Before coming to LAist in late 2021, I covered topics such as mental health, domestic violence and environmental issues for newspapers in Texas, Arizona and northern California. I turned my focus to climate coverage after reporting on the devastating impacts of rising sea levels on communities in the remote Sundarbans islands in India.
If you're enjoying this article, you'll love our daily newsletter, The LA Report. Each weekday, catch up on the 5 most pressing stories to start your morning in 3 minutes or less. Southern California farmers are conserving a lot more Colorado River water, but that’s also causing the Salton Sea to dry up faster.
Lake Cahuilla is some of the last evidence of that era of flooding before the river was controlled and diverted via dams and canals. Today, the river no longer meets the sea. Still, though it’s saltier than the ocean, the Salton Sea remains a biodiversity hotspot for fish and migratory birds. Imperial Valley farmers in Southern California use more Colorado River water than anyone. They grow primarily hay as well as leafy greens and other produceto cut its water use by an amount that’s more than double the amount the entire state of Nevada uses in a year. The cuts will happen through 2026.
The program was a success, said Tina Shields, the Imperial Irrigation District’s water manager. She said the district cut water use by about 155,000 acre-feet this summer. For comparison, the entire city of L.A. uses about 500,000 acre-feet of water every year. A study by UC Riverside found that the Salton Sea’s rotting odors have become a yearlong nuisance for people living near the lake due to shrinking levels.In its review, the federal government found the new agreement with the Imperial Irrigation District, or IID, would have no significant new environmental impacts to the Salton Sea and surrounding communities. But many people in the area disagree.
But it’s the state that is primarily responsible for addressing the pollution impacts of a shrinking Salton Sea. They are behind on theirIn recent years, restoration efforts have accelerated, in large part thanks to that $250 million in funding from the Biden-Harris Administration, said Miguel Hernandez, a spokesperson for the state’s Salton Sea Management project, in a statement to LAist.
“It’s the rock and a hard place,” said Shields. “As we get more efficient, the downside is the Salton Sea has less water. It's a tough thing with an inland body of water that has no outlet and the only inlet is receiving drainage water from the adjacent areas. So it's a balancing act to keep everybody happy.
Imperial Valley Salton Sea Southern California Water
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
As California farms use less Colorado River water, worries grow over shrinking Salton SeaImperial Valley farmers left fields dry temporarily to help ease the Colorado River's shortage. The program has led to concerns about the shrinking Salton Sea.
Read more »
Colorado vs Colorado State NCAAF Picks & Predictions: Revenge Spot for RamsWith the Rams nearly pulling off the upset in Boulder last year, Douglas Farmer is taking the points with a highly motivated Colorado State program eyeing vengeance at home.
Read more »
Colorado will feature 'Stormtrooper' uniforms vs. Colorado StateBuffs bringing back a classic against the Rams in Fort Collins
Read more »
Colorado Buffs Dominate Colorado State Rams in Rocky Mountain ShowdownThe Colorado Buffaloes defeated the Colorado State Rams 28-9 in the Rocky Mountain Showdown. Poor offensive execution, key penalties and turnovers doomed CSU to its seventh straight loss in the rivalry series.
Read more »
QB Shedeur Sanders leads Colorado past Colorado StateA week after losing to Nebraska, Colorado played its best game of the season on Saturday night, as Shedeur Sanders threw for 310 yards and four touchdowns in the Buffaloes' 28-6 victory over the rival Colorado State Rams in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Read more »
Shedeur Sanders refuses to shake rival QB's hand after Colorado's win over Colorado StateThe Colorado-Colorado State college football rivalry is alive and well.
Read more »