Methods for dust control on saline dry lakebeds using minimal water resources

Abstract

A method for controlling dust on a saline lakebed is disclosed comprising the steps of commencing the flooding of a wetting basin, testing to determine if there is a sufficient level of salts which when flooded will produce a brackish solution, testing the temperature of the lakebed substrate and curtailing further flooding of the lakebed depending on the substrate temperature.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for temporary relief of dust pollution at a dry lakebed having multiple wetting basins spread over a large geographic area and an adjacent evaporite deposit of precipitated salts, comprising:
 timing implementation of the method to the springtime;   commencing water flooding of the dry lakebed wetting basins;   testing the existing lakebed substrate to determine if there is a sufficient level of salts which when flooded with water will produce a brackish solution;   if not, transport brine from the evaporite deposit to create a brackish solution in which the total dissolved solids is between 1,000 and 10,000 mg per liter;   testing the substrate temperature to determine whether the existing or forecast temperature is sufficient for effecting evaporation of the brackish solution; and   if the temperature of the substrate is sufficient, curtail further flooding of the lakebed.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein sufficient substrate temperature is at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit if the dominant salt is sodium carbonate. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein sufficient substrate temperature is at least 65 degrees Fahrenheit if the dominant salt is sodium sulfate. 
     
     
         4 . A method for relief of dust pollution during the October-June dust season at the Owen Lake, Calif. saline dry lakebed having multiple wetting basins spread over a large geographic area and an adjacent evaporite deposit of precipitated salts including sodium carbonate and sodium sulfate and a sodium chloride-dominated brine, comprising:
 timing implementation of the method to the period April through June;   commencing water flooding of the dry lakebed wetting basins;   testing the lakebed substrate to determine if there is a sufficient level of precipitated salts, including sodium carbonate and sodium sulfate, which when flooded with water, will produce a brackish solution;   if not, transport brine from the evaporite deposit to create a brackish solution;   testing the substrate to determine whether sodium sulfate or sodium carbonate is the dominant salt;   testing the substrate temperature after determining which salt is dominant;   if the dominant salt is sodium carbonate and the temperature is above 50 degrees Fahrenheit, curtail flooding of the lakebed basins; and   if the dominant salt is sodium sulfate and the temperature is above 65 degrees Fahrenheit, curtail flooding of the lakebed basins.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the brackish solution comprises a salinity of dissolved salts between 0.5 and 30 parts per thousand.