Posted on 08/06/2007 6:42:30 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
Nearly 50 years ago, a young Greg Smith celebrated July Fourth fishing, learning to water-ski and getting sunburned on a favorite beach at the Salton Sea.
Today, Smith is an Imperial County businessman working to help resuscitate the dying desert sea that few dare to enter and on bad days can drive visitors far from shore with its smell.
“We've gone through the hand-wringing,” Smith said. “Now is the time to do something.”
That something could cost $8.9 billion over the next 75 years.
Legislation to launch a comprehensive revitalization plan – one of the most ambitious in the nation's history – is pending in the Legislature and could reach Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's desk this summer.
The measure's immediate goals are modest. Just $47 million would be infused to continue piecemeal restoration efforts. The structure of an oversight agency that would steer the sea back to life remains unsettled.
The sea is California's largest lake and a vital resting stop for migratory waterfowl.
More difficult choices lie ahead. Within a few years, funding agreements need to be struck, the federal government has to be satisfied and a $1.5 billion dike designed to provide recreational waterways must overcome doubts. Also, business interests will need to agree to a taxing scheme, and residents require protection from dust storms that blow salty crust from the sea's shrinking shore.
Nevertheless, momentum is building for a limited, five-year undertaking focused on restoring 2,000 acres of wildlife habitat along the sea. Then, after environmental and financial studies provide a compass, the more difficult steps can be mapped.
“My big concern is the sea will die before we can save it,” said Rick Daniels, executive director of the Salton Sea Authority, a public agency involved in preservation.
The Schwarzenegger administration in the spring released its strategy to save the polluted, salt-choked sea that straddles Imperial and Riverside counties.
“It's a 75-year vision,” said Mike Chrisman, California's resources chief, who helped prepare the plan with the governor's approval.
And what does Chrisman see?
A dike to create a recreational lake, wetland havens for birds, cleaner water and flourishing seaside businesses.
Others, though, still see a lake filled with belly-up fish, casting a stink for miles and not worth anything close to $9 billion.
“What are the redwoods worth? What is Lake Tahoe worth?” said Sen. Denise Ducheny, D-San Diego, who is carrying the restoration funding measure, SB 187.
The current sea was created in 1905 when a breach in a levee along the Colorado River released a torrent of water that filled the Salton basin. Going back more than 10,000 years, Colorado River floods historically filled the Salton sink, creating the temporary, ancient Lake Cahuilla.
Runoff from modern-day farms not only sustains the sea, but adds to the salinity and pollution. Already saltier than the Pacific Ocean, the sea is slowly evaporating and turning hypersaline.
Adding to the pressure: Ten years from now, Imperial Valley farmers no longer will be obligated to replenish the lake with a fixed amount of fresh water. That threatens to speed its demise and expose even more of its shore as the lake becomes smaller. Even under the rehabilitation plan, the sea still will greatly shrink.
Once flush with fish – trophy-size bass and croaker have disappeared – only the more resilient tilapia survive. Even those die by the hundreds, probably from algae blooms that choke off oxygen.
If the sea is lost, the state would lose a significant bird sanctuary, making it even more difficult to sustain 400 species, such as the brown Pelican, eared grebe, Yuma clapper rail, white-faced ibis, mountain plover and black tern.
“The Salton Sea may not be paradise, but it has become a critical stopover for hundreds of birds,” said Kim Delfino of Defenders of Wildlife. “If we lose the Salton Sea, it will be an environmental catastrophe.”
Economics also drive the campaign to save the sea. Growth could accelerate between Palm Springs and the struggling towns of Imperial Valley. Chamber of Commerce boosters envision more tourism, housing and jobs in the 375-square mile sea – if the lake is reborn as a recreational destination.
That's a pretty big if.
“This is not going to be a Garden of Eden,” said Smith, who is part of a team of community leaders advising officials on the next course.
But, he said, “when the water's gone, what are we going to be left with?”
Smith and others don't want to find out. They remember when the sea was a playground for families and celebrities alike – not an evaporating sink shunned by many.
Tim Kelley, executive director of the Imperial County Economic Development Corp., said the region already has attracted new development. Ethanol and geothermal plants for renewable energy are in the works.
“Once you start, people will believe it's real and we'll see increased investment around the sea,” Kelley said.
The community is growing impatient after repeated false starts, Kelley said.
“It's time to quit doing studies,” he said. “It's time to start building.”
Perhaps they will.
The Schwarzenegger administration's plan, to be carried out in phases over the next 75 years, would create 62,000 acres of marshland for aquatic life, a separate 45,000-acre body of water for fish and recreation, two brine sinks to isolate salt, a 52-mile barrier to divide the sea and 158 miles of berms.
The nearly $9 billion price tag may be spread out over a lifetime, but those making the decisions today must weigh existing competition for funding, from schools to roads.
“The question is where do we get the money? The answer is, 'I don't know,' ” said Delfino, the environmentalist.
Ducheny acknowledged that $8.9 billion sounds scary.
“The cost is what's making people nervous,” she said.
Those involved note that taxpayers will not be the sole source. Local business taxes and user fees could be earmarked for restoration.
The sea's second-tier status is evident at the top. Schwarzenegger is pitching a $6 billion bond to restore the Sacramento Delta and build new reservoirs. The Salton Sea apparently is not a high priority; it does not appear in the governor's stump speeches, nor has he toured the sea.
But by authorizing Chrisman's efforts, Schwarzenegger is demonstrating a commitment to move ahead, aides say.
Generally, the strategy is to use already-approved funds for some immediate habitat improvements that have stirred little opposition.
Then, the more complex, controversial and costly projects – such as the huge sea-dividing dike – can be tackled after the environmental reviews and economic analyses come in. Taxpayers eventually could be asked to approve billions of dollars in bond proceeds, squirreled away in measures put on the ballot over time.
The health effects of more playa dust have raised alarms. The plan could shrink the sea, exposing an additional 106,000 acres of shore and putting thousands at risk if dust is not controlled.
“Imperial County has high asthma rates. There is a direct correlation between that and the air quality,” said Monique Lopez, who represents the local American Lung Association. “We cannot take any more in this air basin.”
Other major players have not fully blessed the plan, either.
The federal government, which has vast holdings along the shores and must sign off on many of the ideas, has urged restraint.
“We would rather go slow with a 'what you know' approach,” said Mike Walker, the federal Bureau of Reclamation's point person on sea issues.
Walker supports getting an early start on habitat improvements, but wants much of the later work done in stages so it can be evaluated along the way before anyone commits to the entire plan.
“It's a huge amount of money and it doesn't come with a guarantee,” he said.
Federal holdings include nearly 50,000 acres of a wildlife refuge. The Navy, which once used the sea for test bomb drops, has 36,600 acres, some of which is underwater.
Tribal interests also must be satisfied. The Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indian Tribe holds 24,000 acres, of which 11,000 acres are inundated, along the north side of the lake.
The tribe is concerned that shrinking the sea could expose cultural sites, leaving them vulnerable to theft and vandalism. It has a financial interest as well: the tribe operates a small casino near the sea and may pursue a second gaming facility. Tribal representatives did not return a call requesting comment.
Despite the hard decisions ahead, most of those involved believe a deal can and must be struck.
“We have to do something or the whole sea will die,” said Gary Wyatt, an Imperial County supervisor. “We'll end up with a disaster – not an opportunity.”
How did you get a photo of my home?
Easy come, easy go.
According to Algore, global warming will raise sea levels enough that the old connection between the ocean and the original salt flats will again be reestablished. So why don’t we just all wait!
(BTW, that’s one theory about establishment of the current Black Sea — sea level rise 7-8000 years ago breached the connection between the Aegean and Black Seas causing a horrific flood and drowning settlements around the fresh water sea.)
Does that make the Salton Sea “a son of a breach”?
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
No problem. Just steal more water from your neighboring states.
Actually, the Colorado River does not feed the Salton Sea. It is fed by agricultural drainage, which contains salts leached from the soil, fertilizers and pesticides. This brings salts (& other stuff) in, and evaporation takes water out. This is what is increasing the salinity.
Bringing in seawater from the Pacific - will never happen. Costs considerations aside, the pipeline would either have to cross Mexico to the Gulf - an area protected by international treaty, not to mention Mexico is not too happy because we have diverted nearly the entire Colorado River such that it does not reach the gulf anymore, plus we’re lining the canal and taking away the seepage which feeds the aquifer that sustains an ag region on the other side -— or we would have to route it to the California coast - do you think LA or San Diegans who live on the coast will really go for that?
If only it were that easy ....
We have diverted nearly the entire Colorado River and dried up the Delta. Migratory birds now use the Salton Sea because there isn’t any Colorado Delta left these days. Dry up the sea and where will the birds go?
But what the heck, who cares about some birds, anyway. Let it dry up and all those pesticides & salt & stuff that’s been floating around will cause some pretty bad dust storms.
I am not sure what should be done, but I am not convinced it should take 9 billion to do it.
Maybe to some of the shallow bays in the Sea of Cortez. Birds use a free market model when choosing breeding/feeding sites, and the Salton has not been there that long. It has always been a salt flat or transient lake.
I don’t know what to do either, and I agree that 9 billion is a bit too much.
The shallows of the Colorado Delta are about to dry up, as the lining of the All-American canal will eliminate the seepage that has been replenishing the aquifer, and the Drop 2 reservoir project will now capture all of those ‘non-storable’ flows that end up going to Mexico in excess of treaty obligations. There is no dedicated water supply for the Colorado Delta, and as the drought deepens, everyone will be squeezing every drop they can from that river. The truth is, there is just no easy answer. One of the hitches that I see that isn’t getting discussed much is that the officials down in Imperial County want a recreational lake out of the deal; and that, I think, is maybe pushing it a bit too far. That is likely why the price tag is so high. The previous $6 billion plan did not include a recreational lake ‘big’ enough for them. They think that the recreational aspect will bring tourism dollars that will help pay for the restoration as well as generate more money for the local economy. I think in this day of tight budgets, that they are asking too much, but even $6 billion was a bunch of money.
To narrow it down to one point, it would be that there just are no easy answers to this.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.