Salton Sea

The Salton Sea is located in a sink 60 miles south of Palm Springs CA. It was once part of the the Sea of Cortez but the north end silted in by the the Colorado River. it was reflooded during a flood of the Colorado River in 1905. In the ensuing years it became an important wintering area for migrating waterfowl. With increasing demands on the Colorado river water the inflow of fresh water was cut off and the sea changed to a brackish salt pan that can no longer support fish or recreation. The shoreline of the sea was developed during the 50-60s only to see the dreams of many sink into the desert dust as the sea became saltier and more polluted. Numerous court cases have tried to settle the priorities for the water but remain in court to this day. It is vital to 80 % of the endangered birds in North America. The sea is 225 ft below sea level.