Posted on 08/06/2007 6:42:30 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
Nearly 50 years ago, a young Greg Smith celebrated July Fourth fishing, learning to water-ski and getting sunburned on a favorite beach at the Salton Sea.
Today, Smith is an Imperial County businessman working to help resuscitate the dying desert sea that few dare to enter and on bad days can drive visitors far from shore with its smell.
“We've gone through the hand-wringing,” Smith said. “Now is the time to do something.”
That something could cost $8.9 billion over the next 75 years.
Legislation to launch a comprehensive revitalization plan – one of the most ambitious in the nation's history – is pending in the Legislature and could reach Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's desk this summer.
The measure's immediate goals are modest. Just $47 million would be infused to continue piecemeal restoration efforts. The structure of an oversight agency that would steer the sea back to life remains unsettled.
The sea is California's largest lake and a vital resting stop for migratory waterfowl.
More difficult choices lie ahead. Within a few years, funding agreements need to be struck, the federal government has to be satisfied and a $1.5 billion dike designed to provide recreational waterways must overcome doubts. Also, business interests will need to agree to a taxing scheme, and residents require protection from dust storms that blow salty crust from the sea's shrinking shore.
Nevertheless, momentum is building for a limited, five-year undertaking focused on restoring 2,000 acres of wildlife habitat along the sea. Then, after environmental and financial studies provide a compass, the more difficult steps can be mapped.
“My big concern is the sea will die before we can save it,” said Rick Daniels, executive director of the Salton Sea Authority, a public agency involved in preservation.
The Schwarzenegger administration in the spring released its strategy to save the polluted, salt-choked sea that straddles Imperial and Riverside counties.
“It's a 75-year vision,” said Mike Chrisman, California's resources chief, who helped prepare the plan with the governor's approval.
And what does Chrisman see?
A dike to create a recreational lake, wetland havens for birds, cleaner water and flourishing seaside businesses.
Others, though, still see a lake filled with belly-up fish, casting a stink for miles and not worth anything close to $9 billion.
“What are the redwoods worth? What is Lake Tahoe worth?” said Sen. Denise Ducheny, D-San Diego, who is carrying the restoration funding measure, SB 187.
The current sea was created in 1905 when a breach in a levee along the Colorado River released a torrent of water that filled the Salton basin. Going back more than 10,000 years, Colorado River floods historically filled the Salton sink, creating the temporary, ancient Lake Cahuilla.
Runoff from modern-day farms not only sustains the sea, but adds to the salinity and pollution. Already saltier than the Pacific Ocean, the sea is slowly evaporating and turning hypersaline.
Adding to the pressure: Ten years from now, Imperial Valley farmers no longer will be obligated to replenish the lake with a fixed amount of fresh water. That threatens to speed its demise and expose even more of its shore as the lake becomes smaller. Even under the rehabilitation plan, the sea still will greatly shrink.
Once flush with fish – trophy-size bass and croaker have disappeared – only the more resilient tilapia survive. Even those die by the hundreds, probably from algae blooms that choke off oxygen.
If the sea is lost, the state would lose a significant bird sanctuary, making it even more difficult to sustain 400 species, such as the brown Pelican, eared grebe, Yuma clapper rail, white-faced ibis, mountain plover and black tern.
“The Salton Sea may not be paradise, but it has become a critical stopover for hundreds of birds,” said Kim Delfino of Defenders of Wildlife. “If we lose the Salton Sea, it will be an environmental catastrophe.”
Economics also drive the campaign to save the sea. Growth could accelerate between Palm Springs and the struggling towns of Imperial Valley. Chamber of Commerce boosters envision more tourism, housing and jobs in the 375-square mile sea – if the lake is reborn as a recreational destination.
That's a pretty big if.
“This is not going to be a Garden of Eden,” said Smith, who is part of a team of community leaders advising officials on the next course.
But, he said, “when the water's gone, what are we going to be left with?”
Smith and others don't want to find out. They remember when the sea was a playground for families and celebrities alike – not an evaporating sink shunned by many.
Tim Kelley, executive director of the Imperial County Economic Development Corp., said the region already has attracted new development. Ethanol and geothermal plants for renewable energy are in the works.
“Once you start, people will believe it's real and we'll see increased investment around the sea,” Kelley said.
The community is growing impatient after repeated false starts, Kelley said.
“It's time to quit doing studies,” he said. “It's time to start building.”
Perhaps they will.
The Schwarzenegger administration's plan, to be carried out in phases over the next 75 years, would create 62,000 acres of marshland for aquatic life, a separate 45,000-acre body of water for fish and recreation, two brine sinks to isolate salt, a 52-mile barrier to divide the sea and 158 miles of berms.
The nearly $9 billion price tag may be spread out over a lifetime, but those making the decisions today must weigh existing competition for funding, from schools to roads.
“The question is where do we get the money? The answer is, 'I don't know,' ” said Delfino, the environmentalist.
Ducheny acknowledged that $8.9 billion sounds scary.
“The cost is what's making people nervous,” she said.
Those involved note that taxpayers will not be the sole source. Local business taxes and user fees could be earmarked for restoration.
The sea's second-tier status is evident at the top. Schwarzenegger is pitching a $6 billion bond to restore the Sacramento Delta and build new reservoirs. The Salton Sea apparently is not a high priority; it does not appear in the governor's stump speeches, nor has he toured the sea.
But by authorizing Chrisman's efforts, Schwarzenegger is demonstrating a commitment to move ahead, aides say.
Generally, the strategy is to use already-approved funds for some immediate habitat improvements that have stirred little opposition.
Then, the more complex, controversial and costly projects – such as the huge sea-dividing dike – can be tackled after the environmental reviews and economic analyses come in. Taxpayers eventually could be asked to approve billions of dollars in bond proceeds, squirreled away in measures put on the ballot over time.
The health effects of more playa dust have raised alarms. The plan could shrink the sea, exposing an additional 106,000 acres of shore and putting thousands at risk if dust is not controlled.
“Imperial County has high asthma rates. There is a direct correlation between that and the air quality,” said Monique Lopez, who represents the local American Lung Association. “We cannot take any more in this air basin.”
Other major players have not fully blessed the plan, either.
The federal government, which has vast holdings along the shores and must sign off on many of the ideas, has urged restraint.
“We would rather go slow with a 'what you know' approach,” said Mike Walker, the federal Bureau of Reclamation's point person on sea issues.
Walker supports getting an early start on habitat improvements, but wants much of the later work done in stages so it can be evaluated along the way before anyone commits to the entire plan.
“It's a huge amount of money and it doesn't come with a guarantee,” he said.
Federal holdings include nearly 50,000 acres of a wildlife refuge. The Navy, which once used the sea for test bomb drops, has 36,600 acres, some of which is underwater.
Tribal interests also must be satisfied. The Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indian Tribe holds 24,000 acres, of which 11,000 acres are inundated, along the north side of the lake.
The tribe is concerned that shrinking the sea could expose cultural sites, leaving them vulnerable to theft and vandalism. It has a financial interest as well: the tribe operates a small casino near the sea and may pursue a second gaming facility. Tribal representatives did not return a call requesting comment.
Despite the hard decisions ahead, most of those involved believe a deal can and must be struck.
“We have to do something or the whole sea will die,” said Gary Wyatt, an Imperial County supervisor. “We'll end up with a disaster – not an opportunity.”
Background: Rising salinity levels and shrinking inflows of water threaten the future of the Salton Sea, California's largest lake. The important waterfowl habitat straddles Riverside and Imperial counties.
What's changing: The state has released an $8.9 billion, 75-year plan to restore the sea. The proposal also would boost recreational opportunities and could lead to more development along the shore.
The future: Legislation is pending to allocate $47 million that would go toward initial improvements over the next five years. The future is more uncertain with the federal government hesitant to commit blocks of funding and doubts that the community can raise money to cover some costs. There is also significant disagreement over a proposed barrier that would create a cleaner lake for recreation. Various barriers could cost as much as $6 billion.
The Salton Sea was created by accident by people in 1905. Why are environmentalists resisting the reclamation of the original ecology?
Dang! The Salton Sea was an unintended thing to begin with. Let it go away. Stop diverting water to Mexicali.
Only if they change the name of the near by town
The Salton Sea was created when a canal broke its banks and in poured Colorado River water. It is not a “natural” sea. Perhaps the only rational way to “save” the sea is to bring seawater from the Pacific, far less salty, use the natural drop (the Salton Sea is 237 BELOW mean sea level) to generate power for the pumping, selling the excess power. The resultant lowering of the salinity content would be significant. The sea could also use salt isolating areas to further reduce salinity.
A friend of mine drowned in Salton Sea almost 40 years ago. His was the first funeral I ever attended.
Dead nuts on the x-ring. These fools are short several clues.
Yep, and when desalination becomes economically feasable, fresh water for homes, industry, and crops could be produced from the excess sea water that is piped in.
I have been to the former USSR, and saw rivers that were yellow and on fire. Other places that would make the green idiots raving more than they do already.
Irony is that the socialists will never realize their green dreams unless they have our pockets to pick.
Squander billions to exacerbate a man-made problem. I'm glad eco-freaks don't run my state. This is just lunacy.
Spot on!
Hey, I love the area and think it’s real cool there is an accidental salt lake in the middle of the desert—but, maybe we should focus on pretty beaches and great forests if we want to get all excited about “preserving” things.
Anybody who believes that the cost of upgrading this accident will only be $8.9 B needs to stake their entire net worth on a cozy B&B along it’s shores.
The crisis is increasing salinity from the Colorado river. PSeawater has a salinity of around 3.5% and the Salton currently is at 4.4%
Any dilution will be temporary and then the salinity will shoot through the roof. Pumping in salty ocean water will not make the Salton less salty.
let the enviros raise the money, for a change.
Amen....check my page, and you'll see that I live not awfully far away. Let that sucker dry up (altho "they" say doing that would let certain nasties then become airborne, due to the evaporation).
About this time most every year, we locals get the thrill of awakening to the fragrance of the Salton Sea fish die-offs, or algae blooms.....the first time we whiffed it, I thought my septic had overflowed, to give an idea of the joy the Salton Sea presents it's neighbors.
I rode past the west shore the other day. Ther are a fair number of houses being built. Follow the money. If the Sea is dead and stinketh.....who’s gonna buy?
Gosh, that picture brings back memories...
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