FOCUS: “Salton Sea” by Lung Liu

“The Salton Sea, in Southern California, was once a resort destination for the rich and famous, but now it is an ecological disaster, abandoned and neglected.  It is fed by agricultural runoff and the highly polluted New River.  The sea’s lack of outflow results in increasing salinity and bacterial levels as well as algal blooms that kill all but the hardiest of fish.  These dead fish have, in turn, severely affected the area’s massive bird population.  The smell of the polution and algal blooms coupled with the dead fish and birds have significantly curtailed the area’s tourism.  Resources such as fresh water that can help save the sea from further environmental damage are diverted to nearby areas such as Palm Springs.  Needless to say, the future of the Salton Sea is bleak.”
in Burn Magazine.
Lung Liu’s webpage