Method of restoration of a highly saline lake

A method of restoration of a saline lake having a periphery, a water bottom, and an influent water source that enables water to be added to the lake, comprising the steps of:

• a) forming a series of dikes that separate the saline lake into a plurality of smaller lakes, each with a water surface, the lakes including an outer lake that is next to the periphery and one or more inner lakes, each dike and each lake water surface having an elevation;
• b) enabling a water flow path that sequentially transmits water from the influent water source to the outer lake, to the inner lakes and then to a breathing brine area;
• c) allowing salt to concentrate at the breathing brine area as water evaporates from the breathing brine area;
• d) enabling water to at times accumulate in the breathing brine area, said water flowing to the breathing brine area at least in part from an inner lake;
• e) concentrating the saline content of the water in steps “b” through “d” in greater concentrations as the water flows from the outer lake to the inner lake;
• and
• f) cascading water in steps “c” through “e” from one lake to another lake with simultaneous drops in elevation from the outer lake to the inner lake to the breathing brine area.

A method of restoring a lake that has an influent flow stream of a first volume and an effluent flow stream that is smaller than the first volume so that the salinity of the lake is increasing over time, comprising the steps of:

• a) dividing the lake into a plurality of lake sections using dikes as dividers;
• b) providing a water flow course from a first lake section to a second lake section;
• c) wherein in step “b”, the water cascades from higher to lower elevations;
• d) after step “b”, transmitting water from the second lake section to a breathing brine section wherein water evaporates, leaving brine in the brine section;
• and
• e) wherein the salinity of water flowing in steps “b” through “d” gradually increases in salinity.

A method of restoration of a highly saline lake having a periphery, a water bottom, and an influent water source that enables water to be added to the lake, comprising the steps of:

• a) forming a series of dikes that separate the highly saline lake into a plurality of smaller lakes, each having a water surface, the lakes including an outer lake that is next to the periphery and one or more inner lakes, each dike and each lake water surface having an elevation;
• b) flowing water from the influent source to the outer lake;
• c) flowing water from the outer lake to the inner lakes;
• d) providing a breathing brine area that is surrounded by the smaller lakes;
• e) flowing water from the inner lakes to the breathing brine area;
• f) cascading water in steps “c” through “e” from one lake to another lake of higher elevation with drops in elevation beginning at the outer lake, then to the inner lakes having a median elevation lower than the outer lake higher elevation and then to the brathing brine area having a lower elevation that is lower than the median elevation;
• and
• g) gradually increasing the salinity of the water that flows in steps “c” through “f”.