01. Photographer pick: Guy Havell
Guy is an Australian photographer who focuses on both natural and built environments and has shot many fantastic photographs of The Salton Sea. From his website, he says that “as a landscape photographer, it is my responsibility and duty to be diverse and open minded and photograph ALL environments, regardless of whether they are good or bad, pretty or ugly, popular or unpopular. My images are unapologetically a self expressive representation of how I see and interpret natural and built environments, and consequently often not an idyllic portrayal or a preferred representation of how a mainstream audience would prefer to see them.” His work can be seen at https://instagram.com/guy_havell and https://guyhavellgallery.com.
The Salton Sea was a popular tourist destination in the 1950s and 1960s, with resorts, marinas, and a thriving fishing industry. It has declined significantly since then. Photo by Guy Havell
02. Article pick: The Salton Sea, an Accident of History, Faces a New Water Crisis
This article by Henry Fountain, published in the New York Times with fantastic photography by Mette Lampcov, dives into the history of The Salton Sea and the new challenges faced by the man-made sea which has had an unfortunately large history of challenges. For decades, The Salton Sea has been shrinking, and it might shrink even further as the water usage of the Colorado River is being accessed more critically. It is a fascinating article that gives a good start for anyone interested in knowing the history of The Salton Sea and what its future could look like.
The Salton Sea is a crucial stopover for migratory birds along the Pacific Flyway, with over 400 bird species recorded in the area. It is known for its "fish die-offs," where large numbers of fish die and wash up on the shore due to low oxygen levels in the water. Photo by Greg Bulla, Unsplash
03. Book pick: Salton Sea: Of Dust and Water
“Salton Sea: Of Dust and Water” is a book by photographer Debbie Bentley that is a portrait of the Salton Sea in 2018, right after the state of California ended water transfers to the Sea. Bentley combines powerful photography with the complex and fascinating history of the Salton Sea, while providing a snapshot of the ecology and the current environmental crisis facing the area. Throughout the book, Bentley intersperses personal stories and interviews with individuals who have a connection to the Salton Sea, including fishermen, environmental activists, and local residents.
04. Video pick: America's Biggest Ghost Town: The Salton Sea
This video by YouTuber RealLifeLore, put on the streaming service Nebula, is as rich a text of the current state of The Salton Sea as you can find on the internet. It has first hand photography of the towns that dot the sea, shot in 2020, while giving a concise but fully-realized history of the area. It focuses on the towns of the area, how depopulated and strange they are to be in, while exploring the art scene that has sprung up from the ghost towns. The video also goes over the ecology of the area, how the fish are dying, why the water is so salty, why its receding, and the dangerous future of the sea.
05. Quote of the Week
"The Salton Sea is a perfect example of how we can unintentionally destroy a beautiful ecosystem."
— James O. Fraioli