Cartago
In the 1870's bullion bars from Cerro Gordo mines were hauled across Owens Lake on the steamer "Bessie Brady" to Cartago boat landing. Remi Nadeau's 14-mule teams hauled the bullion to Los Angeles returning with freight.Cartago is located on the west side of Owens Lake 3 miles north of Olancha, at an elevation of 3629 feet
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* Cartago Wildlife Area is 218 acres of fresh water wetland and springs providing habitat for waterfowl, wading birds and shorebirds including western
snowy plovers, white-faced ibis and rails. Owens Lake has been designated a Nationally Significant Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society
and American Bird Conservancy and 144 bird species have been documented on the area.
* Topography of the area is generally flat and at an elevation of 3,600'.
* Ruins of an old soda ash processing plant are on the southwest side of the wildlife area. Old dikes 3'-4' high extend into Owens Lake bed and encircle ponds which were once used as soda evaporators. Snowy plovers nest on the salt pans.
* California Department of Fish & Game
