Once a thriving ecosystem, Owens Lake was drained in the early 20th century to quench the thirst of a growing Los Angeles, leaving behind a cautionary tale of ecological collapse. Now, the water—and the fish—are coming back.

In the first episode of Wild Pathways, a new three-part series from Chayo Films, anglers Rebecca Ramirez and Bernard Yin join Andrea Jones of the Audubon Society to ask what we can learn from one of California’s biggest environmental mistakes.

“What was done [to Owen’s Lake] was done without regard to local human populations, and local wildlife populations.” – Andrea Jones, Audubon Society

Set against the recovering landscape of California’s Owen’s Valley, Wild Pathways serves as a call to action for every angler, challenging them to look beyond the catch and consider the origins—and the fragile future—of the watersheds they call home.

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Produced by: Chayo Films

Director: Isabela Zawistowska

Field Producer & Sound: Hayden Bean

Editor: Nico Toll

Featuring: Bernard Yin, Rebecca Ramirez, Andrea Jones

With support from NRS, CalTrout, and the National Audubon Society.

 

Editor’s note: To support Episodes 2 & 3 of Wild Pathways, contact Chayo Films.