salton sea - California

[CaliRockJumper]

Does anyone here have any info on the current conditions in the Salton sea? Located in southern California, its California's largest "accidental" lake. I know that a few years ago, the salinity levels in the massive lake reached dangerous levels. The lake has a higher salt level than the ocean, but less than the great salt lake. It killed most of the fish, and most of the birds that ate the fish.

That was several years ago, I am not finding solid information that is dated after 2005-2007, This is when they say the government was going to start an effort to make conditions improve. Although I am seeing pictures dated 2010 that show people holding up some large orangemouth covina, any reports that I look at say that talapia and tiny desert pupfish are the only fish that adapted to the rapid salinity change, most other fish in the lake died.

i am taking a trip down there in February, the Salton sea is the closest place to fish from where i am staying. i was wondering if anyone knows how much the conditions have improved out there since 2007, i know it takes alot of years to restore a natural environment from a toxic episode such as this, but i would just like to know what to expect.

thanks!
all the best.

[ppine]

The Salton Sea was formed by a happy accident when the Colorado River flooded sometime around 1920? I forget the date. Now that all of the water in the Colorado River System is completely allocated since the Central Arizona Project has come on line, it is very unlikely that any water will be allocated for the Salton Sea ever again. Cities like Las Vegas face some serious water shortage problems in the future.

The Salton Sea will contine to shrink in size, become more saline, and have problems with things like avian botulism which kills thousands fo birds each year. The people that live there have often been described as "unusual". They refuse to believe that the Government won't allocate any new water.

[CaliRockJumper]

good info.

i saw that the government was trying to fix the problem by diverting water out to the ocean. but like i said, i have seen no evidence of them even beginning to start such a task.

i did see alot about the salton sea shrinking in width, but gaining depth. i would think if the channel that diverts water to the ocean is not complete, or not started yet, the fishing would probably still remain the same. talapia only?? but millions of them as i am reading.

i found a few other lakes nearby, but i am very curious still about this one

thanks for the info!!