- hot-spots
- intensive farming
- USA
- The critical state of Salton Sea
Problems
The Solton Sea Ecological Hotspot
The Salton Sea is the largest inland saltwater lake in the world and one of the most endangered ecosystems. The sea has faced several environmental problems in recent years. One of the main problems is the lake's declining water level caused by climate change and human activities. This leads to the deterioration of water quality and reduction of the lake area, which threatens the local flora and fauna.
The impact of agriculture
As a result of increased industrial and agricultural activities in the Salton Sea Basin, the water is being polluted with toxic substances, including chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and other industrial wastes. This threatens the health of residents and the lake ecosystem. In the 1970s, scientists issued warnings of changes looming over the Salton Sea. Studies begun in the 1960s revealed a complex problem for which any restoration would be costly. There are about five hundred thousand acres (200,000 ha) of farmland in the Imperial Valley that are typically flood irrigated. Water from the Colorado River is diverted near Yuma, Arizona, into the 82-mile (132 km) All-American Canal. The canal runs west along the Mexican border and then northward into 1,700 miles (2,700 km) of irrigation canals that cross farms. Gravity carries agricultural runoff downhill through the New and Alamo rivers to Salton. The water is high in salts, selenium, and fertilizers (mostly nitrates). Seeping through the soil, the water leaches out ancient salt deposits, increasing salinity. Evaporation in the heat of the desert further concentrates the salt. As a result of the lake's transformation, it becomes increasingly inhospitable to wildlife. Fertilizers from agricultural runoff have caused massive algae blooms. Botulism has spread among the dying tilapia, and in four months in 1996, an estimated 14,000 birds died from eating this poisoned fish (including 10,000 pelicans).
The impact of tropical storms and hurricane
One of the main adverse effects of tropical storms and hurricanes is shoreline erosion. High waves and strong winds cause the destruction of beaches, the deepening of coastal slopes, and changes in shoreline shape. This can lead to the loss of beaches and reduced coastal quality. Tropical storms and hurricanes also contaminate seawater and coastal bodies of water. Heavy rains and destruction of coastal areas can cause contaminated runoff and waste to flow into the sea and coastal bodies of water, negatively affecting the ecology and health of local communities. In addition, tropical storms and hurricanes cause changes in Solton's water temperature and salinity, which in turn can affect local marine ecosystems and sea life. High waves can also destroy coral reefs, reducing marine life's biodiversity.
Solton Sea water pollution by industrial waste
Industrial plants located near the sea release various toxic substances into the water, such as oil, chemical compounds, metals, and other harmful substances. These wastes can negatively affect water quality and the ecosystem of the Salton Sea, destroying marine life and changing the ecological balance in the region. In addition, contaminated water can become hazardous to the health of people who use it as a source of drinking water or for other purposes.
Gallery
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Timelines
2021
January 01
After a slow start and several small projects, construction began in early 2021 on a $206.5 million project in the New River Delta that will create ponds and wetlands on the south shore of the Salton Sea.
2020
January 01
In 2020, Palm Springs Life magazine summarized the ecological situation as "The Salton Sea derives its fame as the biggest environmental disaster in California history".
2018
January 01
In early 2018, local agencies declared an emergency and worked with the state to fund and develop the Salton Sea Management Program. The Salton Sea Management Program is a comprehensive plan to address environmental and public health issues related to the Salton Sea. The program, which was launched in January 2018, is a collaborative effort between local, state, and federal governments and various stakeholder groups to manage and mitigate the impacts of the Salton Sea. Program goals include reducing dust emissions, restoring habitat, improving water quality, and protecting public health. To achieve these goals, the Salton Sea Management Program has developed a multi-pronged approach that includes various projects such as habitat restoration, dust suppression, and water quality improvements. The program also includes public involvement and educational activities to inform and engage the public.
2003
September 29
Gov. Gray Davis signs the Salton Sea Restoration Act, which says it is the "intent of the Legislature that the State of California undertakes the restoration of the Salton Sea ecosystem and the permanent protection of the wildlife dependent on that ecosystem." The bill also establishes the Salton Sea Restoration Fund, although it doesn't put any money into it. Local, state and federal bodies all had found minimal success dealing with the dust, dying wildlife, and other problems for which warnings had been issued decades before.
2000
January 01
After 1999, the lake began to shrink as local agriculture used the water more efficiently so less runoff flowed into the lake. As the lake bed became exposed, the winds sent clouds of toxic dust into nearby communities. Smaller amounts of dust reached into the Los Angeles area and people there could sometimes smell an odor coming from the lake.
1980
January 01
In the 1980s, contamination from farm runoff promoted the outbreak and spread of diseases. Massive die-offs of the avian populations have occurred, especially after the loss of several species of fish on which they depend. Salinity rose so high that large fish kills occurred, often blighting the beaches of the sea with their carcasses. Tourism was drastically reduced.
1970
January 01
In the 1970s, scientists warned that Lake Solton was tending to have declining water levels and was becoming increasingly inhospitable to wildlife.