As Salton Sea faces ecological collapse, a plan to save it with ocean water is rejected
In the face of climate change and rising sea levels, the waters around the Salton Sea are vanishing.
But a plan to use ocean water to bring the sea back to its natural size isn’t dead yet.
Salton Sea is one of the most fragile environments on the planet. It is home to endangered species like the Florida manatee and the federally-protected sea otter, and it holds the water to 80% of the world’s population.
But the Salton Sea is at the center of a debate on whether it should be preserved or protected.
In 2015, the Trump administration announced a plan to restore Salton Sea’s water with ocean water.
In a statement, Salton Sea officials said the plan would restore the sea by capturing its natural water and putting it back into the river.
But opponents were quick to speak out, and the plan has recently been put on hold.
“Now we’re just going to have to do the best we can as an agency with limited resources,” said Salton Sea’s state of the environment coordinator, Rebecca Miller. “There is no question that ocean water is a solution and we are willing to look at all options.”
The Salton Sea, located in northwest Santa Barbara County, has been changing with climate change. It is a unique ecosystem that supports fish species and is home to an endangered population of sea otters.
The Salton Sea is at the center of a debate on whether it should be preserved or protected.
In 2015, the Trump administration announced a plan to restore Salton Sea’s water with ocean water. In a statement, Salton Sea officials said the plan would restore the sea by capturing its natural water and putting it back into the river. But opponents quickly spoke out against the plan, and it has recently been put on hold.
A proposed plan to restore a small portion of the Salton Sea with ocean water is once again being reviewed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The agency is now reviewing the
