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Water-Diversion Plan Threatens California's Salton Sea |
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National Geographic Today |
| September 24, 2002 |
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At first glance, the Salton Sea appears like a glistening mirage in the California desert—a shimmering landscape of reflected sky and sand. But Salton is no mirage—it is a bird-watcher's paradise with more than 400 species and waters that thrive with millions of fish. However the sea's very existence, and all the species that call it home, is threatened by a new proposal that would redirect its only water supply. The Salton Sea is in peril—it is already 25 percent saltier than the Pacific and it is in danger of becoming so salty that it will no longer support life. Because the demand for water in California's metropolitan areas is so great, the state is considering a proposal to divert freshwater that would normally flow into the sea, to western cities. Without freshwater, evaporation will cause the water level to drop and the sea will become saltier, faster, said Charlie Pelizza, a wildlife biologist at the Sonny Bono Salton Sea Wildlife Refuge. "The implications are that the salinity will go up to the point where fish won't reproduce or survive." A Prehistoric Lakebed If the salt level reaches that critical stage, the sea's ecosystem will change irreversibly, said Pelizza. This could happen in as little as 20 years. If the fish disappear, so will the birds that depend on the fish and other organisms for food. The sea is located at the head of the Imperial Valley, one of the most agriculturally productive areas in the United States—a desert brought to life by water from the Colorado River. And it is the Colorado that gave life to the sea. The Salton Sea was created serendipitously in 1905 when engineers were diverting Colorado River water 75 miles to the farms of the Imperial Valley. But the Colorado River, swollen from heavy rains, breached the dikes and for 18 months the entire volume of the river gushed into the Salton sink—a prehistoric lakebed—creating a 376 square mile desert lake, the Salton Sea. "The sea is in the agricultural valley here. All the water that they use to irrigate eventually dumps into the sea here," said Sylvia Pelizza, of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "The sea is closed, there is no outlet. The only way we get water into the sea is through agricultural runoff and the Alamo and the New River and the White River on the north side." "It's awe-inspiring here," said Charlie Pelizza. "It is surrounded by mountains; it is one of the largest bodies of water inland California; and it has a huge diversity of wildlife species, year-round." California's "Crown Jewel" of Bird Diversity During the spring and the winter an "amazing" variety of species come through here, said Sylvia Pelizza. People visit from all over the world to see the diverse collection of bird life. "It's a very important area, very important." Millions of birds—ducks, geese, pelicans, shore birds—use the sea each year. To date, 408 species have been seen on its shoreline and riding on its waves. The sea is California's "crown jewel" of bird diversity. Some have suggested redirecting the water and letting the Salton Sea run dry—returning to the way it was 100 years ago. Others believe the sea should be maintained with a constant supply of freshwater. "It might have been a valid answer to the Salton Sea years ago, if there hadn't been the development that has occurred in southern California and there were still wetlands available for the birds," said Charlie Pelizza. "But it is kind of irresponsible for us now to say that the Salton Sea go dry." The sea is an essential link in a north-south migration route, he added. Sylvia Pelizza agreed. "I don't see letting nature take its course. We've lost 95 percent of the wetlands in California alone, and the birds don't have any place to go." "The Salton Sea is huge—35 miles long and 19 miles wide—with 408 different species of birds," said Pelizza. "We are second only to the Gulf Coast of Mexico where you have all the different diversity there, too." Saving the Sea Recognizing the problem, scientists have begun to look at ways to save the sea. "Congress created the Salton Sea Science Office to look at restoration activities," said Charlie Pelizza. "Their mandate from Congress is to look at restoring the sea at its current level and its current salinity." One innovative suggestion to save the sea involves tapping into underground aquifers. Salton Sea is located in a seismically active area—the San Andreas Fault lies on the north side of the valley—and there are literally hundreds of minor faults that crisscross the area. There are some underground aquifers that are being superheated in the earth and geothermal plants are bringing that superheated water up, using it to run turbines and then returning the water back into the ground, says Charlie Pelizza. Instead it has been suggested that the plants return the distilled water into Salton Sea. "This is something that is just breaking now, and it might be the panacea for saving the Salton Sea." This article is part of the Liquid Planet series that airs on our U.S. cable television program National Geographic Today every Tuesday at 7 p.m. (ET/PT), repeated Wednesday during the day. 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