Borrego Springs Local • February 20, 2023

The Potential Impacts of a Dried-Up Salton Sea

Share

The Future of the Salton Sea: Potential Impacts of Its Drying


The Salton Sea, an accidental marvel in California's landscape, emerged in 1905 when the Colorado River's waters breached irrigation infrastructures, creating this significant water body. Today, it stands as a pivotal habitat for myriad bird species, including crucial stopovers for migratory birds, and plays a central role in local recreation and economy.


The potential drying of the Salton Sea, however, casts a shadow of concern, given its water levels have been on a decline for years. The ramifications of such an event could ripple through environmental, economic, and health spheres:


  • Air Pollution: The exposure of the Salton Sea's lakebed would unleash fine dust particles into the air, escalating air pollution risks and posing severe respiratory and health challenges to nearby populations.


  • Wildlife Habitat Loss: The sea's unique ecosystem, home to diverse bird, fish, and wildlife species, faces a bleak future. The drying up could obliterate these habitats, pushing some species towards extinction.


  • Economic Impacts: As a cherished recreational spot, the Salton Sea significantly contributes to local economic vitality. A dried-up sea would starkly diminish tourism, adversely affecting the economic fabric of surrounding areas.


  • Health Impacts: Surrounded by agricultural expanses, the drying of the sea could mobilize harmful chemicals into the air and groundwater, menacing public health and risking water supply contamination in the region.


In light of these potential impacts, proactive measures are imperative to safeguard the Salton Sea. Initiatives aimed at wetland restoration, water conservation, and the exploration of alternative water sources are crucial to preserving this unique ecosystem and sustaining its economic relevance.




Learn More

October 9, 2025
Did You Know? Rostros y Corazón Serves Salton City and Beyond
October 8, 2025
Speculative Fiction Grounded in Science Salton Sea Tales, a novel by Gabriel Wisdom A New Novel Rooted in Science and Imagination Author and broadcaster Gabriel Wisdom explores a timely environmental and geological premise in his latest novel, Salton Sea Tales. The book merges speculative storytelling with scientific research, weaving fact-based creative non-fiction into a “what if” scenario inspired by real evidence. From the Author Salton Sea Tales is a fast-paced adventure story which combines both the ‘what if’ elements of speculative fiction with more fact-based creative non-fiction, based upon verifiable geological evidence. An inland desert sea is drying up, causing an unlikely group of outlaws, stakeholders, and secretive Native Americans to join forces. The story imagines what would happen if geothermal and lithium mining operations at California’s Salton Sea were to accidentally set off the San Andreas Fault, which spans the 330 square mile lake perimeter. Half of the world’s lakes are less resilient to disturbance than they used to be (Advancing Earth and Space Sciences, 2024), impacting an estimated one in three people. Salton Sea Tales is a plot-driven fictional adventure based in part upon real events with a wildly plausible ending that hasn’t happened… yet. Stay tuned for a review...If you want to review the book let us know!
August 4, 2024
Discover the largest lithium source in North America at the Salton Sea with Jim Turner, COO of Controlled Thermal Resources.
Show More

Share This Post