Let's Talk about the Salton Sea!
The Salton Sea is the largest inland body of water in California. As its water recedes exposes more and more shoreline of toxic elements that will impact populations as the wind blows. Video
Across the vast expanse of the Salton Sea, white gold can be found deep below the waters. The Salton Sea has been called “Lithium Valley” for good reason.
“One of the single best locations, one of the largest geothermal reservoirs in the world is right at the Salton Sea,” Jonathan Weisgall, Vice President of Government Relations for Berkshire Hathaway Energy.
The Salton Sea runs along what’s called “The Ring of Fire,” a horseshoe of high volcanic activity where the most geothermal movement can be found.
Along the dusty shoreline of the Salton Sea, you could blink and you’d miss it: the Ski Inn, the only bar around the east side of the lake for 40 miles.
This neighborhood bar and restaurant in Bombay Beach is a local watering hole that’s been here for decades, an obscure Anthony Bourdain stop, wallpapered with dollar bills from visitors through the years. It’s certainly a bar that’s seen better days.
“There was five bars in this town. And they were all packed every weekend. And slowly, they all went away,” said Sonia Herbert, the owner of the Ski Inn.
Gone away with the shrinking waters of the Salton Sea, Herbert said, as she has watched life at the lake wither away for the past 45 years.
“It’s a crying shame that they’re letting this whole beautiful area die,” Herbert said.
It’s a strange phenomenon when the average Californian can tell you more about the breathtaking beauty of Lake Tahoe or the dizzyingly good times at Lake Havasu than that state’s largest lake. And in cases where they have heard of it, you would likely get complaints about the smell or the dead fish.
The Salton Sea, California’s largest lake, starts at the southern end of the Coachella Valley, and it’s unlike any lake you’ve seen before. This body of water in the Colorado Desert stretches 35 miles long, boasting mesmerizing views, and it’s surface area is nearly big enough to swallow up the entire Coachella Valley. While the sights make for beautiful photos, authorities caution visitors against touching the water.
Here is an essential piece of California’s water future it’s hard to imagine there’s so much it staying there’s no pristine fresh water, 25% salt in the ocean it exists because of the water draining from the Farms into the slow place in the desert that has no Outlet so evaporation is causing increased salt concentration in the water.
Large-Scale Project Anchors State’s Efforts to Improve Conditions for Communities, Wildlife as Sea Recedes
SACRAMENTO – In a key step to improve conditions at the Salton Sea, construction began this week on the state’s first large-scale project to create habitat and reduce exposed lakebed around the Sea.
The Species Conservation Habitat (SCH) project, located at the southern end of the Sea on both sides of the New River, will create a network of ponds and wetlands to provide important fish and bird habitat and suppress dust emissions to improve regional air quality as the Salton Sea recedes. The SCH project will cover approximately 4,110 acres, an increase over the previously estimated 3,770 acres due to an updated design. Construction is expected to continue through the end of 2023.
Following initial onsite work in late fall, the state’s design-build contractor, Kiewit Infrastructure West Co., this week began clearing vegetation and constructing an interception ditch to drain the site. The contractor also began construction of a southern habitat berm.
“Beginning actual construction on this large project represents important progress,” California Secretary for Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot said. “It is only possible thanks to strong coordination with our local, state and federal partners, including Imperial Irrigation District, Imperial County, the Imperial County Air Pollution Control District, the Colorado River Regional Water Quality Control Board, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Obviously, much more work lies ahead. We need to continue to deliver projects on the ground that improve conditions at the Salton Sea for residents as well as for wildlife.”
The SCH project anchors phase one of the state’s Salton Sea Management Program, which centers on constructing wetlands and other projects to limit exposed lakebed, reduce airborne dust and restore environmental habitat on 30,000 acres around the Sea. The SCH is a $206.5 million investment in Imperial County that will create as many as 3,000 jobs.
More than five years ago, this newspaper (Imperial Valley Press) described the Red Hill Bay marina restoration project as “the first decisive step in the efforts to restore the Salton Sea.”