In the end, it just may be the sun's power that heals the Salton Sea. Officials working to mend California's largest lake kicked off a pilot program Monday to see whether solar evaporation ponds can draw enough salt from the highly saline sea to return it to a healthy ecosystem. The desert sea straddling Riverside and Imperial counties has become an important stopover for migratory birds and a fishing haven for many. The pond system, which takes advantage of gravity and solar power, would use less electricity than other salt extraction ideas being considered. Mindful of the energy crisis, officials say if the ponds prove their worth over the next year, they could be vital to the multimillion dollar restoration project.
Gravity slowly pulls the water in a zig-zag route through narrow channels connecting the ponds.
As the water moves through the ponds, it evaporates and the salt concentration increases. By the final pond, the salt has crystallized and is covered over by soil. Incoming water less salty Water flowing into the sea is less salty than the existing lake. Extracting salts continually will eventually reduce the concentration in the sea. Mexico is building a new sewage treatment plant and the United States is creating a series of wetlands to try and filter out Mexican-generated contaminants.