manure

The claimants allege pollution has been caused by run-off from farmland containing high concentrations of phosphorus, nitrogen and bacteria from the spreading of poultry manure and sewage bio solids used as fertiliser.

Today, sizable mounds of horse manure dot Warm Springs, a remote area along the eastern edge of Mono Lake that Marquart had raised the alarm about during his tenure.

Recently, that helped them catch a suspected nighthawker hiding behind a pile of manure after his footprints on the fresh dung heap shone up on thermal imaging.

The dust particles are made up of agricultural chemicals from miles of lettuce and spinach fields, manure from livestock operations, diesel exhaust, unpaved roads and fine debris from lithium mining.

To keep the soil productive the fields are rested over the summer, and fertilised with cow manure.