The Salton Sea: An The Salton Sea: An Adventure To RememberAdventure To Remember

Michael KrzyzakMichael Krzyzak

And And

Roy NissimRoy Nissim

Road TripRoad Trip

San Diego…San Diego…

Road Trip Cont….Road Trip Cont….

……The Notorious The Notorious Salton Sea!!!Salton Sea!!!

The Story BeginsThe Story Begins

After a long night in After a long night in San Diego…San Diego…

3 ½ Hours Later3 ½ Hours Later

Driving Continues…Driving Continues…

Off to the Southern Off to the Southern end we go!!!end we go!!!

And Continues…And Continues…

Still Continues…Still Continues…

AHHHHH!!!!!!!!! We’re Still Driving…AHHHHH!!!!!!!!! We’re Still Driving…

And 50 minutes Later…And 50 minutes Later…

We arrive at the Sonny We arrive at the Sonny Bono Salton Sea Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife National Wildlife Refuge which was at Refuge which was at the the SOUTHERN ENDSOUTHERN END of the Sea.of the Sea.

Sonny Bono Wildlife RefugeSonny Bono Wildlife Refuge

Man I’m thrilled to be Man I’m thrilled to be here!!! here!!!

How the Refuge BeganHow the Refuge Began

The Refuge was established in 1930 by The Refuge was established in 1930 by President Herbert Hoovers’ presidential President Herbert Hoovers’ presidential proclamation. proclamation.

It is located along the course of the Pacific It is located along the course of the Pacific Flyway in the Imperial Valley of California. Flyway in the Imperial Valley of California.

The refuge consisted of approximately The refuge consisted of approximately 37,600 acres.37,600 acres.

Because of the flooding by the Salton Sea, Because of the flooding by the Salton Sea, about 1,785 manageable acres remain.about 1,785 manageable acres remain.

Over 200 Feet Below Sea Level-Over 200 Feet Below Sea Level-

The Salton Sea covers over 380 square miles.The Salton Sea covers over 380 square miles. The Sea’s width varies from 9 – 15 miles, it is 35 The Sea’s width varies from 9 – 15 miles, it is 35

miles long with about 115 miles of shoreline. miles long with about 115 miles of shoreline. The surface elevation is currently about 227 feet The surface elevation is currently about 227 feet

below sea level. It is one of the lowest spots in the below sea level. It is one of the lowest spots in the U.S. and also one of the hottest. It reaches U.S. and also one of the hottest. It reaches summer temps of 115 degrees and stays above summer temps of 115 degrees and stays above 100 degrees for four months of the year.100 degrees for four months of the year.

The high/dry temps create conditions for The high/dry temps create conditions for evaporation of the sea water which leaves behind evaporation of the sea water which leaves behind more salt creating higher and higher salinity levels.more salt creating higher and higher salinity levels.

Water QualityWater Quality

The Salton Sea, which is currently 25% The Salton Sea, which is currently 25% more salty than the oceans and eutrophic– more salty than the oceans and eutrophic– rich with nutrients, algae, and fish. rich with nutrients, algae, and fish.

The salinity is a result of high evaporation The salinity is a result of high evaporation rates in hot desert climate.rates in hot desert climate.

Water flowing into the Sea adds the Water flowing into the Sea adds the equivalent of a train of salt each day, equivalent of a train of salt each day, leading to the current statistic of over 500 leading to the current statistic of over 500 million tons of salt in the Sea today. million tons of salt in the Sea today.

Water Quality Cont….Water Quality Cont….

Nutrients stimulate growth Nutrients stimulate growth of phytoplankton analogy, of phytoplankton analogy, which in turn support which in turn support zooplankton and worms.zooplankton and worms.

This ongoing process This ongoing process provides an abundant food provides an abundant food source for fish at the sea, source for fish at the sea, and, consequently for the and, consequently for the birds that feed on them. birds that feed on them.

Nutrients And

Algae

Facts About the Salton SeaFacts About the Salton Sea

Sources of Inflow to the Salton Sea

32%

8%7%4%

45%

3%0.6%

0.4%

45%~ Alamo River

32%~ New River

8% ~ Agricultural Drains

7% ~ Whitewater R.

4% ~ Groundwater

3% ~ Rain

0.6%~ San Felipe Cr.

0.4%~ Salt Creek

WildlifeWildlife

The Salton Sea: “California’s Crown Jewel The Salton Sea: “California’s Crown Jewel of Avian Biodiversity.”of Avian Biodiversity.”

There are over 400 different species of There are over 400 different species of wildlife that has been reported; including wildlife that has been reported; including breeding species.breeding species.

Birds…Birds…

Birds Cont…Birds Cont…

Birds Still Goin’…Birds Still Goin’…

And Goin’…And Goin’…

You want more birds….You want more birds….

Why Would Birds Want to Come Why Would Birds Want to Come Here?Here?

What Fish Can Tolerate the High What Fish Can Tolerate the High Salinity Levels of the Sea?Salinity Levels of the Sea?

Gulf Croaker ~ Gulf Croaker ~

Fish Cont…Fish Cont…

Orange Mouth Corvina Orange Mouth Corvina

Fish Cont…Fish Cont…

Sargo ~Sargo ~

Broiled or Fried???Broiled or Fried???

Tilapia ~Tilapia ~

Wildlife Mortality EstimatesWildlife Mortality Estimates WILDLIFE MORTALITY ESTIMATESWILDLIFE MORTALITY ESTIMATES 1987-19961987-1996 SALTON SEASALTON SEA YEAR PRIMARY SPECIES CAUSE OF DEATH ESTIMATED LOSSESYEAR PRIMARY SPECIES CAUSE OF DEATH ESTIMATED LOSSES 1987 ruddy duck, avian cholera 500 eared grebe 1987 ruddy duck, avian cholera 500 eared grebe 1988 dabbling ducks, avian botulism *324 shorebirds *595 1988 dabbling ducks, avian botulism *324 shorebirds *595 1989 ducks, geese avian cholera 750 1989 ducks, geese avian cholera 750 1989 cattle egret salmonellosis *4,515 1989 cattle egret salmonellosis *4,515 1990 ruddy duck, avian cholera 180 cattle egret 1990 ruddy duck, avian cholera 180 cattle egret 1990 great-tailed salmonellosis 300 grackle, cattle suspect egret 1990 great-tailed salmonellosis 300 grackle, cattle suspect egret 1991 ring-billed gull, avian cholera 2,000 dabbling ducks, geese, shorebirds 1991 ring-billed gull, avian cholera 2,000 dabbling ducks, geese, shorebirds 1992 eared grebe, undetermined 150,000 ruddy duck 1992 eared grebe, undetermined 150,000 ruddy duck 1992 dabbling ducks, avian cholera 5,000 shorebirds 1992 dabbling ducks, avian cholera 5,000 shorebirds 1993 geese, ducks, avian cholera 500 coots, gulls 1993 geese, ducks, avian cholera 500 coots, gulls 1994 eared grebe, undetermined *1,659 ruddy duck 1994 eared grebe, undetermined *1,659 ruddy duck 1994 ducks, shore- avian cholera *452 birds, wading birds 1994 ducks, shore- avian cholera *452 birds, wading birds 1994 pelicans (brown & avian botulism 300 white), dabbling ducks, shorebirds 1994 pelicans (brown & avian botulism 300 white), dabbling ducks, shorebirds 1995 eared grebe, undetermined 2,000 ruddy duck 1995 eared grebe, undetermined 2,000 ruddy duck 1996 ruddy duck, gulls, avian cholera 1,000 dabbling ducks, shorebirds 1996 ruddy duck, gulls, avian cholera 1,000 dabbling ducks, shorebirds 1996 pelicans (white avian botulism *14,109 & brown), great egret, ring-billed gull, other 1996 pelicans (white avian botulism *14,109 & brown), great egret, ring-billed gull, other

fish- eating birds fish- eating birds

Time to Collect the WaterTime to Collect the Water

Conditions we had to Conditions we had to deal with…deal with…

A Closer Look…A Closer Look…

Through Our EyesThrough Our EyesThis Place Smells Horrible!!!!

Putting On Our “Boots”Putting On Our “Boots”

Getting Ready For WorkGetting Ready For Work

Testing the TerrainTesting the Terrain

Hmm!! Should I walk any closer???

Man Made BridgeMan Made Bridge

This definitely isn’t This definitely isn’t working…working…

After A Long Days WorkAfter A Long Days Work

We Collected over 60 We Collected over 60 gallons of the not-so-gallons of the not-so-pleasant- smelling pleasant- smelling water.water.

We will be doing a direct research project with Dr. Glenn next semester at ERL testing the water.

Water is Spilling in my Car!!!Water is Spilling in my Car!!!

AHHHHH!!!!!!!AHHHHH!!!!!!!

Heading Back to Tucson…Heading Back to Tucson…