OUTDOORS WEST - Federation of Western Outdoor Clubs

SOUTHERNCALIFORNIAALIFORNIA’S SALALTONSEAContributed by Robert t Haage and Nancy KroeningWho can say of a particular sea that it isold? Distilled by the sun, kneaded by themoon, it is renewed in a year, in a day,or in an hour.Thomas Hardy, 1840-1928Water concerns have been a Federationpriority for some time. At last year’sconvention, eight resolutions wereadopted that related to bodies of water.In recent years national and regionalnews have focused on yet another Californiawater dilemma. This media attentioncame to some degree because theentertainer turned politician, SonnyBono, before his death, made that bodyof water his “cause.” That “cause” wasthe restoration of California’s SaltonSea. Few environmental issues have engenderedmore diverse opinions and proposalsthan this unusual body of water.The Salton Sea is California’s largestinland body of water, being 35 mileslong and 15 miles wide. It is 25% saltierthan seawater, 220 feet lower than sealevel and shallow at an average depth ofabout 30 feet. It is situated just southeastof Palm Springs and south of theJoshua Tree National Monument.Rather than being “dead,” the SaltonSea is rich in nutrients, supporting zooplanktonand worms, which provide abundantfood for fish (introduced salt tolerantspecies) and birds. It is one of the mostimportant stops on the Pacific flyway formillions of migratory birds. It also pro-Gulf of California➙Salton SeaSalton Sea and Gulf of California as seenfrom the space shuttle.➙vides important habitat for bald eagles,brown pelicans, peregrine falcons and otherimperiled wildlife. On the southern shore,the Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge ishome to more than 380 species of birds.It has a unique history from the pointof view of its geology, its hydrology andthe contributions of human intervention.It was separated by geologic events fromits origins in the Gulf of California. Createdby the unpredictable meanderingsof the Colorado River, the Salton basinhas been the site of at least six majorlakes from 300 A.D. until 1600 A.D.,the last known as Lake Cahuilla. TheSalton Sea of our time was created byan accident when an Imperial Valley irrigationcannel project miscalculated thetiming and magnitude of the l904 ColoradoRiver spring floods. The temporarydiversion channels and control gates ofthe project were overwhelmed by thetorrent. The river reverted to an earlierchannel, sending water cascading intothe Salton sink.The Southern Pacific Railroad, havingbuilt a spur line into the area to tapits growing economic potential, boughtout others and undertook to salvage thediminishing dreams promised by the ImperialValley. They sent seemingly endlesstrains into the valley to dump sandand gravel into the breach. But the years1905-07 were among those with theheaviest rainfall in the area’s history.Water continued to pour into the sink,threatening much of the development inthe area. The railroad crew’s efforts werefinally successful when a lull in the river’sflow enabled them to construct a breakwatersufficient to staunch the flow.Realizing the long range potential ofthis large body of water will require addressingthe problems of salinity, adequatewater inflow, control of pollutants,protection for wildlife and recreationalvalues, and stabilization of theregion’s economic resources. Assuringthe necessary flow of water to maintainthe sea has become increasingly difficultas neighboring states have takensteps to mitigate California’s over-consumptionof Colorado River water.Fairly apportioning the remaining Californiashare of the river’s water has beenmade politically sensitive as growingCalifornia communities have bid sharplyfor a greater portion of the waters, whichare needed to sustain the Salton Sea. TheSalton Sea Authority, composed of representativesfrom the counties that borderthe lake and the affected irrigationand water districts, was formed in 1994.The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation hasbeen designated as the federal agencyto coordinate with the SSA to devise aplan for preserving the Sea.A host of proposals have been putforth to keep the Sea from following itspredecessors into oblivion.Alarmingly, now the City of San Diego,is trying to divert huge amounts ofwater from streams flowing into theSalton Sea to fuel its expanded development.This would destroy this vitalhabitat. Strangely, Representative MaryBono, Sonny Bono’s widow, has endorsedthis plan!Needed Now:Letters to Senators and Representativesfrom every state (most notablythose from adjacent states), especiallyto Rep. Mary Bono, and the U.S. Bureauof Reclamation urging renewed effortsto “Save the Sea.”To contact your Members of Congress:Senator_______U.S. SenateWashington, DC 20510202-224-3121Representative _________U.S. House of RepresentativesWashington, DC 20515202-225-3121To contact the Bureau of Reclamation:CommissionerBureau of ReclamationU.S. Department of the Interior1849 C Street NWWashington, DC 202408FWOC - Outdoors West Spring 2002