Transcript The Salton Sea -

The Salton Sea
The Past, Present, and Future
What is the Salton Sea?
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A huge salt water lake located in the Salton Basin in
south central California
In 1901, engineers attempted to construct irrigation
channels to bring Colorado River water into the region to
promote agricultural progress
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However, inflowing water overpowered a cut engineers
made in the western bank and flooded the basin
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By 1905 the result was the Salton Sea we see today
Aerial Views of the Salton Sea
Sunset at the Salton Sea
Value of the Sea
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Huge positive value to the State of California
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Three primary reasons
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Enables robust agricultural industry throughout the Imperial and
Coachella Valleys
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Supports vast ecosystem that attracts hundreds of species of
wildlife, especially birds
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Major recreational area – camping, boating, fishing, and bird
watching
Animals of the Salton Sea
Tilapia
American White Pelican
Problems with the Sea
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Three major environmental issues face the
Salton Sea
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Rising pollution levels – Algae causes the oxygen
deprivation of fish
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High levels of salinity – Currently much saltier than
ocean water – many fish species dying off
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Selenium, parasites, and bacteria – Killing animals like
American White Pelicans
Solutions to the Sea
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For 50 years solutions have been proposed to help the Salton Sea
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However, not until recently has anything really been done
Some solutions that have been presented:
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A "pipe in/pipe out" option which would bring in the lower salinity
seawater from the Gulf of California or Pacific Ocean and pump out the
higher salinity Salton Sea water
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Evaporation ponds to act as a “salt sinks”
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Large dam structures that would divide the sea into a marine lake
portion and a brine salt sink portion
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Sea-level canal between the Salton Sea and the Gulf of California to
import lower salinity water
The Salton Sea Ecosystem
Restoration Plan
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Draft report released on October 19th, 2006
Outlines three main elements and eight
alternatives for the lake’s rehabilitation
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Habitat Restoration
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Water Quality Management
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Air Quality Management
Conclusion
After researching this important topic, I
am actually quite optimistic about the
future. I also believe that enough people
are finally willing to face the extremely
serious nature of the problems and are
therefore willing to commit their efforts in
order to resolving the crisis.