| Why all the interest in the Salton Sea right now? Why should we care about its future? Join us in a weekend of field tours, pontoon boat rides and
Artist Open House at the Salton Sea State Recreation Area and discover the magic for yourself. Note: The tours and events below are offered by the Anza-Borrego Institute in cooperation with California State Parks, with the generous support of California State Parks Foundation and the US Bureau of Reclamation. Field programs will leave from the Salton Sea State Recreation Area. Call us at 760.767.4063 or visit us on-line at www.theabf.org for details. All fees support promotion of conservation of the Colorado Desert District of California State Parks and surrounding region. Friday, November 10Active faults and geology of the eastern Salton Sea, 9 am to 2 pmFee: M: $35, NM: $45 (lunch optional) Difficulty: Moderate (less than 2 miles of walking over some uneven terrain) The San Andreas Fault shapes the eastern Salton Sea area. The broad uplift of Durmid Hill is produced by compression across the fault. The hill juts into the valley and indents the Sea's shoreline, thus confining the northern portion of the sea to a narrower, deeper valley. Older sedimentary units are uplifted and exposed by ongoing fault motion. Evidence of active faulting includes offset stream courses and disrupted lake beds. During this field program, we will explore the shorelines of ancient Lake Cahuilla and the 1907 high water line of the Salton Sea. We will examine springs and bands of vegetation which delineate the Hidden Springs fault on the east side of Durmid Hill, and view BLM's exceptional Dos Palmas biological preserve. Durmid Hill comprises a natural classroom for study of fault features and lake geology. Fortunately, large areas are protected within the Salton Sea State Recreation Area and by the Dos Palmas biological preserve. Durmid Hill abounds with rich habitat areas including acres of spring-fed ponds, extensive wetlands along the course of Salt Creek, and at Salt Creek's estuarine delta where stream waters mix with the Salton Sea. Expect several short hikes. Curiosities of the Salton Sea, 9 am to 3 pm Fee: M: $35, NM: $45 (lunch optional) Difficulty: Easy (short hikes of no more than ˝ mile round trip, over mostly level terrain, with minimal elevation gain) The natural phenomenon and cultural curiosities that make up the eastern shore of the Salton Sea have intrigued and inspired humans throughout time. During this special tour we will explore the mysteries of the mud volcanoes and the grandeur of Salvation Mountain, among other places along the way, as we set about to discover what it is that draws so many to make the pilgrimage to this area. Fire! Water! and the Grand Mixing, Noon to 5 pm Fee: M: $25, NM: $35 Difficulty: Easy (short hikes of no more than ˝ mile round trip, over mostly level terrain, with minimal elevation gain) What would you get if you mixed the power and erosional wonder of water, with the earth moving force of shifting plates over liquid rock? Answer, The Imperial Valley Of Course! Come along on an amazing adventure as we discover how these two forces of nature have combined to give us not only a reliable source of energy, but also provided us with one of the most fertile valleys in the world. We will explore local farms to see what springs forth from ancient Colorado River Sediments, tour an active Geothermal Plant to find out what Molten Mechanism helps keep the lights on, and we will end with a display of the power of water to draw life from an empty desert. There may be a few more surprises along the way, including a stop to observe the USGS Shallow Habitat Project. . . so please sign up early to take advantage of this event. This tour departs from the Salton Sea SRA Visitor Center for an approximately 45min drive to the outskirts of Calipatria. Our return trip will take us along local country roads through agricultural and pastural lands, past Geothermal Plants, mud volcanoes, and a special wildlife restoration area. We should be concluding our tour at approximately 5 pm near the Wister Waterfowl Area. Travel will be mainly over well maintained dirt roads. Weather has the potential to make them a bit muddy, if we get rain, so please plan accordingly. Desert Skies: The Other Half of our Desert, 7:30 pm Fee: M: $10; NM: $15 Difficulty: Easy We all enjoy the beauty of our desert—its flora, fauna and sweeping landscapes—but often we neglect half of the scene: the glorious and ever-changing desert sky. Join us for a view of this amazing celestial tapestry like you’ve never seen before. You may just find yourself looking up more often! Sunday, November 12Photo Safari: From Riviera To Ruin: An Abstract Photo Tour Through History, 7 am to 10 am
The Salton Sea - Birding and Natural History, 7 am to 3 pm Fee: M: $35; NM: $45 (lunch optional) Difficulty: Easy (car caravanning with a few short hikes) There are few places on the planet that support as many birds as the Salton Sea. Amongst bird watchers, it has long been hailed as a world class birding site and for good reason. Not only does the region's diverse habitat support over 400 species, but some of these number in the millions. The Sea is a key stop on the Pacific flyway for many species of migratory birds; its importance has been magnified by the tremendous loss of wetlands in California. Join Professor Kurt Leuschner in this full day journey around the Sea and experience the natural beauty and rich bird population and other wildlife. Tour of Dos Palmas, 9:30 am to Noon Fee: M: $25; NM: $35 Difficulty: easy to moderate (two short hikes to Andreas oasis and an archaeological site over some uneven terrain) Limit: 25 Join BLM cultural resource specialist Wanda Raschkow on this special field tour as we explore the natural resources, prehistory, and history of Dos Palmas Preserve. Ancient Cahuilla Tour, 9 am to 2 pm Fee: M: $35; NM: $45 (lunch optional) Difficulty: Moderate North and East of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park there is a little-known, huge, and magnificent parcel of land which is currently being considered for acquisition by The California State Department of Parks and Recreation. It contains outstanding natural and cultural features, including cleared circles, trails, and fish traps of the ancient Cahuilla Indians as well as highly unusual concretions, rare plants, and a variety of fossils. And if that is not enough, the scenery will knock your socks off. Join Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Superintendent Mark Jorgensenn on this all-day four-wheel-drive trip we will visit a number of the most outstanding locations and features on the property. Fossil watermarks of lakes long gone: old shorelines in and around the dynamic salton basin, 9 am to 4 pm. Fee: M: $35; NM: $45 (lunch optional) Difficulty: Easy to moderate Join geologist Paul Remeika in deciphering the geologic history of the Salton Basin. Participate in informal discussions about the marine strata exposed as part of the Neogene record within the basin, learn to recognize the dynamics of the landscape, and hypothesize about the scientific significance of each fossil shoreline we visit. Due to rough roads, soft sand, and high-clearance problems, four-wheel drive vehicles are mandatory. Have a full tank of gas and be equipped for desert touring. The morning session includes stops at the Martinez Landslide, Travertine Point, and along the recessional shorelines of ancient Lake Cahuilla to view fish traps. Lunch will be along the western shoreline of the Salton Sea. The afternoon session takes us westbound on County Road S-22. It will focus on older, ancestral shorelines preserved as part of the Ocotillo Conglomerate, Brawley Formation, and Bautista beds exposed in Ella Wash, Inspiration Wash, and Beckman Wash. Limit: 15 participants. 4WD required. Open House at Salton Sea State Recreation Area Visitor Center Sunday, November 12, 10 am to 4 pm The Salton Sea State Recreation Area has been providing interpretation and recreation opportunities for hundreds of thousands of visitors each year since its establishment in 1955. Come explore the brand new exhibits and interpretive sales area at the Visitor's Center and learn more about this incredible resource in our own backyard. All events free of charge and open to the public. The Artists Speak: Writings, Art and Film Inspired by the Salton Sea In addition to its attraction to birds and other wildlife, the Salton Sea has inspired humans from all walks of life to visit for a day or in many cases a lifetime. Photographers, writers, filmmakers and artists of all kinds have been drawn by its untamed openness and mystery. Some of these works will be exhibited throughout the day. Come talk to the artists and authors themselves. Art work from local artisans and books will be available for purchase, and film screenings and book signings will be available throughout the day. (Artists invited include Joan Myers, Photographer - Salt Dreams, Kim Stringfellow, Photographer/ Author— Greetings from the Salton Sea; Chris Meltzer and Jeff Springer, Film Directors- Plagues & Pleasures on the Salton Sea, together with other local artisans) Salton Sea- The Underwater Food Chain While the avian life above the surface of the Salrin Sea is awe-inspiring in its diversity and abundance, what goes on beneath the water's surface is the real driver of the Sea's remarkable ability to support such large numbers of birds. Join DFG biologist Jack Crayon for an introduction to that underwater world. Participants will learn the secrets of the Salton Sea's amazing productivity, and the mixed blessings of having waters so rich in nutrients. Key members in the Salton Sea aquatic community will be introduced and their roles in the food chain will be discussed. Living examples of some of the important aquatic animals will be on hand for up-close viewing. Deborah Knapp Manager, Anza-Borrego Institute 587 Palm Canyon Drive, Suite 220 P.O. Box 2001 Borrego Springs, CA 92004 Tel: (760) 767-4063 Fax: (760) 767-0465 www.theabf.org |