstow is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States. The population was 22,639 at the 2010 census, up from 21,119 at the 2000 census. Barstow is located north of San Bernardino....
.
History
Harper Lake contained water and a natural marshMarsh
In geography, a marsh, or morass, is a type of wetland that is subject to frequent or continuous flood. Typically the water is shallow and features grasses, rushes, reeds, typhas, sedges, other herbaceous plants, and moss....
into the early 20th century, until agricultural development depleted the groundwater
Groundwater
Groundwater is water located beneath the ground surface in soil pore spaces and in the fractures of rock formations. A unit of rock or an unconsolidated deposit is called an aquifer when it can yield a usable quantity of water. The depth at which soil pore spaces or fractures and voids in rock...
that sustained its level. The lake and marsh wetland
Wetland
A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....
s attracted large numbers of migrating bird
Bird migration
Bird migration is the regular seasonal journey undertaken by many species of birds. Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability, habitat or weather. Sometimes, journeys are not termed "true migration" because they are irregular or in only one direction...
s and supported a variety of resident desert wildlife in the oasis
Oasis
In geography, an oasis or cienega is an isolated area of vegetation in a desert, typically surrounding a spring or similar water source...
habitat. With adjacent agriculture only the southwest corner of the reduced lake was marshland, sustained by a small amount of surface runoff from nearby farms. Into the early 1990s the wildlife was still supported by the remnant habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
.
Decline
The lake became dry and the marsh died in the latter 1990s, following the alfalfaAlfalfa
Alfalfa is a flowering plant in the pea family Fabaceae cultivated as an important forage crop in the US, Canada, Argentina, France, Australia, the Middle East, South Africa, and many other countries. It is known as lucerne in the UK, France, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, and known as...
farm next to the lake shutting down, and the migrating and resident wildlife dropped. When a new solar power plant was built just to the west of the lake 35.0316°N 117.348 °W, it was required to pump groundwater
Groundwater
Groundwater is water located beneath the ground surface in soil pore spaces and in the fractures of rock formations. A unit of rock or an unconsolidated deposit is called an aquifer when it can yield a usable quantity of water. The depth at which soil pore spaces or fractures and voids in rock...
to the lake. However, this never occurred as the company that owned the 160 megawatt plant went bankrupt. After the bankruptcy was resolved, the concerns of Edwards Air Force Base
Edwards Air Force Base
Edwards Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located on the border of Kern County, Los Angeles County, and San Bernardino County, California, in the Antelope Valley. It is southwest of the central business district of North Edwards, California and due east of Rosamond.It is named in...
regarding bird strike
Bird strike
A bird strike—sometimes called birdstrike, avian ingestion , bird hit, or BASH —is a collision between an airborne animal and a man-made vehicle, especially aircraft...
s and bureaucratic issues halted restoration progress.
Restoration
Meanwhile, Luz Solar Partners and NextEra Energy ResourcesNextEra Energy Resources
NextEra Energy Resources is an wholesale electricity supplier based in Juno Beach, Florida. It is a subsidiary of NextEra Energy, Inc. , a Fortune 200 company. Prior to 2009, NextEra Energy Resources was known as FPL Energy....
, the new owners of the Solar Energy Generating Systems
Solar Energy Generating Systems
Solar Energy Generating Systems is the largest solar energy generating facility in the world. It consists of nine solar power plants in California's Mojave Desert, where insolation is among the best available in the United States...
power plant, delivered water to the lake as requested by the Bureau of Land Management
Bureau of Land Management
The Bureau of Land Management is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior which administers America's public lands, totaling approximately , or one-eighth of the landmass of the country. The BLM also manages of subsurface mineral estate underlying federal, state and private...
-BLM through an informal agreement. In 2005, a new petition was filed by Friends of Harper Lake with the BLM and California Energy Commission
California Energy Commission
The California Energy Commission is California’s primary energy policy and planning agency. Created in 1974 and headquartered in Sacramento, the Commission has responsibility for activities that include forecasting future energy needs, promoting energy efficiency through appliance and building...
, which approved the amendments to the project. Up to 75 acre.ft of water per year will be managed by the BLM and transferred to the lake as part of the mitigation
Environmental mitigation
Environmental mitigation, compensatory mitigation, or mitigation banking, are terms used primarily by the United States government and the related environmental industry to describe projects or programs intended to offset known impacts to an existing historic or natural resource such as a stream,...
agreement for solar field expansion.
Other events
On March 25, 2009, an F-22 RaptorF-22 Raptor
The Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 Raptor is a single-seat, twin-engine fifth-generation supermaneuverable fighter aircraft that uses stealth technology. It was designed primarily as an air superiority fighter, but has additional capabilities that include ground attack, electronic warfare, and signals...
crashed on the lakebed, resulting in the death of a test pilot for the constructor, Lockheed
Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin is an American global aerospace, defense, security, and advanced technology company with worldwide interests. It was formed by the merger of Lockheed Corporation with Martin Marietta in March 1995. It is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, in the Washington Metropolitan Area....
.
See also
- Mojave Desert Animals
- List of birds of California
- Solar power plants in the Mojave DesertSolar power plants in the Mojave DesertThere are several solar power plants in the Mojave Desert which supply power to the electricity grid. Solar Energy Generating Systems is the name given to nine solar power plants in the Mojave Desert which were built in the 1980s. These plants have a combined capacity of 354 megawatts making them...