Eco-Disasters 101: The Salton Sea

Key Takeaways

The Salton Sea, a man-made lake, formed in 1905 due to an engineering mistake.
It transformed from a resort destination into an ecological disaster.
Toxic conditions cause massive fish and bird die-offs, generating odors and health risks.
Evaporating lakebed dust poses significant health threats, including increased childhood asthma.
Current restoration efforts aim to create wetlands and explore geothermal energy and lithium mining.

The Salton Sea is a man-made lake in Southern California, formed by an engineering mistake.
Previous inland lakes cyclically formed in the Salton Basin due to Colorado River floods and silt deposits.
The Imperial Canal was built in the early 1900s to divert water from the Colorado River for irrigation.
A clog in the Imperial Canal led to a temporary bypass, which lacked proper headgates and became uncontrolled.
Abnormal weather with heavy rains and snowmelt swelled the Colorado River, diverting its course into the Salton Sea.

The Colorado River swelled due to heavy rains and snowmelt, overwhelming a temporary bypass channel at 10:36.
This event diverted the river's course into the Salton Sea, flowing at 90,000 cubic feet per second.
Attempts to redirect the river involved the U.S. government and the Southern Pacific Railroad.
In 1907, a dam was constructed using thousands of carloads of rock, gravel, and clay to seal the breach.
With the breach sealed, the 400-square-mile Salton Sea was now present in the California desert.

The Salton Sea, initially freshwater, became a saltwater body due to an engineering error and irrigation runoff.
Its location on the Pacific Flyway and stocking efforts made it a popular habitat for birds and fish, leading to a wildlife refuge by the 1930s.
By the 1950s, the area was developed into a resort destination known as the 'California Riviera'.
It attracted celebrities and became a hub for activities like water skiing, yachting, and speedboat races.
The North Shore Beach and Yacht Club was developed in the 1960s, and postcards promoted the area as a tourist destination.

By the 1970s, the Salton Sea began to deteriorate due to agricultural runoff carrying salt, pesticides, and fertilizers.
This led to eutrophication, algae blooms, and oxygen depletion, creating

The Salton Sea is experiencing significant fish die-offs due to warm, low-oxygen, and increasingly saline water, exacerbated by agricultural runoff.
The lake is projected to lose 40% of its surface area by 2030, which will further concentrate pollutants and increase salinity.
Tourism has declined, with landmarks like the North Shore Beach and Yacht Club closing.
Abandoned locations include a drive-in movie theater with junked cars and a boat in the parking lot.
One abandoned car bore the cryptic message 'You infected me in a way I didn't know was possible,' evoking a sense of desertion.

As the Salton Sea's condition worsened, restoration efforts began in the late 1990s and early 2000s, but these plans were deemed unfeasible.
In 2003, the Quantification Settlement Agreement (QSA) redirected Colorado River water to urban areas.
The QSA compensated farmers to upgrade inefficient irrigation, reducing crucial agricultural runoff to the sea.
A QSA provision channeled some of this water to the Salton Sea for 15 years, even paying farmers to leave land fallow.
Despite its degraded state, the sea remains a vital habitat for migratory birds and supports approximately 650,000 residents in the surrounding region.

The evaporation of the Salton Sea exposes toxic lakebed dust, which is carried by the wind, posing significant health risks to the surrounding population.
Studies on children's respiratory health in the Imperial Valley suggest a concerning increase in asthma rates caused by the toxic brew.
Metals and pesticides contribute to airborne particulate matter, worsening air quality.
A 2011 Pacific Institute study estimated a potential $70 billion financial toll over 30 years due to decreased property values, public health impacts, and loss of recreation and habitat.
Lack of political will in Sacramento has hampered restoration efforts, with proposed funding often diverted for other uses or reduced, such as an authorized $30 million for the Army Corps of Engineers reduced to $200,000 by 2015.

Urban legends claim the Navy used the Salton Sea for bomb drop training, supposedly even practicing for atomic bomb drops.
Rumors persist that unexploded atomic bombs or crashed Navy planes may still be submerged in the sea.
Another legend, predating the Salton Sea, speaks of a lost ship, possibly a Spanish galleon or Viking ship, swallowed by the desert.
The area around the Salton Sea has attracted artists, leading to folk art installations like Salvation Mountain and an outdoor gallery called East Jesus.
The Ski Inn, reputedly the lowest dive bar in the Western Hemisphere, is located at 237 feet below sea level.