It looks like something from the beginning of a science fiction novel—dilapidated and decaying architecture protrudes from red-stained shores, swirling clouds of toxic dust whip over the desolate landscape, and a horrible smell like rotting eggs wafts from the surface of the listless water. But this isn’t a colony on Mars or an apocalyptic future Earth; this is the present-day Salton Sea in Imperial County, California. 

For decades, the State of California has failed to address this accidental lake turned environmental catastrophe. The once thriving Salton Sea now faces a host of issues with receding shores, contaminated water, and an exposed playa (or lakebed) that forms massive, toxic dust storms. Although California took responsibility for maintaining the Salton Sea in the early 2000s, the state has yet to allocate the money and workforce needed to fix this brewing disaster. But after years of red tape and unfulfilled promises, the tides may be turning for the Salton Sea. In November of 2020, Dr. Raul Ruiz--US Representative of the 36th district--in coordination with Representative Juan Vargas of the 51st district, introduced H.R. 9775 to Congress. The bill, also called the Salton Sea Public Health and Environmental Protection Act, marks the first serious attempt at state and federal cooperation over the Salton Sea since 1997. Should the bill pass, it could fast-track habitat restoration and dust suppression projects. The Salton Sea will never be what it once was, but this bill could make the water and land viable again for fish, birds, and humans.

Originally, the Salton Sea was not a lake at all. Before 1905, it was a dry lakebed called the Salton Sink that sat 235 feet below sea level. People rarely ventured into the somewhat inhospitable area. But that began to change when enterprising land developers saw an opportunity to divert water from the Colorado River into the Salton Sink, thereby creating lucrative farmland. Canals were built, water was diverted, and over 100,000 acres of lakebed were converted into farms. But in the spring of 1905, extreme rainstorms lashed the West Coast and flooded the Colorado River. Poorly constructed irrigation canals burst under the pressure and released a torrent of water that rushed towards the lowest point in the land--the Salton Sink. It took eighteen months before the breach could be sealed but by that point the farms were gone. Instead, there was a vast and shallow sea that covered nearly a thousand square miles of land. Over the next few decades, annual rainfall and agricultural run-off from nearby farms provided enough water to maintain the breadth of the Salton Sea. 

In the 1950s, a booming tourism industry in the nearby city of Palm Springs prompted land developers to once again see an opportunity at the Salton Sea. Fish were introduced to the lake, towns and piers built on the shores, and tourists flocked to the beaches. The Salton Sea became home to over 400 bird species, the site of California’s most productive fishery, and a popular vacation spot. At its peak popularity, more visitors sunbathed on the beaches of the Salton Sea than hiked in the mountains of Yosemite National Park. 

But the same heavy rains that birthed this accidental lake eventually destroyed it. During the 1970s, a series of strong tropical storms pelted the coast of California. The landlocked Salton Sea had nowhere to go; the banks flooded and the towns around the lake were severely damaged. By the time the water receded, the flood had dealt a lethal blow to the Sea’s tourism industry. In addition to the lost tourist revenue, decades of agricultural run-off resulted in heavily contaminated waters that killed most fish species and destroyed the area’s fishing industry. Shifting water management priorities diverted water from agricultural lands to urban cities. As a result, less freshwater was available to dilute the steady stream of salts and agricultural chemicals entering the Sea. Other environmental phenomena, like rising temperatures, shrank the lake from 1,000 square miles to less than 400 square miles, further increasing the salinity of the Sea. The dust storms came next. Strong desert winds can easily pick up dried playa and spread it for miles. Imperial County and Coachella area residents have grown up breathing the chemicals previously trapped in the Salton Sea’s water and sediment. And they are not the only ones—by some estimates, residents as far away as Los Angeles and San Diego are affected by these dust storms. Within the affected regions rates for developing respiratory illnesses such as asthma are on the rise. In little more than seventy years, the Salton Sea has been transformed from a diverse bird sanctuary, large fish habitat, and popular recreational park to a toxic, barren wetland. 

Despite the dire situation, the Salton Sea has been on California’s proverbial back burner for years. Several plans have been proposed, but none have gained much traction. In 2007, the state issued a 9 billion dollar plan called the Preferred Alternative, but it was never implemented. Another massive proposal, the 10 Year Plan, was published in 2018 following the creation of the 2015 Salton Sea Task Force. But much like its predecessor, the 10 Year Plan has yet to get off the ground. 

The problem may be that revitalizing the Salton Sea is too costly and complicated for a single state, even California, to manage. That is why Ruiz’s Congressional bill introduced last year could provide the key to unlocking the necessary resources for undertaking such a complex and expensive project. In a press release about the new bill, Rep. Ruiz promised that H.R. 9775, “will ensure an all-hands-on-deck approach that involves local, state, and federal coordination to address the urgent public health crisis at the Salton Sea. My bill will bring significant federal funding, streamline coordination, expedite projects, and ensure agencies follow through with their commitment to the Sea and my constituents.” 

The bill would create a federal Salton Sea Management Council to oversee funding, project permitting, and project coordination among the local, state, and federal levels. The Salton Sea is not a single agency or even a single project issue; local, state, and federal agencies will all need to coordinate and manage multiple joint projects. The bill plans to hold agencies accountable by requiring annual progress reports and public health analyses. Currently, the proposed legislation has been introduced to Congress and referred to the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on Energy and Commerce.

The federal government will need to act with unusual speed to save the Salton Sea but although the task ahead is daunting, it is not impossible. Even now, clear, and windless days provide a glimpse of what the Salton Sea could be—a glittering blue network of ponds that provide a sanctuary in the desert.

And less than an hour away Babcock Laboratories, Inc. (Babcock Labs) is in the process of receiving California Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (ELAP) accreditation for our satellite laboratory in El Centro. Completion of the Babcock El Centro microbiology lab will provide short-holding time microbiology testing for the region along with easy access to Babcock Lab’s extensive technical offerings. Babcock Labs is no stranger to the Coachella and Imperial Valleys and supports efforts to address such important public and environmental health issues as the Salton Sea. For more information about Babcock Labs including the El Centro location, please contact us.