Flooding Laguna Salada for rain

[SteveHazard]

Has anybody heard of the idea of flooding Laguna Salada with sea water from Gulf of California to cause it to rain more in the IV, Colorado River Basin, Mexico, etc? I saw this awhile ago but haven't ever heard anybody discuss this and with all the current issues with Lake Mead and different areas of Mexico rationing water etc seems like a relevant time to bring this up. Compared to a lot of the other stupid ideas I see getting thrown out there to address water, dust issues etc this seems relatively low tech and cost by comparison. Also seems like hitting the off switch would be simple if the results turned out undesirable. Curious what peoples thoughts are on this. Also made me think how the draining/drying of Tulare Lake and Owens Lake may of negatively effected those micro climates in similar ways.

 

[Designed2Hunt]

Interesting concept and in any case it gets the canal partially built. However, we humans do not have a good track record of predicting natures responses to our actions on a large scale, too many dynamics at play.

 

[Shadowlawnskysthelimit]

This idea has been thrown around for a while. I believe this is the only thing that will save the Sea. A set of locks one, incoming water, and one going out would bring needed vitality to an area that is needed. the study years ago stated California could spend approximately 80 billion dollars to clean up the Sea and 100's billion with an unknown price tag by doing nothing and dealing with the physical effects to the population as the wind blows.
Its so simple allowing in fresh saltwater water from the Sea of Cortez back to 60's elevations would revitalize the whole region. It easily could become a premier destination because of the heat lovers and snowbirds in the winters. Casino's , Hotels, Clubs as they were in its heyday. I remember my Father saying that "no one went to the Colorado River back in the day. I have pictures of my family water-skiing, me in diapers sitting in the water in front of Grandpas trailer at Bombay Beach.
The revenue for all that could be could be used to repay the debt for the original construction of locks, Cities close to the Sea could grow withe the taxes from the area.
I fear this will never happen ! It could be so much !!

 

[GUNDOGLOVER49]

The problem is, the answer to restoring the Salton sea is left in the hands of bureaucrats.

 

[Snake Charmer]

You are right GDlover. My guess is nothing will happen, The sea will die and it will become an environmental disaster and then the mitigation will be forced on the legislators in control at the moment and it will end up with the feds funding whatever happens as well as countless class action lawsuits related to the folks that live in proximity to the sea that suffer from related health problems . And guess what folks ? the taxpayers will pay for it with a higher price than the proposed fixes on the table now..

 

[Aeon]

I sat in on a zoom with a group that's done a lot of planning both in Mexico and here. It's a ambitious idea that the pending recession will kill. Stage one was to flood salada and then build the ditch to get it to the sea.

I'll see if I can find the link to the zoom it's on you tube.

 

[Shadowlawnskysthelimit]

You are right GDlover. My guess is nothing will happen, The sea will die and it will become an environmental disaster and then the mitigation will be forced on the legislators in control at the moment and it will end up with the feds funding whatever happens as well as countless class action lawsuits related to the folks that live in proximity to the sea that suffer from related health problems . And guess what folks ? the taxpayers will pay for it with a higher price than the proposed fixes on the table now..

Snake charmer, this is exactly what I think will happen! Not until a bunch of people end up sick and dying will anything get done ! I’ve said this before; nothing will happen until the Sea draws way down and a big windstorm blows into the Palm Springs area and sickens/kills a bunch of the LGTB…. crowd, then and only then will something get done !!
One way discussed to get all the funding needed and more was to build locks big enough to allow cargo and oil tankers to come in from the Sea of Cortez to a created Terminal on the North end of the Sea. I think the oil and shipping industries could foot the whole bill, but my concern would be one of those ships spilling its fuel or God forbid one of the oil tankers spilling its cargo into the Sea ! That in itself could be a major disaster especially if it happened in late summer thru February/ March. It would destroy huge populations of migratory birds.
It so frustrating and very disheartening to see a place I and a lot of others who grew up on the Sea and in the IV go down as it has. It is a place of great memories for my entire family !
Man I wish Sonny Bono was still alive ! He had the heart and the vision of what the Sea could be and he had peoples ears in high places !

 

[GUNDOGLOVER49]

Snake charmer, this is exactly what I think will happen! Not until a bunch of people end up sick and dying will anything get done ! I’ve said this before; nothing will happen until the Sea draws way down and a big windstorm blows into the Palm Springs area and sickens/kills a bunch of the LGTB…. crowd, then and only then will something get done !!
One way discussed to get all the funding needed and more was to build locks big enough to allow cargo and oil tankers to come in from the Sea of Cortez to a created Terminal on the North end of the Sea. I think the oil and shipping industries could foot the whole bill, but my concern would be one of those ships spilling its fuel or God forbid one of the oil tankers spilling its cargo into the Sea ! That in itself could be a major disaster especially if it happened in late summer thru February/ March. It would destroy huge populations of migratory birds.
It so frustrating and very disheartening to see a place I and a lot of others who grew up on the Sea and in the IV go down as it has. It is a place of great memories for my entire family !
Man I wish Sonny Bono was still alive ! He had the heart and the vision of what the Sea could be and he had peoples ears in high places !

No matter the incident nothing happens unless, politicians, celebrities, or one of the many special interest groups are directly effected, then the sh*t hits the fan, and it then makes national news.

 

[ilovesprig]

Kevin & Fred,

There is a "Special Interest Group" in the IV...It's called "Green Energy"....And, as long as the solar, geothermal, and lithium are being developed around the sea, it ain't coming up one inch.