
The Future of The Salton Sea by Sheryl Hamlin Great News Today ... Salton Sea News 2025 History From an irrigation canal sourced by the Colorado River built to supply Imperial Valley farmers with water in the early 20th century to the collapsed canal headgates, the landlocked Salton Sea was filled and became home to migratory birds, boating enthusiasts, tourists, developers, and engineers wanting to capitalize on rich resources buried beneath the water. The “sea” was also the destination for farm runoff water containing contaminants causing diseases affecting local habitat. As farm water usage decreased and draws from the Colorado River leveled off, the Salton Sea water level continued to decrease. Evaporation losses from rising heat took a measure of water from the sea. Blowing dust from drying sections of the sea where dead fish rot cause health hazards as far west as Palm Springs. Solutions Sonny Bono as Mayor of Palm Springs pushed for solutions in the late 1990’s...