An accidental birth in the desert
The glamorous desert playground
The unfolding ecological crisis
The toxic dust and public health
The rise of Lithium Valley and clean energy
Approximately how many different bird species have been recorded using the Salton Sea habitat?
What substance in agricultural runoff causes massive algae blooms by acting as a fertilizer in the water?
marcus Balance water and salt levels to discover why California's accidental sea is vanishing.
marcus Farm runoff sustained the sea for decades but also carried fertilizers that triggered massive toxic algae blooms.
What major migratory route for birds relies heavily on the Salton Sea as a critical stopover?
How does the current salinity of the Salton Sea compare to that of the Pacific Ocean?
marcus Salton Sea Ecological Crisis
Salton Sea, shores exposed, Toxic dust now blows. Breathing gets harder, everyone knows.
marcus As ocean fish died off, only the highly resilient African tilapia survived the extreme salinity and low oxygen.
What happens to the oxygen levels in the Salton Sea when massive algae blooms die and decompose?
Why did the amount of agricultural runoff entering the Salton Sea drastically decrease after 2003?
Salty waters: The Salton Sea is currently about twice as salty as the Pacific Ocean, and its salinity increases by about 3% every year.
Which highly resilient fish species became dominant in the Salton Sea after marine species died out?
What ecological phenomenon causes millions of fish to die simultaneously in the Salton Sea during hot summer months?
A nearly level area at the bottom of an undrained desert basin that temporarily fills with water. Since 2003, the shrinking California lake has exposed toxic playa, triggering severe respiratory illnesses in local communities.