Rising salinity level is presently an extensive problem at the Salton Sea. Average salinity is currently 43 to 45 parts per thousand. Increasing salinity has caused the collapse of fisheries based on introduced freshwater species, such as rainbow trout, that could not survive the increase in salinity. It is recreational fishing that attracts many fishermen to the area and produces the majority of revenue for the area. The game fish caught in the Salton Sea include corvina, croaker, and tilapia. The Orangemouth Corvina, one of the few successful game fish that still survives in the Salton Sea, is facing its demise, because it is unable to reproduce at salinity levels of 45 parts per thousand and above. The Salton Sea now contains an estimated 400,000 tons of salt and is increasing by about 1% each year.
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This is shuttle image STS51B-0146-0113. |