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Saving the SeaIn the 1950s and 1960s, the Salton Sea was a water recreation mecca, home to a thriving tourist industry and a holiday getaway for families and celebrities. But the former hotspots at places with names such as "Bombay Beach" and "Desert Shores" are now dilapidated and abandoned. Scientists know that various bodies of water have existed at the current location of the Salton Sea for thousands of years. The existing lake, California's largest at nearly 375 square miles, was created in 1905 when a poorly designed levee failed, sending Colorado River water into the Salton basin. The sea became a thriving home to hundreds of bird and fish species and attracted a steady stream of wildlife seekers and recreational enthusiasts.  
But in the second half of the century, the scene changed as a variety of problems emerged. Without a consistent water input, the lake began a losing battle with evaporation. The water supplied from the expansive adjacent agricultural industry contained high concentrations of fertilizers and salt. Now public health officials fear that if the lake should dry out, contaminated dust kicked up from the lake's former seafloor could create widespread respiratory illnesses and other health problems in the region. "For decades the natural evaporation and the runoff of water from agriculture had been in balance, although the salinity and other chemicals increased in concentration over this time period," said Scripps Institution of Oceanography geophysicist Graham Kent. "But the increasing appetite for water in the region has left the Salton Sea with an uncertain future and shrinking shorelines." While some say the lake should be left to run a natural course and dry out, there are many who believe the Salton Sea can be saved and returned to its former glory. The optimists envision a revitalized wetland haven that would preserve wildlife, attract new tourists, and lure business to the area. Advocates, including California State Senator Denise Ducheny and state resources chief Mike Chrisman, are developing legislation that would launch a $9 billion restoration effort over 75 years. Through the California Resources Agency, Ducheny and Chrisman also have been supportive of Scripps research involving a new understanding of the geological makeup of the Salton Sea. "There are multiple reasons for saving the Salton Sea, including its value as a resource to the region as a large wetland area," said Ducheny. "Over 400 species of birds make their home there. If we were to allow it to disappear, there would be consequences in terms of air quality for the people of the Coachella and Imperial valleys, not to mention the fish and bird wildlife. We have a huge opportunity to save this beautiful sea in the middle of a desert and we're working on a management plan that would do that." Neal Driscoll, a Scripps professor and the leader of the Salton Sea project, said he is impressed at the level of support and interest demonstrated by Ducheny and Chrisman in Scripps' research. Because the revitalization efforts will require new dikes, dams, or canals, Kent says it's critical to develop a full geological profile of the region. The seismic maps Kent, Driscoll, and their colleagues are producing will depict the faults underneath the lake, previously unknown data that will be critical to new construction efforts. They also will produce lake sediment profiles that could reveal where the deepest pockets of contaminated sediment may lie, vital details for determining which areas could be most at risk for airborne contaminants. "In order to adequately proceed with designing a billion-dollar management system and fully understanding the risks and hazards involved, this information is essential," said Kent. Mario C. Aguilera |
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