Salton Sea: Past and Present

The Shrinking Sea

Salton Sea Overview

The Salton Sea, California’s largest inland lake, is undergoing a significant transformation. Once a thriving resort destination, it is now shrinking rapidly, leading to increased salinity and environmental challenges. This change is primarily due to reduced inflows from the Colorado River and decreased agricultural runoff.

Historical Background

Formed in 1905 when the Colorado River breached an irrigation canal, the Salton Sea became a popular spot for boating and fishing. However, over the decades, water inflows have diminished, causing the lake to recede and its salinity to rise. This has led to the loss of fish populations and has adversely affected bird species that rely on the lake during migration.

Current Challenges

As the lake shrinks, previously submerged lakebed, known as playa, becomes exposed. This exposed playa contributes to dust storms that carry toxic particles, posing health risks to nearby communities. Efforts to import water to replenish the lake have been deemed unfeasible due to high costs and environmental concerns. Consequently, the focus has shifted to managing the exposed lakebed to control dust emissions and mitigate health hazards.

Video on the Salton Sea

Restoration and Mitigation Efforts

The California Natural Resources Agency has initiated the Salton Sea Management Program (SSMP), aiming to restore habitats and suppress dust. The program’s 10-year plan includes projects like the Species Conservation Habitat Project, which seeks to create wetlands to support wildlife and reduce dust emissions. In 2024, an additional 750 acres were added to this project, bringing the total to nearly 5,000 acres. These efforts are supported by both state and federal investments, including $250 million from the Inflation Reduction Act.

Community Involvement

Engaging local communities is a vital component of the restoration strategy. Public workshops and meetings are held to update residents and gather feedback, ensuring that the concerns of those most affected are addressed. Despite these efforts, the reality remains that the Salton Sea will continue to shrink, and managing the environmental and health impacts of the exposed lakebed is the primary challenge moving forward.

In summary, while the complete restoration of the Salton Sea to its former state is not feasible due to water constraints, ongoing projects aim to mitigate the adverse effects of its decline. The focus is on habitat restoration, dust suppression, and community engagement to address the environmental and public health challenges posed by the shrinking lake.

North Shore Beach and Yacht Club

Some work is being done to improve the area. The North Shore Yacht Club, long abandoned, was refurbished in 2010 and reopened as a community center.

View from the North Shore Yacht Club

View from the North Shore Yacht Club - As of 4/19/24 the opening to the sea is gone.

Economic and Environmental Challenges of the Salton Sea

Lithium Extraction: A Double-Edged Sword

The Salton Sea region is at the center of a growing “white gold” rush, as companies race to extract lithium from geothermal brines beneath the lakebed. Lithium is a key component for batteries powering electric vehicles and renewable energy storage, making it a critical resource in the global green energy transition.

Major players like Berkshire Hathaway, EnergySource Minerals, and Controlled Thermal Resources are developing innovative methods to extract lithium in an environmentally responsible way. However, while this industry promises economic benefits and job creation, it also raises concerns about water use, environmental impact, and equitable distribution of profits.

The lithium rush is seen as a potential economic lifeline for Imperial County, one of California’s most economically disadvantaged areas. But critics warn that without strict regulations and community involvement, the region may see little benefit from this resource boom. Additionally, lithium extraction itself requires significant water resources, which are already in short supply.

The Future of the Salton Sea: An Unavoidable Shrinkage

Despite numerous restoration proposals over the years, the harsh reality is that the Salton Sea will continue to shrink. With no natural outflow and no new sources of water, its transformation into a smaller, hyper-saline lake is inevitable. Proposals to import ocean water have been ruled out due to extreme costs, environmental concerns, and logistical challenges. The current focus has shifted toward dust control, habitat preservation, and adapting to the changing landscape.

Key Challenges Facing the Salton Sea

1. Water Inflow Reduction

The primary cause of the Salton Sea’s decline is the drastic reduction in water inflows. Changes in Colorado River water allocations, urban water transfers, and decreased agricultural runoff have significantly cut the amount of water reaching the lake. This has led to a shrinking shoreline, increased salinity, and severe ecological disruptions.

2. Toxic Dust and Air Quality Crisis

As the lakebed dries up, vast areas of playa (exposed lakebed) turn into dust fields. The fine, toxin-laden dust is carried by winds into nearby communities, increasing rates of asthma, respiratory disease, and other serious health problems. Managing and suppressing dust emissions is a top priority, but it requires constant investment and large-scale mitigation projects.

3. Ecosystem Collapse

With salinity levels skyrocketing, the once-thriving ecosystem of the Salton Sea is collapsing. Most fish species have already died off, leaving behind a barren lake incapable of supporting significant wildlife. This, in turn, has devastated bird populations that relied on the lake as a critical stopover along the Pacific Flyway migration route.

Efforts to create smaller, managed wetlands are underway to preserve bird habitats, but these projects require extensive resources and long-term maintenance.

4. Funding and Resource Allocation

While the Salton Sea Management Program (SSMP) has received significant state and federal funding—including a $250 million boost from the Inflation Reduction Act—there are still major funding gaps. Many proposed projects have faced delays or reductions due to budget shortfalls and competing priorities.

Without a long-term, sustainable funding plan, dust mitigation, habitat restoration, and community protection efforts will struggle to keep pace with the worsening crisis.

5. Community and Stakeholder Engagement

The Salton Sea crisis disproportionately affects low-income, rural communities, including many Tribal groups and farmworkers in the Imperial and Coachella Valleys. Many residents feel left out of decision-making and are demanding more accountability in how funds are used.

Effective engagement with local communities, environmental advocates, and Tribal nations is crucial to ensuring that any restoration efforts truly benefit those most affected

6. Lack of Large-Scale Solutions

Proposals to import ocean water from the Pacific Ocean or the Sea of Cortez were once seen as a potential way to “save” the Salton Sea. However, these ideas have been firmly rejected due to astronomical costs, environmental concerns, and geopolitical challenges with Mexico.

Even if seawater were added, the lake would only become saltier over time since water evaporates but salt remains. Instead of reviving the lake, this would turn it into an even more toxic, hypersaline wasteland.

With no new water available, the only realistic solutions involve reducing the lake’s surface area and managing the environmental consequences.

7. Environmental Regulations and Compliance

Navigating complex environmental regulations adds another hurdle to Salton Sea projects. Strict California environmental laws require extensive impact assessments, permits, and compliance with federal wildlife protections before large-scale projects can proceed.

While these regulations are necessary to protect the environment, they often slow down urgent mitigation efforts, frustrating local communities who feel they are left to suffer while bureaucratic processes drag on.

The Path Forward: Managing the Unavoidable

At this point, saving the Salton Sea as it once was is no longer an option. The future will see it continue to shrink and become a much smaller, highly saline lake. Instead of chasing unrealistic restoration projects, the priority must now be:

✅ Dust Mitigation – Covering dry lakebed with gravel, vegetation, and engineered dust barriers to reduce airborne pollutants.

✅ Habitat Protection – Creating targeted wetland zones to support migratory birds and prevent total ecosystem collapse.

✅ Smart Land Use – Expanding solar farms, lithium mining, and other sustainable industries in exposed areas to create economic value.

✅ Community Health Protections – Investing in air quality monitoring, healthcare access, and public awareness campaigns to reduce health risks.

Conclusion: A Warning for the Future

The Salton Sea is a cautionary tale—a man-made accident that became an ecological treasure, only to be neglected into an environmental disaster. There is no “saving” this lake, only adapting to its inevitable decline.

Moving forward, the focus must shift from restoration to mitigation—managing dust, preserving what little wildlife remains, and making sure nearby communities aren’t abandoned as the Sea disappears.

The Salton Basin will never return to its mid-century glory, but if action is taken now, we can prevent the worst consequences of its decline. The time for wishful thinking is over—the time for real solutions is now.

Additional Updates (2024-2025):

🔹 750 acres of new wetlands added to habitat restoration projects

🔹 State investing in solar and wind farms in exposed lakebed areas

🔹 New dust control projects underway near populated areas

🔹 Lithium extraction moving forward, but with water-use concerns

Varner Harbor

The Varner Harbor is now closed due to low water levels

The Sea and Desert Visitor Center

Visitor Information

The Sea and Desert Visitor Center Located at the park headquarters, the visitor center offers:

Exhibits on local wildlife
Interpretive presentations by State Park Rangers
Information on bird and animal species

Note: As of April 2024, Varner Harbor is closed to vessel access due to low water levels. Visitors can still access the Sea by carrying vessels across the beach. Driving on the beach is prohibited.

Activities

Bird Watching: The Salton Sea remains a critical stopover on the Pacific Flyway, hosting millions of birds during migration seasons (October to May). However, declining water levels have affected bird populations.
Camping: Over 1,400 campsites across multiple campgrounds, ranging from primitive to fully developed. Best camping season: October through May.

Bird flying

Available campgrounds:

New Camp: Developed sites with amenities
Hook-up Section: Full hookups available
Mecca Beach (lower loop): Developed sites
Salt Creek and Corvina Beach: Primitive camping

Note: Bombay Beach and the upper loop of Mecca Beach are currently closed due to budget constraints.

Other activities: Boating (where accessible), fishing, hiking, and birdwatching.

Neighboring attractions include the Palm Springs Resort area, 30 miles north, the General Patton Museum, 40 miles northeast and the Dos Palmas Preserve and historical area just to the east of the park. Stores and gas stations area available in North Shore.

Bombay Beach is located at the extreme southern end of the recreation area, next to the small town of Bombay Beach. It's now closed. It had offered beach camping with chemical toilets and water and used to be a popular campground for fishermen. Some services are available in the adjacent town. Bombay Beach, CA is a point of interest for photographers and visitors who want to view and shoot the many art installations.

The Salton Sea State Recreation Area and the Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge are located on its shores.

For additional information, call the recreation area at (760) 393-3059, or write: Salton Sea State Recreation Area, 100-225 State Park Road, North Shore, CA 92254. Visitor Center (760) 393-3852. PDF on Area

Off Season Jun.- Sept. 70-115 degrees - Very hot, water, hat, sunscreen, best fishing season On Season Oct.-May 50-70 degrees- Best time to visit the park for any activity

Contact Information Salton Sea State Recreation Area 100-225 State Park Road North Shore, CA 92254 Phone: (760) 393-3059 Visitor Center: (760) 393-3852