Salton Sea Restoration Poses Earthquake Risk
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The dreary Salton Sea has seen better days. (Flickr/mst7022)
After years of contentious debate over water rights, Imperial County officials have finally approved a deal that will restore the declining Salton Sea. The deal hinges on generating $3 billion in revenue from selling renewable geothermal energy from underneath the water body to state utilities.
According to the U-T San Diego, plans to save the Salton Sea were mired in a prolonged and bitter political feud over the “ongoing sale of water to San Diego region.”
The deal is not without risks.
University of California, Santa Cruz researchers published a study earlier this year that found a correlation between geothermal energy production underneath the Salton Sea and a significant rise in local earthquakes. One of UCSC’s lead seismologists, Emily Brodsky, told KCET in July that it seemed “plausible” that geothermal pumping “could interact” with the San Andreas fault.
Earthquakes ranging in magnitude of 2.5 to 3.6 rocked southern portions of the Salton Sea just 11 days ago.
The Salton Sea is the natural result of a 1905 flood that sent flood waters from the Colorado River pouring into the shallow, 364-square mile area. The inland body of water is nearly 40 percent saltier than the Pacific Ocean. Once a vibrant waterfowl and gaming environment due to its pronounced salinity, the Salton Sea has been subject to poor water management and has developed severe environmental problems that threaten the entire region.
Last year, it was discovered that the Salton Sea was the culprit of a noxious odor that blanketed much of the Los Angeles basin. Environmental advocates have also raised concerns that dust mitigation from receding waters and shore erosion has led to increased respiratory problems within Imperial Valley.
Now clear of political hurdles, efforts will refocus on building a pipeline to transmit power from geothermal energy facilities to the state grid. If officials are successful in luring state utilities to purchase significant amounts of renewable energy, the deal could be worth $3 billion over 30 years.
For those residing in Imperial Valley, just reaching a unanimous agreement to restore the Salton Sea was seen as a cause for celebration. Only time will tell how the development of the saline water body plays out.
Reach reporter Will Federman here or tweet him at @wfederman.
