Introduction
The Salton Basin , a below-sea-level depression which extends on the north from Palm Springs , California, to the Gulf of California , in the south. The Salton Sea has undergone historic cycles of filling with water and later drying up. The most recent predecessor to the Sea, that being Lake Cahuilla , last filled this area between 300 to 500 years ago and at one time had a surface elevation above sea level. In 1905 the flooding of the Colorado River was accidentally diverted into the Salton though and thus the Salton Sea was born. When the Colorado River floods retreated in 1907, the surface elevation of the Salton Sea slowly began to drop until the 1930’s when agricultural drainage from the Imperial and Coachella Valleys sustained its level. Soon after , this Sea was turned into a state recreation area, wildlife refuge and a sport fishery. To this day, agricultural drainage and run-off is the major source of water inflow to the Salton Sea.
When it was Healthy
When the Sea was healthy it, drew recreationists from all around and was a popular sport fishing site. The marine level of salinity made it a great place to race boats and allowed for the introduction of salt water marine life. With all this attention the north side shore line soon became the Salton Sea State Recreation Area . Not only was this area attractive to people , but it was soon populated by birds and turned into a critical link for flocks of migratory birds along the Pacific Flyway. As a result , the Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge was established on the south end of the Sea in the 1950’s.(The Salton Sea Authority and the Bureau of Reclamation , 1997)
Current Conditions
Today the Salton Sea contains 7.3 million acre-feet of water and has a water surface level of 227 feet below sea level.(The Salton Sea Authority and the Bureau of Reclamation, 1997) Its dimensions are 35 miles wide by 15 miles long , and it has an average depth of 29.9 feet. (Salton Sea Symposium, 1998) However , the condition of the Sea has drastically changed and so has the amount of healthy living organisms in the Sea. By the 1980’s the water level rose greatly and gave way to abandoned businesses, deteriorating structures and empty beaches. The above was due to the fact that evaporation is the only outlet to the Salton Sea , in fact 1.35 million acre feet of water is lost each year , thus increasing its salinity even more. The salinity of the Salton Sea has increased to 45,000 parts per thousand or 45 PPT; the Pacific Ocean is currently 35 PPT.
Along with this devastation, the New River which is the "most polluted waterway in the nation " (due heavily to its raw sewage content, agricultural drainage water and powerplant effluent ) that flows from Mexico and dead ends (literally) into the Salton Sea.(Salton Sea Authority and the Bureau of Reclamation, 1997) These two factors mentioned above are the main cause for the massive fish die off , bird die off, the speeding up process of eutrophication, five forms of predominant bacteria and contamination from DDT , selenium, Botulism , New Castle disease, as well as alga blooms and horrific odors.
Social Aspects
Not only does this area have practicable functions for such activities like recreation , bird watching, hiking , wildlife habitat and a stop off site for birds on the Pacific Flyway , but it is important place because of its intrinsic value. It was and could be a beautiful ecosystem again. Its values are more then what you can see at first glance. It is believed by many that places in natures void of mass commercial develop, invigorate people in their quest for intellectual as well as spiritual stimulation. Many human beings have a deep appreciation of natural ecosystems. That is apparent in the art, religions, and traditions of diverse cultures, as well as in activities such as gardening and pet-keeping, nature photography and film-making, bird feeding and watching, hiking and camping, ecotouring and mountaineering, river-rafting and boating, fishing and hunting, and in a wide range of other activities. For many, nature is an unparalleled source of wonderment and inspiration, peace and beauty, fulfillment and rejuvenation. ( Kellert and Wilson, 1993). Because so many species reside at the Salton Sea , it is a natural library of knowledge. There amount of biodiversity found in the limited areas we have been able to study so far is interesting. What is even more exciting is that such a little amount of research has been done on the Salton Sea so far, which means that the actual biodivesity of the whole area must be quite grand . There is so much for us a species to learn about this domain. We need to safeguarded this biodiversity and the habitat that it needs to survive in , for the sake of all species now and beyond.
The Salton Sea is home to 4 million birds each day in the winter time , and is used more by them then any other resource in the nation.(Salton Sea Symposuim, 1998) It is also a major National Wildlife Refuge to many animal species, such as the Raccoon , Jack rabbit , the Sidewinder , the Roadrunner, and many more. The Saltine Sea provides habitat for 450,000 ducks , up to 30,000 Snow and Rose’s geese as well as numerous species of fish.(www.lc.usbr.gov/~scao/saltsea.html) More then 25 species of waterfowl have also been identified in this area. Fifty percent of the birds that fly along the Pacific Flyway stop at the Saltine Sea yearly. There are a total of 384 different species identified at the Saltine Sea .(Salton Sea Symposium, 1998) This is also the habitat for many endangered species such as the Desert pup fish which lives in the surrounding areas, the Peregrine falcon, and the Clapper rail. In fact one ecotourism activity such as birdwatching is said to bring in 300 million dollars annually.( Salton Sea Symposium , 1998)
In its Hey Day
In its quondam day, the Salton Sea was home to over 400,000 boats and 16 camp sites.(Salton Sea Vistor Center, 1998) People from all around came out to the Sea for various activities such as camping , water skiing , fishing, jet skiing , hiking, birdwatching, sailboarding and boating. In fact , the lake is known as the fastest boat racing lake in the nation because its salt content causes vessels to be much more buoyant. And at 227 feet below sea level, its high atmospheric density ( because of the low elevation ) causes engines to perform much more powerfully than on other lakes. (Salton Sea Authority and Bureau of Reclamation, 1997) Many people that I talked to spoke of a time when they were young and their families would go to the Saltine Sea on the weekends. They remember that this was the place they learned how to water ski when they were children and a place of innocent fun and family togetherness. Because th Salton Sea was such a popular recreation site, in 1955 sealions were brought to the Salton Sea for the visitors aesthetic pleasure , as it was being established as a State Park and Recreation Site. Bird watching revenues brought in 3.1 million dollars annually.(Salton Sea Symposuim, 1998)
A Sacred Site
The Salton Sea is a sacred site to the local band of Indians called the Cahuilla Indian tribe. This land was once a place of holiness and of spirituality to these people who occupied this area long before the water was here. These people will also play an important role in the recovery of the Saltine Sea. Art Lopes , chairman of the Torres-Martinez Band of Cahuilla Indians spoke and voiced his concern and the concern of others with regard to the Salton Sea and its desperately needed restoration.
Water flow
Inflow the Salton Sea comes from four sources. The New River, a mixture of municipal, industrial, and agricultural flows from the City of Mexican and agricultural drainage from the Imperial Valley; The Alamo River, predominantly agricultural drainage from the Imperial Valley; The Whitewater River, agricultural return flow from the Coachlla Valley along with runoff from the local mountains; San Feline Creek, flow from the local mountains. There is no outlet to the Saltine Sea. (www.lc.usbr.gov/~scao/saltsea.html)
Technical Aspects
Ecosystems do not only provide a habitat for wildlife ; they also provide a service or benefit to human societies as well. Historically nature has been seen as that they over there, that empty space for us to develop. Nature has been stomped over in the march toward human advancement, and its wonderful possibilities and importance has been ignored. Living organisms in nature have an astounding way of maintaining and regulating its environment. These fundamental systems are so crucial , that without them civilization could not survive as we know it. These include purification of the air and water , detoxification and decomposition of wasted, regulation of climate, regeneration of soil fertility, and production and maintenance of biodiversity from which key ingredients of our agricultural, pharmaceutical, and industrial enterprise are derived. (Daily, 1997) If we destroy our natural environment and its services , the cost to artificially create these ecosystem services would be so great that the actual number would be infinite, due to our constantly increasing needs ,uses of materials , wants and population.
The ecosystem in the area is greatly deteriorating at a substantial rate. The causes for this are various deadly parasites, selenium, Botulism, New Castle Disease , eutrophication at an unprecedented rate and selenium contamination. The quality of the water is so horrible in some areas, that absolutely ‘nothing’ grows. One of the latest investigations of the Salton Sea reported a new die-off of more then one million Tilapia, the predominant fish species , in a three mile stretch of the north end of the Sea. Dr. Jan Landsberg , a research scientist in aquatic health at the Florida Department of Environmental protection examined gills form 23 fish collected at the Salton Sea and found 22 to be infested with moderate to high levels of a lethal parasite of warm water marine fish. (www.enn.com/ns-search/ENN-NE…93/aaa0073gd93331&NS-doc-offset=1.html).
"Over the past five years , the Salton Sea has been the site of several major die offs . Disease problems in birds have included avian cholera , New Castle disease, avian botulism and undiagnosed mortality in eared grebes. Disease problems in fish have been less well defined , but infections with a type of bacteria known as Vibrio spp. have been identified as the potential cause of some of the massive fish moralities."( Friend , 1997)
Loss of species
In the summer and fall of 1996, more then 14,000 fish-eating birds including 1,4000 endangered California brown pelicans, 10%-12% of the west coast population of American white pelicans died due to avian botulism. (www.enn.com/ns-search/ENN-NE…93/aaa0073gd93331&NS-doc-offset=1.html). In August of 1997 another outbreak of botulism occurred in fish – eating birds again. 605 dead innocent animals , including 243 gulls , 138 brown and white pelicans and 135 herons and egrets were picked up. The cause for most of this is from a parasite , a dinoflagellate, known as Amyloodinium ocellatum that impairs the respiratory function and suffocates the fish , when encountered in high levels.( www.enn.com/ns-search/ENN-NE…93/aaa0073gd93331&NS-doc-offset=1.html). When a bird comes along and eats the fish , the bird too acquires this disease and suffocates also; the bird then dies , falls to the ground and is eaten by another animal and the cycle continues.
Ecosystem depletion contributors
Eutrophication is an immense problem at the Salton Sea. Eutrophication is a naturally occurring process , and it happens as lakes age and slowly gain more nutrients. In fact, there are 13 tons of nitrogen in addition to various pesticides and other organic phosphate pesticides found in the water of the Salton Sea. These nutrients allow the food web to become larger, supply more food for the fish and in turn changes the lake’s water from oligotrophic or clear, cold and clean conditions to warm, shallow and nutrient rich conditions . What we have done is called ‘Cultural eutrophication ‘and it takes place when large amounts of plant nutrients are feed into the water usually from agriculture drainage and run off. Signs of ‘cultural eutrophication’ are a quick increase of nutrient levels and supply, high food web production and low water transparency meaning a large amount of phytoplanton. We are destroying this beautiful region and exterminating its ecosystem. This is not only a waste of a natural resource , but a waste of our earth and a disgrace to all of man kind. What kind of good being can allow the death of an ecosystem and all of gods creatures in it?
Selenium problems
Agricultural drainage is another enormous problem for the Salton Sea . Agricultural drainage from the Imperial Valley brings high levels of selenium and salts. Birds feeding in the Salton Sea area are at risk of selenium contamination, as well as many other risks. Selenium contamination occurs as lower food chain organisms accumulate selenium and then fed on by higher food chain animals. At each higher level of the food chain , selenium concentration magnifies. Animals at greatest risk are the larger fish-eating birds such as the double-crested cormorant, great blue heron, and the cattle egret which have longer food chains. Other birds such as the black-necked stilt, American coot, eared grebe, northern shoveler, and the ruddy duck were also found to have high selenium concentrations in their tissues, livers, and/or eggs. (www.lc.usbr.gov/~scao/saltsea.html ,1998) In many of the areas , no plants grow at all - like a dead world.
Problems
The ecosystem in the area is greatly deteriorating at a substantial rate. The causes for this are various deadly parasites, selenium, Botulism, New Castle Disease , eutrophication at an unprecedented rate and selenium contamination. In the summer and fall of 1996, more then 14,000 fish-eating birds including 1,4000 endangered California brown pelicans, 10%-12% of the west coast population of American white pelicans died due to avian botulism. (www.enn.com/ns-search/ENN-NE…93/aaa0073gd93331&NS-doc-offset-1.html) ‘Cultural eutrophication ‘has taken place at the Sea. It happens when large amounts of plant nutrients are feed into the water usually from agriculture drainage and run off, thus increasing the nutrient levels, which supplies high food web production and lowers water transparency. We are destroying this beautiful region and exterminating its ecosystem. Birds feeding in the Salton Sea area are at risk of selenium contamination, as well as many other risks. Selenium contamination occurs as lower food chain organisms accumulate selenium and then fed on by higher food chain animals.
The Salton Sea has a extensive list of problems that are turning this once splendid lake into an environmentalists nightmare. The problems are as follows: a continuous flow of a myriad of deadly chemicals from surrounding agriculture, Mexicali’s sewage and agriculture waste, our technological inadequacy to maintain a viable level of salinity in the Sea and our governments lack of regulations regarding the agricultural industry . All the burdens that this lake endures , lead to a major significant and evident reality , the immense lost of life in and out of the water. As days pass , more and more animals die due to the nefarious contaminants deposited into the Salton Sea everyday. These disease causing materials emptied into the Sea are from a variety of sources including , but not limited too , our societal need for mass production agriculture , our lack of knowledge regarding the proper disposal of hazardous materials and Mexicali’s minute economic abilities to properly deal with their waste and our in the Sea.
Social
The values of the Salton Sea are not limited to just tangible goods. The Salton Sea area is embraced with Native American spirituality and it a sacred site to themselves as was to their ancestors. The Native American people once inhabited the area that is now concealed with the troubled and deadly water of the Salton Sea. This is another group of individuals that are concerned with the activities of the Sea , and want to be directly involved with the restoration efforts there. In listening to other ecologists and the Native American band of Cahuilla Indians, it is apparent that they all want to see a sustainable solution that will be healthy for all living creatures and does not dishonor this site as a sacred place.
Out of sight, out of mind
The Salton Sea has been ignored and left for dead for a substantial period of time. But why has everyone forgot about the Sea? The reason the Sea is not on everyone’s mind , is because it is out of sight The Salton Sea is out of the way from heavily populated roadways and cities. The Sea lies along side Highway 86 near Indio , California , a narrow two lane road. This road is traveled on mostly by agricultural workers and commuters. The small town preceding the Sea , is blanketed with old rusting cars and empty hotels. It is desolate and stripped of life.
With all of this uses the Sea has endured , it is surprising that such little research has been done on it at all. In fact, at ‘The Salton Sea Symposium II’ last month , in Palm Desert , California, many spoke of the very minute amount of biological and especially ecological research done in this area as a whole. The public was also alerted to the immense need for expanded research to be performed and accomplished in this area ,in order to produce a ethical and moral sustainable solution.
Political
Now that we have identified the problems of the Salton Sea , we must find a solution. But who is responsible for the clean- up? Who will pay ? Who will make sure that this plan is sustainable and implement the regulations surrounding it?
Currently there are five groups that hold the prominent
and most influential role and responsibility for the restoration of the
Salton Sea. These assemblages are the following :
The economic benefits attributed to a beautiful and healthy environment can range from small to spectacular. The current subject of many babyboomers as well as people of all ages in the desire for nature and relaxation in the great outdoors. Many economists and businesses are aware of peoples needs and wants for nature and are making a fortune off of it by way of ecotourism. ‘Ecotoursim’ will play an important role in the funding for the restoration and maintenance of the Salton Sea. Ecotourism is defined in different ways, by different groups of people with different agendas. No matter how one chooses to look at ecotourism, it is a new craze shaping what people do in natural settings. Ecotourism is generally used when describing any sort of recreation activities or vacationing in a natural setting. This definition could refer to anything from just staying in a remote area that is unexplored to complete environmental awareness and appreciation. If you are a local in an untouched natural area , you also want the opportunity for new jobs and financial capital.
Many people are attracted to the adventure associated with remote places and natural areas. Other people enjoy practicing ways of conservation in environmentally tender areas, by using ecotourism profits to restore habitats, changing the publics belief about nature through education, and in developing community cohesion.. Some people are looking for a way to give back to the earth for all that it has provided them, while others just want to get back to nature in a real and positive way. It is the belief of many including myself, that by allowing oneself to embrace in the pure, natural environment , one can gain personal insight and often alleviate any troubling thoughts , and thus can be a rewarding and often spiritual experience. These day ecotourism is becoming a new way for people to enjoy time with others while being surrounded by peace and tranquillity.
Technical
The technical problems of the Salton Sea are by far the most prodigious. The poison in the Salton Sea today and the kinds that flow to it every day are so harmful , that life cannot survive in it for too long of time . Research done on the fish and other wildlife in this area is extremely disheartening. Rampid disease inundates all of the organisms and slowing brings them to their death. Causes of disease and death are from the following : salinity levels being too high , raw swage from the New River, DDT, selenium, various forms of bacteria, and eutrophication.
Inspired by the massive bird die offs in 1996, many organizations and individuals are responding at an alarming rate to the Seas terrible problems. Researchers have identified more then 370 species of birds around the 380 square mile Sea. The Sea is a major stopover for migratory birds on the Pacific Flyway.
"The value of the 240,000 acre Sea has increased, as 95 percent of California’s wetlands have been destroyed." (Taylor, 1998)
The Salton Sea is steadily getting sicker and sicker . The Salton Sea , 25 percent saltier than the ocean water, serves primarily as a sump for agricultural drainage from the Coachella, Imperial an Mexicali valleys. Salinity by way of evaporation especially during the hot summer temperatures is a major problem in the Salton Sea . The fact that there is no outlet to the Sea makes it even worse. 1.35 million acre feet of water evaporates yearly from the Salton Sea..
There are five predominant diseases found in the Sea which increase its lethality ever more. Avian botulism which is one of them , was responsible for killing more them 1,400 endangered brown pelicans and 15 percent of the western population of US white pelicans in 1996. Other problems found in the Sea are : thirteen tons of nitrogen, pesticides, organic phosphate pesticides, high eutrophication, botulism, odors, agal bloom, DDT and selenium.
Eutrophication is changing the whole ecosystem because plants and fish need a certain amount of light and nutrients to maintain a healthy existence. With the increase of nutrients , the food web production increases, which causes agal blooms and decreases water transparency as well as increasing the phytoplankton. Some species will not tolerate it and will die and others , possibly exotics will thrive and thus disrupt the whole balance. With the increase in agal production , many become toxic algae’s. Low amounts of oxygen are a problem too , due to the increased decomposition with uses a lot of oxygen in its process. Botchulism is affecting ducks and birds greatly. When the animal acquires the disease, its death is soon to come. After it dies, maggots invade the body, breed in it and further incubate the disease. Other birds then eat the dead animal and the maggots , die and continue to incubate the disease, and the cycle goes on indefinitely. DDT is killing birds that are just starting to resurface at the Salton Sea. Selenium contamination occurs as lower food chain organisms accumulate selenium and then fed on by higher food chain animals. At each higher level of the food chain , selenium concentration magnifies. So many diseases are destroying the sea as we speak and will continue to , if nothing is done.
Opportunities
One hope for the survival of the these species is the current interest in cleaning up the Salton Sea and lowering the salinity levels. Stabilizing surface elevation and reducing salinity are two of the factors first to be addressed, due to the fact that the most deadly parasite (Amyloodinium ocellatum ) , whose optimal environment is a place of high salinity, and it does not live in freshwater or in low salinity . The improvements proposed will lower the salinity greatly and perhaps put an end to this terrible parasite. I have personally been to the Salton Sea and have seen first hand the horrific and immense environmental degradation of this area. There are dead and rotting fish all over the ground and in the water.
Several methods to restore the Salton Sea have been thought of and looked at , but we have not come upon a perfect one that satisfies all parties involved yet. There is an abundant number of people that are eager about seeing that the Salton Sea is restored . Such people are from different organizations , companies , political parties , tribes in addition to many local citizens of Imperial and Coachella Valley. Everyone must work together for an exemplary and sustainable solution, that incorporates ideas from biologist and ecologist , engineers, local indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) and the community.
First lets address the three major problems. The first one is the high level of salinity, second the unstable surface elevation and third the mass contamination of the water and most of the species in and around it.
There have been numerous proposals in the past twenty-five years to clean and manage the Salton Sea. I will discuss the top five options that were most highly talked about at the Salton Sea Symposium last month in Palm Desert , California. These top five are:
Before anything can be done , more biological research needs to be done on the Sea. Estimates for doing this research and implementing a plan come to $30-$35 million dollars. "It’s going to take an enormous public commitment to protect and restore the Salton Sea." " We look to the Clinton Administration , the Wilson administration and to the Congress to provide the leadership and the funding to repair the Sea." (Taylor , 1998)
As one of the most critical environmental initiatives in the 105th Congress, House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Mary Bono, and the Congressional Salton Sea Task announced the introduction of the "Sonny Bono Memorial Salton Sea Reclamation Act", a landmark environmental legislation to restore this fragile ecosystem in Southern California. It will receive bipartisan support in the House and the Senate. Restoration efforts will address salinity, high water levels, and wildlife die offs in the Salton Sea.(Hunter, 1998)
My conclusion of this Salton Sea issue is a mixed
one . Although there have been options made , I do not see any of them
directly addressing the issues of agriculture run off contaminates in the
water , the diseases afflicting the wildlife , stopping the agricultural
drainage problem , the immense waste coming from the New River or ecological
sustainability. This is absurd ! Perhaps during my year off from school
, before I go on to get my graduate degree or Ph.D.; I will be able to
get on a committee to make an influence to the restoration Salton Sea,
and make them realize that without addressing the above mentioned issues
, any proposal or option will fail disasterably and will waste time , money
and the lives of all of gods creatures that call the Salton Sea their home.
We need to think of all the players involved including the animals , and
accomplish a solution that is environmentally safe and ecologically realistic
to take care of the real problem.
1. Author Unknown. Salton Sea Study. Online. Available http://www.lc.usbr.gov/~scao/saltsea.html
2. Friend Dr. National Wildlife Health Center. Online. Available http://www.enn.com/ns-search/ENN-Ne…93/aaaoo73gd93331&NS-doc- offset=1.html
3. Gretchen C. Daily, Susan Alexander, Paul R. Ehrlich, Larry Goulder, Jane Lubchenco, Pamela A. Matson, Harold A. Mooney, Sandra Postel, Stephen H. Schneider, David Tilman, George M. Woodwell . Ecosystem Services: Benefits Supplies to Human Societies by Natural Ecosystems. Online . Internet. 1997. Available http://esa.sdsc.edu/daily.htm
4. Hunter, Duncan & Lewis, Jerry & Brown, George &Calvert, Ken(1998).Speaker Gingrich, Mary Bono join Salton Sea Task Force in unveiling "Sonny Bono Memorial Salton Sea Reclamation Act". Congressional Salton Sea Task Force.
5. Kellert, S.R. and E.O. Wilson, editors. 1993 The Biophilia Hypothesis. Island Press, Washington, DC
6. NEPA. 1998. The NEPA Fact Sheet. Online. Available http://www.gsa.gov/pbs/pt/call-in/factshet/0397/03_97_9.htm
7. Salton Sea Authority and Bureau of Reclamation .1997. The Salton Sea : Opportunities and Challenges. A brochure.
8. Taylor, Dan. 1998. Audubon Society Inspired to Action by Bird Die -offs . 17 Jan. 1998 . E-mail . Available bkus@sunstroke.sdsu.edu
9. The Salton Sea Authority and the California State Water Commission
presentation of : Salton Sea Symposium II - various speakers. The Salton
Sea - January 1998