Why is the Salton Sea in California so important and what can we do to protect it?

Feb 2, 2023

The Salton Sea is an important area for migrating birds, but is facing declining water levels. Image: REUTERS/Caitlin Ochs

Robert Glennon

Regents Professor Emeritus and Morris K. Udall Professor of Law & Public Policy Emeritus, University of Arizona

Brent Haddad

Professor of Environmental Studies, University of California, Santa Cruz

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A map showing the Salton Sea and Vicinity.

The Salton Sea is a large inland lake in southeastern California fed by Colorado River irrigation water from farms in the Imperial Valley. Image: The Conversation.

These satellite photos show how the Salton Sea shrank between 1984 and 2015, exposing dry playa around its edges Image: The Conversation.

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