Eco-Disasters 101: The Salton Sea

In this episode of Stuff You Should Know, Josh and Chuck discuss the Salton Sea, a human-made ecological disaster in Southern California. They delve into its history, from its formation due to a Colorado River breach in the early 1900s to its rise as a recreational area and its subsequent decline due to increasing salinity, agricultural runoff, and eutrophication. They explore failed restoration attempts, the health and financial impacts on surrounding communities, and current efforts to restore parts of it as wetlands and potentially mine lithium, highlighting the bizarre urban legends and the area's transformation into a decrepit art place. Finally, they read a listener mail regarding the impact of MTV on film editing.