Mission

For the Salton Sea Summit, an assembly to discuss the pressing environmental questions facing the Salton Sea region, EcoFlight provided overflights. We flew many flights to educate decision-makers, Rep. Raul Ruiz staff, students, scientists, researchers, and conservationists. And, conduct specific photo missions, acquiring drone and on-ground media.

At one time, the shallow, inland Salton Sea (less than 50 feet at its deepest point) was frequented by celebrities and visitation even rivaled Yosemite National Park. Today, however, toxic metals, pesticides, and other pollutants have accumulated in lakebed sediments and are increasingly becoming a windblown threat as the lake water recedes, with serious negative health impacts for the surrounding Coachella Valley communities and the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indian Tribe.

The discovery of lithium here is sparking new economic optimism, as well as raising concerns. Less than 1% of lithium used in the U.S. is produced domestically, and most comes from environmentally disastrous open-pit operations. Promising (yet unproven) new technologies could allow the Salton Sea’s lithium to be extracted from geothermal brine with hopefully negligible water loss or environmental impact.

Lithium development could also bring millions in taxes and royalties to California. This might benefit the Coachella Valley’s poorer communities - if distributed equitably. Towards this end, the State has agreed to allocate 20 cents from every dollar in revenue back to local communities, and San Diego State has launched a program to train local students in engineering and other skills that are required in the lithium industry.

Concerns remain about the impacts to air quality and the water budget in the region. Extracting lithium from the brine requires pumping thousands of gallons of water, and locals worry additional unanticipated losses in this untested process.

EcoFlight’s partners at Audubon California are working with the state and local communities to ensure that lithium development in the Salton Sea is done with the utmost attention to environmental impacts, and that Tribes and disadvantaged communities are represented and enjoy equitable benefits. By expanding native wetlands like those at Bombay Beach, which are spring-fed instead of watered by runoff and diversions, wildlife habitat can continue to thrive alongside industrial development. Audubon is also working to ensure that environmental compliance requirements for the lithium developers are not overlooked and that water use is as judicious as possible.

Click for photos from the 10/17 flights and 10/18 overflights, geo-referenced photos from 10/17 and 10/18 the flight, aerial footage, and EcoFlight’s Salton Sea photo collection.