Salton Sea Odors

The foul odors experienced by Coachella Valley residents, usually in the fall/winter time frame, are caused by a decaying Salton Sea.  Some of the causes attributed to the decaying of the Salton Sea are:

1. The high salinity of the Salton Sea, which is caused by the salt influx from irrigation runoff (especially Selenium, a Sulfur-like element),
2. The high evaporation rate,
3. lack of sea outlet,
4. Inflow of untreated water from Mexico through the New River,
5. Algae decomposition after a “planktonic boom.”

Moreover, among some other possible factors, the ones listed above have progressively become lethal to organisms that form part of the Salton Sea ecosystem primarily due to deoxygenation of the water.

During the winter, the wind direction reverses during most days and starts blowing from the east/southeast (from the Salton Sea toward the Coachella Valley) thus increasing the potential for foul odor episodes in the valley.

Since the mid-1960s, efforts have been made to improve a decaying Salton Sea ecosystem.  In 1993, the Salton Sea Authority was formed in an effort to evaluate problems at the Sea and find possible solutions.  The Salton Sea authority Web page provides additional information on the Salton Sea and the Salton Sea Authority Board of Directors as well as links to other websites that could be very helpful in identifying possible contacts for reporting “Salton Sea odors.”

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