New River possibly formed at this time. Wozencraft records a flood by the Colorado River into the Salton Sink. Explorers discover mouth of Alamo River and connection between the sea and the Colorado River. River changes course and flows into Salton Sink. Government reserves in trust an additional 10, acres of land under the sea for the benefit of the Torres Martinez Band.
Paul Tibbets, make regular but highly secret practice flights from Wendover Air Base in Utah and drop dummies of a new bomb into the Salton Sea. On Aug. Short fin corvina and gulf croacker are also successfully transplanted. Penn Phillips Co. Above average rainfall for the next seven years, along with increased agricultural runoff and increased flows from Mexico, cause flooding of shoreline resorts.
It is the forerunner of the Salton Sea Authority, consisting of representatives from local government agencies. This die-off focused national attention on the Sea. An estimated 15 to 20 percent of the western population of white pelicans and more than 1, endangered brown pelicans died. This was the largest reported die-off of an endangered species.
Milt Friend is executive director. Mary Bono, his wife, is elected to Congress and picks up the banner for the Salton Sea. This study suggested that the sea might've disappeared due to evaporation and percolation about a decade after it was once again cut off from the Colorado River.
Instead, runoff from irrigated farm fields kept water flowing into the sea. Editor's note: This story has been corrected to state David Lynch's proper occupation. Mark Olalde covers the environment for The Desert Sun. Get in touch at molalde gannett. Facebook Twitter Email. Well-known Salton Sea origin story questioned by new research, suggesting it wasn't 'accidental'. Show Caption. Hide Caption. An aerial view of the New River and Salton Sea. And in a state where most of the historic wetlands are gone, the sea is seen as an important stopover for migratory birds on the Pacific Flyway.
For years, the state has been obligated to do something about the sea but has struggled to take ownership of a restoration plan. Money has been spent on studies, consultants and community outreach while conditions deteriorated. But there is movement. The state this year began work on a major 4,acre Species Conservation Habitat Project at the south end of the sea, the first part of its year management plan issued in The state also is examining proposals to bring in ocean water to the sea, which is twice as salty as the ocean.
Meanwhile, growing interest in extracting the naturally occurring lithium beneath the crusty desert ground near the sea offers an enticing economic opportunity that could bring a windfall to fund restoration projects.
Now, the challenge is ensuring that the hundreds of millions of dollars in existing and prospective funds for the sea are directed toward actions that achieve results. Its surface area of about square miles is almost twice that of Lake Tahoe in the Sierra Nevada. More than feet below sea level, it has no natural outlet. After the flood flows from the river stopped, the Salton Sea relied on the irrigation runoff from the farm-rich Imperial Valley.
Today, the sea is often at the center of contentious issues involving the Colorado River. As less farm runoff flowed to the sea, more of the shoreline was exposed to the desert winds, resulting in swirling clouds of dust that fouled the air in nearby communities.
The dust has been blamed for driving up asthma-related emergency room visits to twice the state average. Raul Ruiz, whose constituents live near the sea, said toxic elements such as selenium in the playa dust represent a known health risk. State and local agencies are trying to solve the problem. Last year, the state completed acres of dust control projects and more work is underway.
The Salton Sea has benefited from millions of dollars in past budgetary allocations and bond funding, but the money has never been enough to yield visible progress.
The prospect of an improved financial picture is encouraging to those long-accustomed to the inertia. The largest user of Colorado River water, the district has constantly urged the state to live up to its obligation to help the sea as required by the Quantification Settlement Agreement QSA.
An intriguing possibility that could contribute to sea restoration funding has emerged because the area around the Salton Sea is rich in lithium, a metal that is a key component of electric vehicle technology. Lithium extraction fees could be directed to Salton Sea improvement projects and greater dust control.
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