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WHAT IS IT?
The Salton Basin is an 8,360 square mile, closed, sub-sea level basin in southern California and northern Mexico; it is part of the Colorado River delta. It was formed in 1905 when massive flooding caused the Colorado River to break through an irrigation canal headwork and flow into the Salton Basin for 18 months. Since then, the Sea's existence has been maintained primarily by agricultural return flows from the Imperial, Coachella, and Mexicali Valleys. -
SALTON SEA MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
The 2014 California Water Action Plan's goal was to balance statewide water supply while protecting public, economic, and ecological growth. The Salton Sea is a unique opportunity to preserve these values by leveraging cooperation from support of all three levels of government stakeholders. Phase I of the 10-Year Plan was set into action in August of 2016. Which involves bringing vegetation and water flow back into the sea by creating water management ponds at higher elevations. -
ECOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACTS
Cons: Environmental deterioration, increasing salinity and a decline of sports fishing.
Concern about human pathogens in fish.
offensive odors, fluctuating water levels, health advisories, and increasing salinity have slowed economic development.
Pros: The Salton Sea is a protected area with endangered species living here such as: Yuma clapper rail , southern bald eagle , California brown pelican, peregrine falcon , and desert pup-fish . Each depends upon specific aspects of Salton Sea habitat. -
EFFORT OBJECTIVES
To continue bird carcass surveillance
To pick-up indefinitely to prevent spread of botulism from carcasses.
To explore and evaluate options and effects of reducing tilapia populations in the Salton Sea.
To continue to collect data and observations related to ongoing epizootic fish and wildlife mortality. -
ORGANIZATIONS HELPING THE EFFORT
The following organizations have created solutions to solve the critical problem faced by the Salton Sea ecosystem:
-U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
-Coachella Valley Water District
-U.S. Geological Survey
-Water Resources Division
-Biological Resources Division
-California Department of Fish and Game
-Imperial Irrigation District
-U.S. Bureau of Reclamation -
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
To initiate field studies to further elaborate the cause(s) of the current fish mortality, how fish are acquiring botulism toxin, and the conditions that result in the botulism toxin being transferred to birds.
Develop a strategy for data collection and observations to rigorously chronicle the current event. -
