A Visit to the Salton Sea

This photo is facing north on the eastern shores of the Salton Sea. If you look closely along the water’s edge, you will note thousands of tiny barnacle shells washed onto the sand.

It is 227 feet below sea level.

We ended up at the Salton Sea because check-in time at Borrego Springs Resort and Spa was 4 PM, so we decided to explore. Neither of us had been to the Salton Sea before. Knowing the sad story of this unique place, we felt we should check it out. To see what is left of what was once a celebrity-filled vacationland in the ’50s and ’60s.

To get to the Salton Sea State Recreation Park from Borrego Springs, you need to drive around the northern side to the eastern side of the lake. This photo is from Highway 86 on the western side. If you look closely, you can see the rows of palm trees planted near the water’s edge.

There are no motorized boats allowed on the Salton Sea, but you can go fishing if you want to drag a boat to the ramp. The main problem with this lake is the water is evaporating, which increases the salt content to such an extent (25% more than the ocean) that few types of fish can survive. Although Talapia do OK.

A plaque at the State Park Office said that Sonny Bono, before his death, had championed efforts to save the lake.

Such a unique place, home to more than 400 types of birds. It’s not just the salt content that is the problem, though, at the Salton Sea. Runoff from fertilizers and pesticides also contribute to the pollution.

There is not enough rainfall to sustain the lake because it was created by accident. The Colorado River swelled in 1904 and broke through canals, causing the flood that created this lake. Nobody figured out that it wasn’t sustainable.

So they started selling real estate like crazy, of course. Here is the Salton City Realty, still standing. This is not a place I would like to work. I recall the stories in the 1970s when I started working in real estate about the Salton Sea. Like Florida Swamp Land jokes. Way before I became a Sacramento Realtor.