Assessing conditions leading to severe wind erosion in the Antelope Valley, California, 1990-1991

The Antelope Valley is situated in the semi-arid Mojave Desert and normally supports sufficient vegetative cover to impede wind erosion. During 1990 and early 1991, however, approximately 10,000 hectares were eroded as the result of substantially reduced natural vegetation cover caused by eight years of below-normal precipitation and two years of severe drought. The drought conditions also led to the abandonment of agricultural fields and an increase in sheep grazing that left land susceptible to wind erosion. The erosion led to severely degraded air quality, millions of dollars in crop damage, and roads and homes buried by sand. These conditions prevailed despite light wind conditions. Wind erosion of this magnitude is rare in Antelope Valley, but should be considered when planning future development in this region.