SOUTHERNCALIFORNIAALIFORNIA’S SALALTONSEAContributed by Robert t Haage and Nancy KroeningWho can say <strong>of</strong> 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 <strong>Federation</strong>priority for some time. At last year’sconvention, eight resolutions wereadopted that related to bodies <strong>of</strong> 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 body<strong>of</strong> water his “cause.” That “cause” wasthe restoration <strong>of</strong> California’s SaltonSea. Few environmental issues have engenderedmore diverse opinions and proposalsthan this unusual body <strong>of</strong> water.The Salton Sea is California’s largestinland body <strong>of</strong> water, being 35 mileslong and 15 miles wide. It is 25% saltierthan seawater, 220 feet lower than sealevel and shallow at an average depth <strong>of</strong>about 30 feet. It is situated just southeast<strong>of</strong> Palm Springs and south <strong>of</strong> 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 <strong>of</strong> the mostimportant stops on the Pacific flyway formillions <strong>of</strong> migratory birds. It also pro-Gulf <strong>of</strong> California➙Salton SeaSalton Sea and Gulf <strong>of</strong> 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 <strong>of</strong> birds.It has a unique history from the point<strong>of</strong> view <strong>of</strong> its geology, its hydrology andthe contributions <strong>of</strong> human intervention.It was separated by geologic events fromits origins in the Gulf <strong>of</strong> California. Createdby the unpredictable meanderings<strong>of</strong> the Colorado River, the Salton basinhas been the site <strong>of</strong> at least six majorlakes from 300 A.D. until 1600 A.D.,the last known as Lake Cahuilla. TheSalton Sea <strong>of</strong> our time was created byan accident when an Imperial Valley irrigationcannel project miscalculated thetiming and magnitude <strong>of</strong> the l904 ColoradoRiver spring floods. The temporarydiversion channels and control gates <strong>of</strong>the 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 <strong>of</strong> 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 <strong>of</strong>this large body <strong>of</strong> water will require addressingthe problems <strong>of</strong> salinity, adequatewater inflow, control <strong>of</strong> pollutants,protection for wildlife and recreationalvalues, and stabilization <strong>of</strong> theregion’s economic resources. Assuringthe necessary flow <strong>of</strong> water to maintainthe sea has become increasingly difficultas neighboring states have takensteps to mitigate California’s over-consumption<strong>of</strong> Colorado River water.Fairly apportioning the remaining Californiashare <strong>of</strong> the river’s water has beenmade politically sensitive as growingCalifornia communities have bid sharplyfor a greater portion <strong>of</strong> the waters, whichare needed to sustain the Salton Sea. TheSalton Sea Authority, composed <strong>of</strong> representativesfrom the counties that borderthe lake and the affected irrigationand water districts, was formed in 1994.The U.S. Bureau <strong>of</strong> Reclamation hasbeen designated as the federal agencyto coordinate with the SSA to devise aplan for preserving the Sea.A host <strong>of</strong> proposals have been putforth to keep the Sea from following itspredecessors into oblivion.Alarmingly, now the City <strong>of</strong> San Diego,is trying to divert huge amounts <strong>of</strong>water 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. Bureau<strong>of</strong> Reclamation urging renewed effortsto “Save the Sea.”To contact your Members <strong>of</strong> Congress:Senator_______U.S. SenateWashington, DC 20510202-224-3121Representative _________U.S. House <strong>of</strong> RepresentativesWashington, DC 20515202-225-3121To contact the Bureau <strong>of</strong> Reclamation:CommissionerBureau <strong>of</strong> ReclamationU.S. Department <strong>of</strong> the Interior1849 C Street NWWashington, DC 202408FWOC - <strong>Outdoor</strong>s West Spring 2002
PROTECTINGNEVEVADAWILDERNESSby Marge ge Sill, FWOC Vice ice President for NevadaThe Friends <strong>of</strong> Nevada Wildernesswas formed in 1985 to preserve and protectNevada’s wilderness heritage. Theirmission is to “Keep Nevada’s WildPlaces Wild.”The Federal Government manages87% <strong>of</strong> Nevada, most (49 million acres)under the Bureau <strong>of</strong> Land Management.Other public lands are managed by theNational Park Service, the U.S. Fish andWildlife Service and U.S. Forest Service.The Nevada BLM has identified 5million acres as having wilderness characteristics,and these have been classifiedas Wilderness Study Areas (WSA).They have recommended 2 millionacres to Congress for Wilderness designation.Currently Nevada has the leastprotected Wilderness <strong>of</strong> any <strong>Western</strong>state, and unprotected lands are seriouslythreatened by mining, <strong>of</strong>f-roadvehicles and development.Bighorn sheep. Photo by Charles Watson.Nevada’s s BLMWilderilderness Study AreasThese are exciting times for wildernessactivists in Nevada. The SouthernNevada Wilderness Campaign hasshifted into high gear with the release<strong>of</strong> the Citizens’ Wilderness Proposal forNevada’s Mojave Desert Region. TheProposal contains detailed informationand maps on over four million acres <strong>of</strong>public land within the Mojave Desertregion, including lands in Clark, Lincoln,Nye and Esmeralda counties. Areasare on lands managed by the BLM,NPS, USFWS and USFS. The proposalis based on extensive research, on-thegroundmapping and scientific information.Access to the various proposedunits is afforded by boundary roads andcherry-stem roads.This Campaign has been an effortby the Friends <strong>of</strong> Nevada Wilderness,the Nevada Wilderness Project, theToiyabe Chapter <strong>of</strong> the Sierra Cluband the Durango <strong>of</strong>fice <strong>of</strong> The WildernessSociety. The proposal has supportfrom over one hundred businesses,many organizations, and thousands <strong>of</strong> individuals.Copies <strong>of</strong> the Citizens’ Proposalhave been given to Senators and keylegislators. Nevada Senators HarryReid and John Ensign plan to introducea Southern Nevada bill that will includewilderness soon.For More e Information:Contact Marge Sill by email atorSpring 2002BOOKREVIEWPursuing Wild Trout: A Journey In Wilderness Valuesby Bob Madgic. River Bend Books, Anderson, CA, l998.Reviewed by Raelene Gold.Bob Madgic is a man who loves rivers,the wilderness they flow through,and the trout that swim in them. “I seein the river’s currents and depths life’smysteries,” he explains. Here he shareshis family’s hiking, camping and fishingadventures from their cabin in theSierras into the Mokelumne Wildernessand the Mokelumne, Stanislaus,Toulumne, East Carson and San JoaquinRiver systems. Each area explored isrichly described with its Native Americanand early explorer history, its naturalhistory, directions and a helpful map.There are also practical chapters on flyfishing tips, preparing for wildernessexperiences and perhaps most important,what to do to preserve wild trout.He also shows how in the pursuit <strong>of</strong> wildtrout, he found that “in wilderness, onecan find life’s deepest meanings.”This is a wonderful book, both as aguide for new family wilderness adventuresand to an understanding <strong>of</strong> the “wildernessvalues” those experiences teach us.Bob and Dianne Madgic now live ina lovely home overlooking the LowerSacramento River near Redding, whereBob can grab his pole when he sees thetrout jump below and Dianne can gohiking. They were the gracious hosts <strong>of</strong>a welcoming party by the Shasta Group<strong>of</strong> the Mother Lode Chapter <strong>of</strong> the SierraClub at FWOC’s 2000 conventionin Redding.FWOC - <strong>Outdoor</strong>s West 9