Michael,
The Salton Sea has been around for several decades. It was established as result of an over-flow of the Colorado River quiet some time ago. Due to contaminates from farmers fields and, all the fertilizers, run-off and more, and, with no real way of re-plennishing or, re-freshing the total water content, it's labeled as one of the most salty water bodies in the world.
Years and years ago, as in around 35-45 or more, when it was not nearly as polluted and contaminated, it was a widely used, recreational lake. Lots of fishing and water toy use. I had many neighbors and friends that would make the trip from San Diego, to the Salton Sea, in the morning to play, i.e. water ski and fish, in that lake all day and, head back in the evening.
Talk about being hard on a trailer and other components. You could practically watch the rust happening and parts falling off due to it. I swam in it a few times. I've never been one of those that could "float" that well in a body of water like some could. You know, laying on your back with arms and legs stretched out. But, in that body of water, I could float ultra easy, with or without arms and legs stretched out.
That was then....
Now, the closer you get to that lake, the more you can smell ROT! There's so much contaminates, salt, chemicles etc., that very frequently there are tons the remaing species of fish, found dead along the shores. It's really too bad. Many, including the late (sort of) Sony Bono (remember Sony and Cher) who've had dreams of turning that lake around and doing a major cleanup on it to make it habitable for all to use, including fish etc.
There's quite a few die-hard folks still living in the immediate area but, they are slowly dwindling. There was an effort, about 10 years ago, that was made by a developing company to basically surround that lake with new homes, and, they were seriously cheap. They started off at around $69,000 or $79,000 or so. They were incredibly plain but, if you wanted a sort of "get-a-way" place and, it was near all the play area of Truck Haven and Ocotillo Wells, both serious Off road enthusiast areas, it was a fair deal.
But, that project fell flat on it's face too. There's just not that much interest in trying to make that entire area, any better than it presently is. It's too bad, it had and, still could, (with enough investor bucks) be another, smaller "Palm Springs" or, other areas of Desert living.
But, I'll never see that in my life. But, for someone like you, it would be interesting to cruise around the area and see what could have been.....
Scott
