1: Describe the location of the Salton Sea. What is the climate and geography of the area?
The Salton sea is located directly on the San Andreas fault. The climate is usually warm in this area and rain only reaches to about 3 inches. It occupies a structural basin called the Salton Trough. There are mountains everywhere besides the South.
2. How did the Salton Sea form? Explain what role humans played.
A California Development Company dug canals from the Colorado River. Heavy flood water broke through the canal and all the river's flow rushed to the valley, creating the Salton Sea. Humans played a role by creating a canal that would eventually flood the Colorado River and cause water to rush into a valley.
3. What is the present condition of this body of water? How has it changed over the last 25 years? Why?
Salton Sea is maintained, in large part, by agricultural runoff from irrigation in the Imperial and Coachella valleys. Salinity has been going up in the sea. Water is lost to evaporation, leaving salt behind and raising salinity.
4. Describe several ways the Salton Sea has altered the ecosystem of the region. Explain the stability of that ecosystem. How is it changing over time?
The ecosystem was once full of biodiversity. It has increased salinity and now looks like a deserted wasteland. There is no stability of that ecosystem. Fish species and bird species are dying off quickly. There is a 1% raise in salinity annually.
5. Outline 3 environmental and 3 economic reasons the Salton Sea is important.
Environmental- Was home to 400 species of birds, home to many species of fish and plants
Economic- Recreational activities (once was a resort), bird watching and fishing.
6. What steps are being taken to remediate the Salton Sea? What are the chances of success? Explain.
Construction of pipelines to bring in ocean water to the Sea to decrease salinity. There are slight chances of success, because the sea is too polluted and it would take a long time to remediate the whole sea.
The Salton sea is located directly on the San Andreas fault. The climate is usually warm in this area and rain only reaches to about 3 inches. It occupies a structural basin called the Salton Trough. There are mountains everywhere besides the South.
2. How did the Salton Sea form? Explain what role humans played.
A California Development Company dug canals from the Colorado River. Heavy flood water broke through the canal and all the river's flow rushed to the valley, creating the Salton Sea. Humans played a role by creating a canal that would eventually flood the Colorado River and cause water to rush into a valley.
3. What is the present condition of this body of water? How has it changed over the last 25 years? Why?
Salton Sea is maintained, in large part, by agricultural runoff from irrigation in the Imperial and Coachella valleys. Salinity has been going up in the sea. Water is lost to evaporation, leaving salt behind and raising salinity.
4. Describe several ways the Salton Sea has altered the ecosystem of the region. Explain the stability of that ecosystem. How is it changing over time?
The ecosystem was once full of biodiversity. It has increased salinity and now looks like a deserted wasteland. There is no stability of that ecosystem. Fish species and bird species are dying off quickly. There is a 1% raise in salinity annually.
5. Outline 3 environmental and 3 economic reasons the Salton Sea is important.
Environmental- Was home to 400 species of birds, home to many species of fish and plants
Economic- Recreational activities (once was a resort), bird watching and fishing.
6. What steps are being taken to remediate the Salton Sea? What are the chances of success? Explain.
Construction of pipelines to bring in ocean water to the Sea to decrease salinity. There are slight chances of success, because the sea is too polluted and it would take a long time to remediate the whole sea.