June 7, 2022

Hope for the Salton Sea: A New Future with Lithium

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California’s Largest Inland Water Body Holds the Key to a Sustainable Future

The Salton Sea, once a thriving tourist destination, has been in decline for decades due to agricultural runoff, leading to environmental disasters and high unemployment. However, beneath the surface lies one of the largest lithium deposits in the world, offering new hope for the area’s economic and environmental future.

The Salton Sea, located 120 miles east of San Diego, was once a bustling playground for the rich and famous in the 1950s. However, over time, agricultural runoff caused by pesticides and fertilizer turned the lake into an environmental disaster, causing breathing issues for many of the town’s residents and leading to high unemployment rates. The exposure of toxic silt picked up by wind has only added to the area’s problems.

But hope for the future lies in the form of lithium, known as “white gold,” lying 8,000 feet beneath the Salton Sea. Tesla and other automobile manufacturers are driving the race to extract lithium, which is essential for lightweight lithium battery-powered cars.

Several companies, including Controlled Thermal Resources, are investing in the extraction of lithium from the Salton Sea, which could produce 600,000 tons of lithium per year, worth $7.2 billion, far more than the current world demand.

Not only will the extraction of lithium from the Salton Sea create new, well-paying jobs for the area’s residents, but it will also provide clean energy to power the mining and other operations. This, in turn, will help prevent the toxic dirt from blowing away and potentially causing more harm to the environment.

The potential for lithium mining in the Salton Sea area has raised hopes for the area’s economic future, with more jobs, new businesses, and shopping centers on the horizon. Mayor Amezcua is optimistic about the potential of lithium to continue to power his city forward, hoping for a brighter future for Calipatria and the Salton Sea.

Under the Salton Sea is one of the largest lithium deposits in the world. “This is going to be a game changer,” said Jim Turner , COO of Controlled Thermal Resources. Scientists have always known that there was lithium under the Salton Sea, but no one really cared because it wasn’t worth it financially for companies to extract it. cbs8.com

In conclusion, the extraction of lithium from the Salton Sea could be a game-changer for the area’s economic and environmental future.

The potential for clean energy, well-paying jobs, and renewed investment in the area has brought new hope for a better future for the Salton Sea and the people who call it home.

Rotary Reflects on Impact as Busy Borrego Season Ends

May 2, 2026
As the busy Borrego Springs season comes to a close and the community transitions into summer, the Rotary Club of Borrego Springs is reflecting on a year of meaningful impact. Through fundraising, partnerships, and volunteer efforts, the club continues to support programs that invest in students, develop leaders, and strengthen the community. A highlight of the season was the Mardi Gras gala fundraiser, which raised nearly $60,000 . Those funds are distributed throughout the club’s July–June fiscal year, supporting a wide range of local initiatives. This year, Rotary contributed to programs including the Christmas Toy Giveaway, the Youth and Seniors Center, Borrego Days Festival, the Borrego Springs Community Concert Association , the Borrego Springs History Museum, and the Borrego Ministers Association’s emergency air conditioner program, helping local families during extreme heat. Supporting Borrego youth remains a central focus. Rotary continues to fund scholarships for Borrego Springs High School seniors and students continuing their education, with a $50,000 allocation this year. Leadership programs such as Interact, RYLA, and LEAD also provide students with opportunities to build confidence, responsibility, and community involvement. Beyond Borrego Springs, the club remains active in international service, including long-standing support for an orphanage in Mexicali and contributions to Rotary International’s End Polio Now initiative. The Rotary Club has also launched a newly redesigned website, offering a clearer view of its work and making it easier for the community to stay connected. “Our Club is small but mighty — like Borrego itself,” said President Diane E.P. Johnson. “As we enter the new year, we intend to let the good times — and good works — roll on.” Save the date: The 2027 Rotary Gala will take place on February 6 at La Casa del Zorro — an event the community won’t want to miss.

First Impressions of the Sultan of Slowjamastan and His Micronation

May 1, 2026
A Unique Stop Just Outside Borrego Springs

Sundown at the Salton Sea is a feature film in development.

May 1, 2026
Emmy-winning mixer Mark Hensley leads development on “Sundown at the Salton Sea,” the first flagship feature from the Blockreel Studios production pipeline EIN Presswire LOS ANGELES — Blockreel Studios, the production and distribution division of the filmmaker-owned operating system Blockreel DAO, announced the development of its first flagship feature film, Sundown at the Salton Sea. The project is being led by founding advisor and Emmy-winning re-recording mixer Mark Hensley (Genius: Picasso, The Last of Us), who serves as the project’s lead creative force. Sundown at the Salton Sea is an elevated gothic horror-thriller that weaves together a tragic 19th-century love story with a modern-day descent into terror. Bound by reincarnation, memory, and an ancient curse, the film explores the terrifying reality behind the myth of Nosferatu. As a group of friends becomes stranded in the California desert, they discover that the classic cinema legend was not fiction but a desperate, plagiarized attempt to exploit a real-world tragedy that has haunted the shadows of history for over a century. “Sundown at the Salton Sea represents a new hybrid model for independent cinema,” said Mark Hensley. “By utilizing Blockreel’s end-to-end production ecosystem during this development phase, we are creating a blueprint that allows for complete creative integrity while accessing a global network of vetted, high-caliber talent. We are building a model for how the next generation of features will be packaged and produced.” A new blueprint for independent production With a target budget of $5 million, the film serves as a lighthouse project for the Blockreel ecosystem. The production leverages Blockreel’s integrated infrastructure, designed to replace legacy industry fragmentation with a unified workflow: Vetted Talent Ecosystem: Utilizing Blockreel’s network of 560+ vetted professional filmmakers, including award-winning talent, to assemble the creative team. End-to-End Transparency: Incorporating decentralized production management to streamline transparent reporting, real-time budgeting, and global distribution workflows from the ground up. Industry-Standard Quality: Ensuring all creative and technical aspects meet the highest standards required by global theatrical and streaming partners. “Independent film is at an inflection point,” says Osman Arslan, founder and CEO of Blockreel DAO. “Hollywood output is shifting, and the next generation of breakout independent hits will come from creators who own their rails. With this feature, Blockreel Studios is moving from the platform layer to the production layer—delivering high-velocity, high-quality IP that the market is starving for.” The project currently serves as the anchor title for the Blockreel ecosystem, creating a closed-loop pipeline from development through to future exhibition.
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