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The Salton Sea
Discover the wild history, glamorous peak, and ecological crisis of California's largest lake, and how its future is tied to clean energy.
5 chapters95 assets
by marcus · Jul 16, 2026
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Chapter 1
An accidental birth in the desert
1The dry basin of the ancient Lake Cahuilla
2The engineering mistake of 1905
3Stopping the runaway Colorado River
4A sea with no natural exit
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Chapter 2
The glamorous desert playground
1Palm Springs of the sea
2Hollywood stars in the desert
3Stocking the sea with ocean fish
4The boomtowns that faded away
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Chapter 3
The unfolding ecological crisis
1The salt concentration climbs
2Agricultural runoff as a double-edged sword
3The rise of tilapia dominance
4A vital stopover on the Pacific Flyway
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Chapter 4
The toxic dust and public health
1The shrinking shoreline exposes the playa
2A cocktail of toxic agricultural chemicals
3The asthma epidemic in Imperial Valley
4Air quality impacts beyond the basin
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Chapter 5
The rise of Lithium Valley and clean energy
1The geothermal treasure beneath the mud
2The global race for green gold
3Funding restoration through green energy
4Building a network of species conservation habitats
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