Tom Fudge : This weekend, we mark the 100th anniversary of the Salton Sea. A hundred years ago, the Sea was created when a system of irrigation canals were overwhelmed by flooding. Water from the Colorado River rushed into the ancient lake bed that was called the Salton Sink.
Today, the Salton Sea is California’s largest lake. It continues to be fed by runoff from local farm fields. Over the years, the sea has gone from being a playground for humans to a sanctuary for birds. May people fear for its future, as the lake’s salt content increases and thirsty Southern Californian cities covet the runoff that feeds it. The lake has an eerie beauty, and it has its devotees. One of them is artist Kim Stringfellow.
Guest
- Kim Stringfellow, assistant professor in the school of art, design and art history at SDSU. She authored a book called Greetings from the Salton Sea that features her photographs and research on the area.
