Each year, the Department of Water and Power flood this dry lake bed with 25 billion gallons of water in an effort to suppress its dust pollution. The shallow flooding has reintroduced thousands of migrating shorebirds and waterfowl that utilize the lake to feed off algae consuming brine flies and invertebrates. Using salt and sand, salt farmers created these 100 ft. long leaf-shaped islands to be used as a habitat for these birds as they migrate to and from South America.