Posted on 08/06/2007 6:42:30 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
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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