Salton Sea's Eco-Evolution (Evolve or Devolve or ...

by SwittersB

“The Salton Sea is the largest inland body of water in California, and easily its most toxic. Once a haven for tourists, fishermen and boaters — in the 1950s it was touted as “the American Riviera” — years of polluted runoff from agricultural and industrial sites, not to mention untold amounts of untreated sewage from Mexico, pumped into the sea via one of America’s dirtiest waterways, the Northward-flowing New River, have turned the Salton into a truly foul place.”

“At one time the Salton Sea was among the state’s most productive fisheries. (During WWII, when German submarines made ocean fishing dangerous, most of Southern California’s fish were harvested in the Salton.) But steadily increasing levels of toxins, algae, salt and bacteria led to a number of massive die-offs — the largest, in 1999, killed 7.6 million fish — and its once-thriving population of migratory birds are sickened each year with selenium and botulism poisoning. The Sea is 25% saltier than the ocean and getting saltier every year…”  ( more to read )

I wish your research ability was as “amazingly gifted” as your photography. The Salton Sea is not polluted or toxic. It is increasingly saline which accounts for the reduced ability of sport fish to spawn. Agricultural runoff results in an increased NUTRIENT load to the lake. Nutrients are the excess fertilizers used in agriculture. Agriculture produces the foods you eat. Just as fruits and vegetables thrive on nutrients, so too do the occasional algae blooms when conditions are right. When the algae dies, the water is depleted of oxygen. Hence the occasional die-off of fish in localized areas. All are natural processes.

There is an amazingly large amount of accurate, scientific facts about the Salton Sea out there. You will find many links on http://saltonseachronicles.blogspot.com / that you can follow to research the facts. The LEAST reliable source for information is the “I heard” source. Please, do your homework before spreading misinformation.

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