After decades of failed attempts to maintain the endlessly restless 120-year-old Sea of California, a large number of new plans to save the Salt Meer, take shape.
At the end of 2023, scientists discovered a monumental 18 million tons of litium under the surface of the South California Sea – no less than $ 540 billion find – but they are now confronted with a race against time when the salty water body quickly disappears.
The casual inland sea, at 120 miles from San Diego, jumped to life about 120 years ago when the Colorado River broke an irrigation channel east of Palm Springs.
The sudden, glittering water briefly created a tourist tree that lasted in the 1960s, although the lake could be described better for a large part of the half century as a 'environmental disaster'.
Now a new wave of conservation efforts, fueled by millions of dollars of federal financing, has washed ashore, which will bring hope of some emerging industry an economic flowering – if it all goes according to plan.
However, according to the previous presidential regime, the Golden State received sufficient financing of the preservation under the newly installed Trump government, threats for approved financing through.
By adding more uncertainty to the already delicate ecosystem, the multi-billion Dollar Lithium VERst has set a race between the public and private sectors to extract the valuable resource from the area as quickly as possible The carefully installed plans are threatened to maintain the dying waterway.
And if a serious threat to financing was not enough, time itself also works against the rotting sea, thanks to the unique geography.
After decades of failed attempts to maintain the endlessly restless 120-year-old Salton Sea of California, a new plan to save the lake with salt, takes shape
The sudden, glittering water briefly created a tourist tree that lasted in the 1960s, although the lake could be described better for a large part of the half century as a 'environmental disaster'. Depicted: the beach of the Salton Sea filled with rotting fish and other animals in the wild
Due to the ever -increasing salt content of the remaining water, the terminal sea – which means that there is no outflow of water – disappears quickly, making living conditions difficult for wild animals.
The region of the lake, designated as a 'collection bin', receives harmful drainage of nearby agricultural land. The Waterweg is also associated with broadcasting toxic dust, resulting in poor air quality and raised asthma levels for those who live close by.
According to the Salton Sea Sea Authority, such issues could not check, such issues can ultimately make 'uninhabitable'.
But now the help with the in-needed area has come in so many forms.
In 2022, the Office of Advertising, run by the Ministry of the Interior, announced a $ 250 million plan to accelerate the Salton Sea Restoration. “
A year later, at the end of 2023, a check of $ 70 million has been designated for continuous conservation efforts, with more in line.
The first of many periods of millions of dollars will be used in part 'to expand the state protection project of the state'.
“The vast project is planning to make a network of ponds and wetlands that include more than 4,000 hectares to offer fish and bird habitat and suppress dust emissions,” said the Governor of California Gavin Newsom.
While the most recent iteration of the lake dates from 1905, the Salton Basin area has received the removal of Colorado River for thousands of years, swelling and drying out in cycles. Shown: A person walks along the banks of the Salton Sea in California on March 21, 2025
According to the Salton Sea Sea Authority, such issues could not be checked in the end, such issues can ultimately make 'uninhabitable'. Shown: An expired welcome board will be placed on March 21, 2025 in Salton Sea Beach
The state of California, together with other agencies, now has until January 2026 to appoint more than a dozen members to the conservancy, Calmatters reported
An extra $ 2 million was secured for the nearby Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians to help with the implementation of the program.
In November 2024, the Western State fored Proposition 4 – the climate protection that protected bond protected – more than $ 10 billion for different conservation and climate projects.
The monumental donation caused another $ 170 million for 'Salton Sea Restoration', including an extra $ 10 million for the establishment of the Salton Sea Conservancy.
The enormous amounts of cash have also inspired the Bird love Audubon Society, which has protected more than 560 hectares to help stabilize, save and improve the existing emerging leg country, “Sfgate reported.
“This conservancy is a demonstration of the state's dedication to a meaningful and sustainable recovery of this environmentally friendly overloaded region,” said California Senator Steve Padilla.
The state of California, together with other agencies, now has until January 2026 to appoint more than a dozen members to the conservancy, Calmatters reported.
However, given the recent defundering parade, which is told by the Trump administration, the promising influx of money can still shift.
But the Ministry of the Interior said that the funds are currently 'obliged' for Salton SEA projects.
“Under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump, the Ministry of the Interior works to reduce bureaucratic waste and to ensure that the taxpayer Dollars is spent efficiently,” said Bureau of Advertising Regional Communications Chief Michelle Helms.
'Complaint has announced $ 250 million and mandatory for the Salton Sea from the IRA [Inflation Reduction Act of 2022]. $ 35 million has been spent to date. Complaints collaborate with the state of California to finance projects while they are initiated, “reads the statement to Sfgate.
Displayed: Artworks are scattered along the deserted coast of the Salton Sea in Bombay Beach
A race for rights to the 'World's largest' White Gold 'Mine follows
Now follows a race for the rights to the 'World' World 'White Gold' Mine '.
The Salton Sea is flooded by companies that are large and small in search of cost -effective ways to extract the lithium from the restless lake.
A study funded by the Department of Energy showed that the basin has even more lithium – called white gold because of its soft, silver -white look – than previously estimated.
The study, published in November 2023, showed that there could be 18 million tons of extra -up metal in the Brinyzee, which is sufficient to meet the VS demand for the valuable metal, for decades.
NEWSOM government has previously described the 'salty sea' as the Saudi Arabia of lithium extraction.
It would also make the reservoir the largest in the world and overtake Chile (nine million tons).
A tonne of lithium currently costs $ 29,000, which means that the supply in the Salton Sea is worth more than $ 540 billion.
The Doe said that the range of billion dollars could support more than 375 million batteries for electric vehicles.
The study, published in November 2023, showed that there could be 18 million tons of extra -up metal in the Brinyzee, which is sufficient to meet the VS demand for the valuable metal, for decades. Displayed: A view of the geothermal plant of the CE Leerhers near the Salton Sea in Calipatria, California
The Doe said that the range of billion dollars could support more than 375 million batteries for electric vehicles. Shown: A view of the Elmore Geothermal Facility near the Salton Sea in Calipatria, California
A management plan, funds for climate bonds, environmental activists and an agency or advertisement partnership are now all streaming together to help California quickly return
Lithium is a crucial component for batteries that drive everything from smartphones to electric vehicles and solar panels – and China has dominated the market for decades because 90 percent of the metal that is mined in the nation is refined.
Jeff Marootian, head of deputy assistant -Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, said: 'Lithium is vital to achieve the economy and the goals of President Biden of 50 percent adoption of electric vehicles by 2030.
'This report confirms the once-in-one-generation opportunity to build a domestic lithium industry at home and at the same time expand clean, flexible electricity generation.
“With the help of American innovation, we can lead the future of clean energy, create jobs and stimulate a strong domestic supply chain and our national energy breach.”
The Salton -Sea is 35 miles long, 15 miles wide and 51 feet deep and located in river and imperial provinces on the southern end of California.
