Salton Sea Sorrows
California's largest lake, the Salton Sea, was once considered a miracle in the desert. I can imagine how beautiful and full of life it must have been in its prime. Now it's more reminiscent of some post-apocalyptic war zone (with a smell to match) than any sort of tropical oasis.
Formed in 1905 when floodwaters breached a local canal, the Salton Sea was known as the Salton Riviera in the 50s and 60s. President Eisenhower even played golf here, the Beach boys docked their boat at the yacht club, and palm trees as well as flamingos could be enjoyed by locals.
But by the 1980s the beaches were covered with dead fish due in part to pesticides from farm runoff and the lack of rain. With no drainage the salinity of the sea water grew more every year. Large amounts of algae starved the sea of its oxygen, causing fish to drown. The dead fish fed more algae starting the cycle over and over. It is said that in 1999 over 7,000,000 tilapia died in a single day.
As the waters have decayed, so have populations of fish and birds. Local communities have been affected as well...the area around the Salton Sea is home to over 600,000 people, many of whom suffer health problems due to poor air quality. It's believed that almost 1 in 5 children suffer from asthma in areas surrounding the Salton Sea.
In early June of this year, California voters passed a state bond measure that is supposed to send over $200 million in funding to help solve the devastating deterioration of the Salton Sea, including a project to help control the toxic dust and restore the wetland habitat.
As fascinating as this area is, I'm afraid I personally would not recommend it for a visit. I am blessed to be free of asthma or any lung issues, but in my limited times at the Salton Sea, I've noticed not only the the rotten smell all around, but an unnatural labor in my breathing. I can only imagine the damage this toxic dust does to those who are exposed to it over an extended period of time.
It is quite an experience to see the hundreds of piles of fish bones, as well as birds and old cans from decades ago as the water continues to recede...but I find it a very sad experience and I can only hope that someday I will get to see this place as it was truly meant to be...beautiful and vibrant, healthy and full of life.
