Support for LAist comes from
Become a sponsor
Local and national news, NPR, things to do, food recommendations and guides to Los Angeles, Orange County and the Inland Empire
Donate
Stay Connected

LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio, a member-supported public media network.

Listen
Donate
Podcasts Take Two
The White House has a plan, but can the Salton Sea be saved?
solid orange rectangular banner
()
Take Two Logo
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.
Sep 1, 2016
Listen • 7:49
The White House has a plan, but can the Salton Sea be saved?
With environmental and economical impact at stake, President Obama announces new efforts to,"reverse the deterioration," of California's largest lake.
MECCA, CA - MARCH 21: Pelicans fly over a great blue heron on the shore of the Salton Sea an area where a controversial development would create a new town for nearly 40,000 people on the northwest shore of the biggest lake in California, the Salton Sea, on March 21, 2012 south of Mecca, California. The Center for Biological Diversity and the Sierra Club have filed a lawsuit against Riverside County after the Board of Supervisors approved a record-sized development project for Riverside County, saying that it would increase pollution and threaten wildlife in nearby parks at the Salton Sea and in the largest state park in California, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Though massive fish die-offs occur annually, drawings in the Travertine Point plans feature peaceful marinas but the lake has been plagued by dropping water levels and increasing salt levels for decades. Scientists say that a catastrophic decline in the fish population is inevitable and a resulting 25 to 50 percent drop in the migratory bird population will destroy a major stopping point in the Pacific bird migration route. The shrinking salt lake is exposing more and more fine dust, posing health problem as blows it across the region. Funding to stop the ecological collapse of the sea is not likely in the near futures with its $9 billion price tag. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
MECCA, CA - MARCH 21: Pelicans fly over a great blue heron on the shore of the Salton Sea an area where a controversial development would create a new town for nearly 40,000 people on the northwest shore of the biggest lake in California, the Salton Sea, on March 21, 2012 south of Mecca, California. The Center for Biological Diversity and the Sierra Club have filed a lawsuit against Riverside County after the Board of Supervisors approved a record-sized development project for Riverside County, saying that it would increase pollution and threaten wildlife in nearby parks at the Salton Sea and in the largest state park in California, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Though massive fish die-offs occur annually, drawings in the Travertine Point plans feature peaceful marinas but the lake has been plagued by dropping water levels and increasing salt levels for decades. Scientists say that a catastrophic decline in the fish population is inevitable and a resulting 25 to 50 percent drop in the migratory bird population will destroy a major stopping point in the Pacific bird migration route. The shrinking salt lake is exposing more and more fine dust, posing health problem as blows it across the region. Funding to stop the ecological collapse of the sea is not likely in the near futures with its $9 billion price tag. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
(
David McNew/Getty Images
)

With environmental and economical impact at stake, President Obama announces new efforts to,"reverse the deterioration," of California's largest lake.

Yesterday, President Obama was at Lake Tahoe, speaking at an annual summit on conservation efforts for the lake.

He talked about how protecting natural resources is a key part of the fight against the effects of global warming -- and an important fight for the local economy.

During his remarks, President Obama briefly mentioned ANOTHER big lake that's in trouble: the Salton Sea.

The body of water in the Coachella Valley is the largest lake in California.

And, thanks to the drought, it's been in major danger of disappearing for years.

Yesterday, White House announced efforts to fund preservation efforts at the Salton Sea.

To help us break down the plan, Take Two's A Martinez was joined by Sammy Roth, who's been covering this for the Desert Sun.

To hear the full conversation click the blue player above.

To hear KPCC's conversation with a member of California Natural Resources Agency, click here