Plagues & Pleasures on the Salton Sea

Transcription

KQED PRODUCTION,   PRESENTED IN ASSOCIATION WITH:   AND:   (* Fast-Paced Theme Music )   NEXT ON TRULY CALIFORNIA...   (* Music )   THE SALTON SEA WAS ONCE KNOWN AS THE CALIFORNIA RIVIERA.   Les Marty: IN THE '50s AND '60s,   THE SEA HAD MORE TOURISTS THAN YOSEMITE PARK.   Announcer: AFTER A STRING OF DISASTERS, THE DESERT LAKE   IS NOW CONSIDERED AN ENVIRONMENTAL TRAIN WRECK.   Norm Niver: WALL-TO-WALL DEAD FISH, 150 FEET OUT FROM MY DOCK.   Announcer: A SURREAL PARADISE ON THE VERGE OF COLLAPSE,   NEXT ON "PLAGUES AND PLEASURES ON THE SALTON SEA."   Female Announcer: SUPPORT FOR TRULY CALIFORNIA IS PROVIDED BY:   ...INDIVIDUALS, FOUNDATIONS AND CORPORATIONS   COMMITTED TO THE PRODUCTION AND ACQUISITION   OF QUALITY PROGRAMS.   AND BY:   (* Hawaiian Steel Guitar )   John Waters: LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT A PLACE,   FAR BEYOND THE SPRAWL OF SUBURBAN AMERICA,   WHERE SUCCESS AND FAILURE COLLIDE,   AND WHERE UTOPIA AND THE APOCALYPSE   MEET TO DANCE A DIRTY TANGO.   IT'S A SPECIAL PLACE,   A BIT CLOSER THAN YOU MIGHT THINK,   THAT DRAWS A UNIQUE GROUP OF OUTSIDERS,   LOOKING FOR AN AWFULLY BEAUTIFUL LIFE,   ON THE EDGE OF A BEAUTIFULLY AWFUL PARADISE.   UH, YOU KNOW WHAT,   THERE'S VERY FEW PEOPLE THAT KNOW ABOUT THE SALTON SEA...   VERY FEW.   Les Marty: IF THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE IT'S AT,   YOU TELL 'EM 50 MILES SOUTH OF PALM SPRINGS--   WHICH I USE AS A REFERENCE POINT.   CALIFORNIA'S VERSION OF THE FRENCH RIVIERA,   WITH BEAUTIFUL WEATHER,   WATER AVAILABLE FOR BOATING,   AND AS A PLACE FOR RECREATION AND FISHING AND SO ON.   THE FISHING IN THE SUMMER IS GREAT...GREAT!   THE HOTTER THE WATER, THE BETTER THE FISHING.   THAT'S NOT EDIBLE FISH.   IF THEY ARE EATING THOSE FISH, AND THEY EAT VERY MUCH OF 'EM,   THEY'LL GET BOTULISM POISONING.   THAT SEA IS FILTHY.   DEAD FISH, DEAD BIRDS, DEAD EVERYTHING OVER THERE.   WE HAVE THE ODOR PROBLEM,   WE HAVE THE INSECT PROBLEM--   NAMELY THE COMMON HOUSEFLY.   IT GETS HOT HERE IN THE SUMMER.   IT'S 120 DEGREES HERE,   100 DEGREES AT MIDNIGHT; YOU KNOW, IT'S WARM.   BUT THAT'S WHAT WE GOT AIR CONDITIONING FOR.   WE DO EVEN GO SWIMMING IN THE WATER.   IT'S MORE SALTIER THAN THE OCEAN.   AND IT HEALS YOUR SKIN.   IF YOU HAVE A SKIN PROBLEM, IT HEALS YOUR SKIN.   WHY CLEAN UP A MOST USEFUL SEWER?   IT'S THE GREATEST SEWER THE WORLD HAS EVER SEEN.   LEAVE IT THAT WAY.   IT'S PERFECT FOR THAT PURPOSE.   IF IT HAD BEEN HANDLED CORRECTLY,   IT WOULD HAVE BEEN ANOTHER PALM SPRINGS RIGHT NOW.   THE SMELL.   IT'S THE SMELL--A LOT.   AND THEN THE FACT THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING HERE.   IT IS RATHER BLEAK.   BLEAK IS THE WORD.   THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BODY OF WATER IN CALIFORNIA.   YOU CAN GO BOATING, YOU CAN GO FISHING,   YOU CAN GO JET SKIING.   YOU HAVE BEAUTIFUL ROCK FORMATIONS.   YOU HAVE THE MOUNTAINS,   WHERE YOU CAN SEE, IN THE SUMMERTIME,   YOU CAN SEE SNOWCAPS ON THE MOUNTAINS.   YOU HAVE EVERYTHING.   YOU HAVE EVERYTHING THAT YOU CAN FIND NOWHERE ELSE.   THERE'S NO FAST FOODS HERE.   THERE'S NO RECREATION   FOR YOUNGSTERS, KIDS OR ANYTHING.   I MEAN THERE AIN'T NOTHING HERE.   YOU CAN'T GET NOTHING-- THE STORES CLOSE AT 6:00!   SO YOU CAN'T BUY BOOZE AFTER 6:00.   I LIKE IT HERE.   I'LL DIE HERE.   I MEAN, COME ON,   WE AIN'T EVEN GOT A MALL OR NOTHIN' OUT HERE.   WE'RE AWAY FROM EVERYTHING!   BUT IT IS JUST A SUPER, SUPER, WONDERFUL PLACE!   (* Rock Music )   John Waters: LYING WELL BELOW SEA LEVEL,   IN ONE OF THE HOTTEST AND DRIEST VALLEYS ON EARTH,   SITS THE WONDERFULLY BIZARRE SALTON SEA.   IT WAS ONCE HAILED AS THE FISHING CAPITAL OF THE WORLD   AND EVEN RIVALED THE NEARBY RESORT TOWN OF PALM SPRINGS   IN POPULARITY.   BUT NOW AFTER A STRING OF CATASTROPHES,   IT SITS VIRTUALLY ABANDONED AND FORGOTTEN.   ONLY A HANDFUL OF ECCENTRICS REMAIN,   CARVING OUT THEIR OWN SLICE OF PARADISE,   ON THE SHORES OF THIS SO-CALLED "ECOLOGICAL DISASTER."   BUT DISASTER IS WELL KNOWN TO THE PEOPLE OF IMPERIAL VALLEY.   IN FACT, THE SALTON SEA ITSELF IS JUST ONE BIG MISTAKE.   IN 1901,   DEVELOPERS WITH A DREAM TO TRANSFORM THE DESERT,   DIVERTED WATER FROM THE COLORADO RIVER   TO A DRIED LAKE BED NAMED THE SALTON SINK.   AS AN ANCIENT OVERFLOW FOR THE COLORADO RIVER,   THE SOIL WAS NUTRIENT-RICH   AND THE WARM CLIMATE   MADE IT POSSIBLE TO GROW CROPS YEAR-ROUND.   RENAMED THE IMPERIAL VALLEY, LAND WAS SOLD,   AND FARMING FLOURISHED IN THE DESERT.   HOWEVER, SILT EVENTUALLY BLOCKED   THE ENTRANCE TO THE CANAL,   AND WATER DELIVERY WAS ALL BUT CUT OFF TO THE FARMERS.   UNDER PRESSURE FROM DESPERATE INVESTORS,   ENGINEERS MADE SEVERAL UNPROTECTED CUTS   INTO THE RIVER.   THEN IN 1905, AMIDST HEAVY SPRING RAINS,   THE ERRATIC COLORADO BROKE FREE, CHANGED COURSE,   AND HEADED STRAIGHT FOR THE IMPERIAL VALLEY.   THE RIVER THAT HAD ONCE BROUGHT PROSPERITY,   NOW BEGAN TO DESTROY EVERYTHING IN ITS PATH,   AS IT BEGAN TO COLLECT IN THE LOWEST POINT,   THE SALTON SINK.   IN ORDER TO PROTECT A VITAL SHIPPING ROUTE,   SOUTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD TYCOON, EDWARD HARRIMAN,   INTERVENED WITH THE SUPPORT OF PRESIDENT THEODORE ROOSEVELT,   TO DO BATTLE WITH THE RIVER.   WITH THOUSANDS OF MEN,   AND COUNTLESS TONS OF ROCK AND SAND,   THE RAILROAD AND THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT   ATTEMPTED SEVERAL TIMES TO PLUG THE BREACH.   AFTER TREMENDOUS EFFORT AND 16 MONTHS OF FLOODING,   THEY FINALLY MANAGED TO TURN BACK THE RIVER.   THE DESERT HEAT SHOULD HAVE QUICKLY EVAPORATED   THIS MAN-MADE MISTAKE.   HOWEVER, SALTY IRRIGATION RUNOFF   FROM FARMERS IN THE IMPERIAL VALLEY,   SUSTAINED THE NEWLY-FORMED SEA,   AND INCREASED ITS SALINITY TO NEAR OCEAN LEVELS.   AN ENGINEERING SCREW-UP HAD GIVEN BIRTH TO A SEA   35 MILES LONG AND 15 MILES WIDE   IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DESERT.   (* Music )   Harold Gaston: AND THEY THOUGHT   THAT THE SALTON SEA WOULD BE GOOD FOR FISH,   IF THEY COULD GET THE RIGHT KIND OF FISH TO GROW IN THERE.   SO THEY WENT DOWN TO SAN FELIPE AND SEEN--   FISH OUT OF THE SURF THERE.   BUT THEY TRIED TO KEEP ALL OF THE SHARKS OUT OF THERE,   THEY DIDN'T WANT TO PUT ANY SHARKS IN HERE.   AND THEY BROUGHT THE FISH UP--   I MEET THEM AT SALT CREEK UP HERE--   AND THEY PUT THE FISH IN RIGHT THERE AT SALT CREEK.   THAT WAS 1951, IN JUNE.   FINALLY IN 1957, WE STARTED CATCHING A FEW CORVINA   AT SALT CREEK.   WE CAUGHT THE FIRST TWO LIMITS OF FISH   THAT WERE EVER CAUGHT IN THE SALTON SEA.   WE CAUGHT 12 FISH THERE,   AVERAGED BETWEEN 8 AND 10 POUNDS.   AND THAT STARTED THE FISHING DOWN HERE.   BY 1960 THERE WERE EIGHT BOAT LANDINGS AROUND THE SEA,   LAUNCHING 50 TO 100 BOATS A DAY.   THEY WERE HERE BY THE HUNDREDS, ALL UP AND DOWN THIS HIGHWAY,   AND WE FED 100 FISHERMAN A DAY HERE   DURING THE SUMMERTIME, YOU KNOW.   Male Narrator: IF YOU LIKE TO FISH,   THERE ARE PLENTY IN THE SALTON SEA.   SO FAR THEY'VE BEEN CAUGHT UP TO 33 POUNDS.   THERE ARE CORVINA, TORTUAVA AND MULLET IN ABUNDANCE.   IT'S NOT ANYTHING LIKE IT USED TO BE,   IT USED TO BE BEAUTIFUL!   THERE USED TO BE JUST TRAILERS AND MOTOR HOMES   AND SKIERS AND BOATERS AND SWIMMERS...EVERYWHERE!   IN THE '60s, PARTICULARLY,   IT WAS REALLY A VIBRANT SEA.   YOU NOT ONLY HAD SKIING, SWIMMING AND SUCH,   YOU HAD THE RICH FOLKS COMING DOWN FROM L.A.   WITH THE SPORTFISHING BOATS,   PUTTING IN, I GUESS, PROBABLY IN NORTH SHORE,   AND DOING THE SPORTFISHING ON THE WEEKENDS.   ALL KINDS OF NICE LITTLE, YOU KNOW, SECLUDED PLACES   FOR THOSE WHO WANTED TO GET AWAY FROM THE CROWD.   SWIMMING AND DRINKING BEER.   ( Laughs )   DRINKING BEER AND THROWING-- SKIMMING ROCKS.   THE WATER WAS BRACKISH THEN, IT ISN'T LIKE TODAY.   IT WAS LESS SALTY THAN THE OCEAN AT THAT TIME.   WE USED TO HAVE FISH FRIES.   SO ANYBODY THAT CAUGHT ANY BROUGHT 'EM UP   AND THE CORVINA-- AND, OH GOD, THEY WERE SO GOOD!   THEY COOKED 'EM IN A BEER BATTER.   FUN! FUN! FUN!   Male Narrator: WATER MEANS FUN,   AND SALTON SEA WATER IS IDEAL FOR THE AMATEUR SKIER,   SUPERB FOR THE SKILLFUL.   THE REASON?   THE LOW ALTITUDE AND THE ACCOMPANYING DENSITY   MAKES SALTON SEA ONE OF THE FASTEST BODIES OF WATER   ON EARTH.   IN THE '50s AND '60s,   THE SEA TOOK IN MORE--   HAD MORE TOURISTS THAN YOSEMITE PARK.   DOWN HERE WE HAD BOAT RACES.   WE HAD EVERYTHING.   WE HAD ALL KINDS OF CELEBRITIES AT THE SALTON SEA   AND BIG EVENTS.   ( Glass Shatters )   WE HAD SONNY BONO.   WE HAD THE MARX BROTHERS,   AND THE BEACH BOYS USED TO COME OUT HERE.   THE YACHT CLUBS ON ALL SIDES WERE DEVELOPING AND BOOMING   AND BOATS WERE IN AND OUT OF THE WATER.   EVENTUALLY THIS AREA   WAS LAID OUT AS A RETIREMENT COMMUNITY.   THEY BASICALLY LAID THIS OUT, PUT IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE,   AND THEN STARTED SELLING IT.   Male Narrator: OUT OF THE LABOR AND MIND OF MAN,   OUT OF THE BARREN DESERT,   OUT OF THE MANY MONTHS OF ENDEAVOR   AND DARING IMAGINATION,   A CITY IS BORN.   AND BUSINESS SEES A FUTURE IN SALTON CITY   AND BECOMES PART OF THE GREAT SCHEME OF THINGS.   A MAJOR OIL COMPANY BECOMES A PART,   A MODERN RESTAURANT.   PEOPLE CAME ON BUSES--   BUSLOADS OF PEOPLE--   TO SPEND THE DAY AND BUY THE LOTS.   FREE LITTLE TOURS OF THE PLACE   AND THEY HAD LITTLE BUSES AND GOLF CARTS.   GAVE THEM A LITTLE SPIEL ON THE BUS   AND THEN TOOK THEM TO THE YACHT CLUB--   AND HAD A MARINA THERE--   AND HAD A NICE LUNCH AT THE YACHT CLUB.   THE YACHT CLUB WAS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE,   HAD GOOD FOOD,   HAD, MOST OF THE TIME, A VERY COMPETENT BARTENDER.   HE KNEW HOW TO MAKE DRINKS,   INSTEAD OF JUST SPLASHING THEM IN, YOU KNOW.   COUPLE OF GOOD DRINKS, GOOD COMPANY,   DO SOME DANCING.   (* Music )   Male Narrator: WHAT DOES MAN SEEK?   WHATEVER IT IS, IT'S HERE AT SALTON CITY.   HERE IS ALL THAT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY,   YOUR CHILDREN AND YOUR CHILDREN'S CHILDREN WILL WANT.   IN SPORTS, IN RELAXATION, IN PLEASURE, IN HEALTH,   IN SECURITY.   YES, AN INVESTMENT IN A GROWING PROSPEROUS FUTURE.   THIS IS THE BIRTH OF A CITY, AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE.   THE FUTURE IS NOW.   AND YOU...   YOU HAVE BEEN PRESENT AT THE BIRTH OF A CITY.   (* Music )   Brian Napier: THE RISING SEA CAME PRIMARILY FROM ACCUSATIONS   OF EXCESSIVE AGRICULTURAL RUNOFFS TO THE SOUTH.   WHEN THE FARMERS ORDERED WATER,   THEY WOULD ORDER ENOUGH TO BE SURE THEY HAD ENOUGH,   AND THEY'D CLOSE THEIR GATES TO THEIR FARM   WHEN THEY HAD ALL THEY WANTED,   AND LET THE REST RUN OUT.   AND IT CAME INTO THE SEA.   WELL, THERE'S CONFLICTING STORIES   ABOUT HOW IT HAPPENED,   WHETHER IT WAS DELIBERATE OR NOT DELIBERATE OR WHAT.   WHAT HAPPENED, I DON'T KNOW, BUT THE WATER ROSE.   AND WE WERE SMACKED BY A PAIR OF TROPICAL STORMS,   ONE IN '76, ONE IN '77,   THAT DROPPED UNBELIEVABLE AMOUNTS OF RAINWATER   ON THE IMPERIAL VALLEY.   IT REALLY FLOODED THE SEA,   SO WE STARTED SANDBAGGING,   AND THAT WASN'T DOING MUCH GOOD EITHER.   WE'D BE OUT-- IT MIGHT BE MIDNIGHT.   CREWS OF US WOULD BE OUT HERE SANDBAGGING,   BECAUSE WATER WAS COMING OVER.   WE HAD A FRIEND   THAT LIVED BELOW 4th STREET IN A MOBILE HOME   AND THE WATER WAS COMING IN HER FRONT DOOR,   SO SHE BROUGHT HER DOG, AND HER CIGARETTES,   AND HER BOTTLE OF BOOZE,   AND CAME UP AND WE SWEATED IT OUT.   NOBODY GOT MAD OR SCARED AND RAN AWAY OR ANYTHING.   B.L.M. TOLD US TO EVACUATE.   WE SAID, "HUH-UNH. TOO MANY YEARS."   IT TORE UP THE MARINA BY THE YACHT CLUB.   JUST WASHED IT OUT TO SEA PRACTICALLY.   WE PICKED UP PIECES OF IT.   WHEN SOMETHING MAJOR LIKE THAT WENT OUT,   THEY WEREN'T ABOUT THE REPLACE IT.   IT WAS THE LAST VESTIGE OF THE GOOD TIMES DOWN HERE.   John Waters: AS AN UNNATURAL BODY OF WATER,   THE SEA IS LIKE A GIANT PUDDLE   AT THE BOTTOM OF A DRAINED SWIMMING POOL.   WITH NO OUTLET, THE WATER LEVEL CAN CHANGE SUDDENLY,   AND ANYTHING THE WATER BRINGS IN, STAYS THERE.   THE ONLY REASON THIS PUDDLE DOESN'T DRY UP,   IS BECAUSE OF SALTY IRRIGATION RUNOFF   FROM SURROUNDING FARMS.   BUT WITH 6 FEET OF EVAPORATION A YEAR,   THIS LIFE-SUSTAINING RUNOFF,   IS CONCENTRATED INTO A SALTY SOUP.   LET'S JUST SAY,   IT'S NOT THE BEST SITUATION FOR THE FISH.   (* Rock Music )   Norm Niver: WALL-TO-WALL DEAD FISH,   150 FEET OUT FROM MY DOCK   AND ABOUT A QUARTER OF A MILE LONG.   DURING THE SUMMER,   THE WATER IN THE SALTON SEA IS SO WARM AND SO SALTY,   THAT OXYGEN WILL HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME DISSOLVING.   SO WE HAVE THESE LARGE DIE-OFFS OF TILAPIA   JUST FOR THE SIMPLE REASON   THAT THERE'S NO OXYGEN FOR THEM TO BREATHE.   GOOD-BYE, FISH! HA, HA!   Steve Horvitz: AND THEY'LL DIE BY THE MILLIONS.   THE DECAY DOES GET PRETTY SMELLY AT TIMES.   Norm Niver: WHEN THEY DIE, THEY ARE FERTILIZER.   THEY ARE NUTRIENTS RETURNED TO THE SEA WATER.   AND THE NUTRIENTS ARE SO HIGH THEY CREATE ALGAE BLOOMS.   CONTINUOUS CYCLE OF FISH DYING,   PROVIDING NUTRITION FOR MORE ALGAE,   WHICH MEANS MORE FISH.   YOU KNOW, JUST--   THERE'S JUST TOO MANY FISH HERE.   THE SALTON SEA HAS ABOUT 100 MILLION TILAPIA IN IT,   WHICH IS A HUGE POPULATION.   SOME PEOPLE THINK THAT IT'S   THE MOST PRODUCTIVE TILAPIA RESOURCE,   MAYBE EVEN IN THE WORLD.   THE POPULATION OF THE FISH IN HERE IS STUPENDOUS,   BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE QUANTITY OF THE FISH--   YOU SEE 'EM DYING ALL OVER THE PLACE   AND YET YOU DON'T LOSE NONE.   THEY'RE RIGHT BACK AGAIN THE NEXT YEAR.   THERE'S THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF 'EM.   AND YOU SEE 'EM SOMETIMES   STACKED TWO AND THREE FEET HIGH ON THE BEACH   WHEN THEY HAVE A DIE-OFF.   BUT YOU GO OUT FISHING   WHEN THE SEASON HITS AND EVERYTHING   AND IT'S FULL OF FISH.   YEAH, SO WHAT CAN I SAY?   (* Music )   BY 1980, MOST PEOPLE HAD GIVEN UP   ON ANY EXPLOSIVE GROWTH.   THE BUILDING WAS LIMITED BY THE DEMAND,   WHICH THERE WASN'T A GREAT DEAL OF.   AND SEEING WHAT REAL ESTATE VALUES   WERE STARTING TO DO THEN,   "WE CAN'T LOSE."   WELL, YOU CAN'T WIN, EITHER. ( Laughs )   (* Music Continues )   SALTON CITY, UNFORTUNATELY,   WAS DEVELOPED AS A PLACE TO MAKE MONEY BY BUYING A LOT.   WITH THE WATER AND EVERYTHING,   THIS WOULD BECOME A RESORT AREA LIKE THE MEDITERRANEAN.   AND YEARS AGO, IT HAD SORT OF A CHANCE,   BUT THE--IF IT HAD BEEN BUILT RATHER THAN SOLD LOTS.   THE PROBLEM WAS, OF COURSE,   THAT THEY SOLD IT TO PEOPLE WHO WERE GREEDY   AND WANTED TO MAKE MONEY ON IT RATHER THAN AS A PLACE TO LIVE.   ( Cash Register Dings )   THIS IS THE LAST FRONTIER.   IT'S THE LAST PLACE YOU CAN GO AND GET CHEAP LAND.   AND I MEAN, CHEAP!   ALL THESE LITTLE TEENY SQUARES IN HERE, ARE LOTS.   THERE ARE 26,000 LOTS IN THIS SUBDIVISION.   AND EVERY LOT HAS SEWER,   IT'S ON THE SEWER, LIKE CITY SEWERAGE.   CITY SEWER, HAVE WATER IN THE STREET,   AND YOU PAY FOR A WATER METER TO HOOK UP,   IF YOU ARE BUILDING, OR PUT A MOBILE HOME ON IT.   IT HAS TO BE A DOUBLE-WIDE MOBILE HOME.   AND, UM, IT'S A FANTASTIC DEAL.   YOU CAN BUY ONE FOR $3500 CASH.   YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE RICH TO OWN A PIECE OF CALIFORNIA.   SEE THE LANDMAN!   Male Narrator: YOU CAN OWN A PIECE OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA   FOR AS LITTLE AS $100 DOWN,   AND MONTHLY PAYMENTS   LESS THAN YOU WOULD SPEND ON YOUR ELECTRIC BILL.   YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE RICH, THE LANDMAN HAS THE ANSWER!   WHEN I FIRST CAME HERE, I SAW THIS OPPORTUNITY--   FIRST I SAW THE VIEW AND SAID, "WOW!   THERE IT IS! UNIQUE, THIS THING."   THE NEXT THING THAT CAME TO MY MIND,   "DOLLARS, DOLLARS, DOLLARS!   MAN, I GOT TO COME HERE AND MAKE A FORTUNE!"   HASTA MI BEBITA SABE UN BUEN NEGOCIO CUANDO LO VEA.   SEE THE LANDMAN!   YOU KNOW, PEOPLE IN THE LAND BUSINESS,   THEY TALK ABOUT THE SALTON SEA.   IT'S A LEGEND.   IT'S A LEGEND OF FAILURE, OF HORRIBLE THINGS THAT HAPPENED.   AND I CAME HERE AND I SAW EVERYTHING.   I SAW THE VIEW, I SAW THE SEA,   I SAW EVERYTHING THAT WAS HAPPENING,   AND I THOUGHT IT WAS A HUMONGOUS OPPORTUNITY   TO CHANGE PEOPLE'S PERCEPTION OF THE SEA.   (* Music )   EVEN IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BUILD RIGHT NOW,   IT'S GOING TO ACCELERATE IN VALUE,   IT HAS TO.   AND WHEN IT HAPPENS, I DON'T KNOW,   BUT IT WILL HAPPEN.   YOU HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE   THAT ARE WAITING FOR THINGS TO HAPPEN,   AND THEY ALL FEEL LIKE IT'S JUST AROUND THE CORNER.   AND THEY HAVE PROBABLY BEEN FEELING LIKE   IT'S JUST AROUND THE CORNER FOR 10 OR 15 YEARS.   I-I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT THE SEA WOULD GROW,   WOULD DO SOMETHING.   IT'S TAKEN LONGER THAN I THOUGHT,   BUT IN THE MEANTIME,   IF PROPERTY COMES UP FOR SALE AND THE PRICE IS RIGHT,   I BUY IT.   I HAVEN'T OVERPAID FOR ANY OF IT,   BUT--IT'S AN INVESTMENT.   PEOPLE ARE BUYING AND LIKE TO SPECULATE, YOU KNOW.   IF THEY PLAY THE LOTTERY,   THEY SHOULD AT LEAST GET A $400 LOT OUT HERE SOMEPLACE.   ( Laughs )   BUT THERE'S STILL A LOT OF LOTS OUT HERE FOR SALE.   (* Music )   THE MATERIAL IS HERE, BUT IT TAKES A LOT OF WORK.   BUT I THINK IT'LL BE WORTH IT IN THE END.   I'M JUST SORRY THAT I WON'T BE HERE TO SEE IT, PROBABLY.   MY LIFE EXPECTANCY IS, I GUESS, AROUND 11 YEARS,   SOMETHING LIKE THAT,   AND I DON'T EXPECT TO SEE MIRACLES IN THAT TIME.   (* Blues Music )   John Waters: WHILE MANY CONTINUE TO WAIT FOR THE DREAM,   ACROSS THE SEA IN THE WORKING-CLASS HAVEN   OF BOMBAY BEACH,   PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY FOUND PARADISE.   BUT HALF-FLOODED,   WITH NO GAS STATION, ONE TINY STORE,   TWO DELIGHTFUL BARS,   AND AN OBSESSION WITH GOLF CARTS,   THIS DUSTY LITTLE TOWN ISN'T EVERYONE'S IDEA   OF WHAT THE DREAM WAS SUPPOSED TO BECOME.   THIS WHOLE AREA DOWN HERE BELOW THE DIKE WAS FLOODED OUT.   RIGHT OVER THERE, WHAT'S LEFT OF THE BUILDING   IS WHAT USED TO BE THE "LUCK OF THE IRISH."   AND OVER THERE, WHERE IT'S FENCED,   THERE USED TO BE A BEER BAR CALLED "THE WATERFRONT"   AND A FISHING PIER.   BUT IT'S ALL GONE.   (* Blues Music )   THE OLD PEOPLE,   THEY STAY IN THEIR HOUSE DURING THE DAYTIME   AND THEY COME OUT AT NIGHT.   MOST OF 'EM DO ANYWAY.   GUY SHOT HISSELF IN THE HEAD RIGHT THERE.   THERE'S ONE DOWN THE STREET WHERE A GUY HUNG HISSELF.   AND THIS ONE ON THE CORNER RIGHT THERE,   HE DIED TRYING TO TAKE A POOP RIGHT THERE IN HIS HOUSE.   COUPLE OF STROKES AND OLD AGE THINGS...   BRAIN TUMOR   AND ARTERY BYPASS, YOU KNOW, JUST...   IN MY HOUSE, A PERSON DIED OVER THERE.   IN THIS ONE, TOO, MY BEST FRIEND'S, DIED--   THAT'S OVER THERE, YOU KNOW.   A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE DIED OUT HERE.   I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S FROM OLD AGE OR,   YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OF, YOU KNOW, THE CONDITIONS,   OR WHAT.   I HAD A LITTLE PROBLEM WHEN WE WERE WORKING AT DESERT HOSPITAL,   A LITTLE CANCER PROBLEM.   AND I SAID, "THAT'S IT.   I'M NOT WORKING ANYMORE."   YOU KNOW, WHO KNOWS, MAYBE TOMORROW, MAYBE--   AND THAT'S BEEN 20 YEARS AGO.   SO I BLAME MY GOOD HEALTH ON THE SALTON SEA.   ( Laughs )   (* Blues Continue )   WE HAVE LOTS OF YARD SALES.   THAT LADY'S HUSBAND DIED AND SHE'S MOVING SO...   THEN WE WORRY ABOUT THINGS LIKE THIS,   BECAUSE OF THE KIDS.   THEY GET IN AND SMOKE THE GRASS AND--   YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE BLACK KIDS   ARE JUST DELIGHTFUL.   BUT THERE'S A GROUP THAT ARE...IN TROUBLE.   LOOK AT THAT RIDICULOUS WINDMILL HOUSE!   PEOPLE COME IN FROM L.A. THAT CAUSE A LOT OF PROBLEMS,   ROBBING HOUSES,   AND, YOU KNOW, SELLING DRUGS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.   THERE'S MORE WELFARE PEOPLE HERE NOW.   THE RENT'S CHEAPER HERE, SO...   THE COUNTY SENDS 'EM OUT HERE.   WHEN THE YOUNG KIDS COME IN HERE,   THEY DON'T DO NOTHING BUT RAISE HELL.   ( Glass Shattering )   AND I TELL THEM, "I'M GONNA CALL A COP ON YA."   "WHAT'S A COP GONNA DO?   MAYBE BRING ME A LOLLIPOP?"   YEAH, HA, HA.   THEY CAN'T DO NOTHING, NAH-UH.   AND THEIR PARENTS, THEY DON'T TEACH 'EM NOTHING.   ( Excited Chatter )   I DON'T KNOW, I LIVED OUT HERE SO LONG   TO WHERE I'M JUST KINDA USED TO IT.   IT'S KINDA BORING OUT HERE, BUT IT'S COOL.   Lechon Rainey: IT'S AWAY FROM THE CITY.   YOU AIN'T GOT TO WORRY ABOUT GANG-BANGING,   YOU AIN'T GOT TO WORRY ABOUT NONE OF THAT STUFF OUT HERE.   ONLY ONE PROBLEM WE HAVE   IS THEY NEED TO CLEAN UP THAT OUT THERE   SO EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW, HAVE SOMETHING TO DO,   BESIDES FISHING.   YOU KNOW, NOBODY WANT TO EAT THAT STUFF OUT OF THERE.   AND, YOU KNOW, OUT HERE IT AIN'T, I DON'T KNOW--   SEE ALL THESE KIDS OUT HERE?   WE NEED SOMETHING FOR THE KIDS.   AS YOU CAN SEE, WE ONLY GOT ONE LITTLE PARK,   AND THAT'S REALLY ABOUT IT.   MY MOM, MY BIOLOGICAL MOM,   GOT SHOT AND KILLED BY HER BOYFRIEND,   AND MY MOM'S SISTER TOOK CARE OF US.   AND EL CENTRO WAS TOO ROUGH FOR US,   SO SHE MOVED US OUT HERE.   WHEN SHE MOVED US OUT HERE,   YOU KNOW, HEY, THINGS HAPPEN, I GOT PREGNANT.   I CHOOSE TO RAISE MY SON OUT HERE.   I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE HIM TO EL CENTRO AND RAISE HIM,   I AM GOING TO RAISE HIM RIGHT HERE ON BOMBAY BEACH.   THERE AIN'T NOTHING OUT HERE,   NO VIOLENCE, NONE OF THAT.   YOU KNOW WHAT I AM SAYING?   IT'S A RETIRING PLACE, IT'S FOR OLD PEOPLE.   IF YOU RAISE 'EM UP IN THE CITY,   THEY'LL BE EITHER GANG-BANGING, SHOOTING EACH OTHER.   I MEAN, HATRED.   I MEAN, THAT'S IF YOU RAISE THEM UP IN THE CITY,   BUT IF YOU RAISE THEM UP IN BOMBAY BEACH,   YOUR KIDS WON'T BE GROWING UP LIKE THAT.   IN THE CITY, HE'LL GET SHOT AND KILLED   IN LESS THAN 48 HOURS.   UP HERE, HE'LL HAVE A BETTER CHANCE OF LIVIN'.   ( Excited Chatter )   EVERYBODY GETS WEED AROUND HER,   BUT WHEN THEY ASK ME FOR SOME,   OR FLAUBERT OR ANYBODY,   THEY SAY NO.   'CAUSE WE KNOW OUR RESPECTS, WE KNOW.   BOMBAY BEACH TREAT ME GOOD!   THEY GOT ALL THE 40s AND ALL THE WEED!   GOD DIED FOR OUR SINS!   SO I'M NOT GOING TO FOOL GOD LIKE THAT   AND JUST KEEP ON DOING STUFF, LIKE DRUGS AND STUFF.   I AIN'T GONNA DO THAT.   Flaubert: I AIN'T DOIN' THAT.   ANYBODY ASK ME FOR DRUGS, MAN...HECK NO!   I AIN'T WITH THAT DOPE BOY!   Jeff Springer: HOW ABOUT SOCCER, YOU GUYS?   SOCCER! OH YEAH! THAT'S MY STUFF!   THAT'S MY SPORT! THAT'S MY SPORT!   BASKETBALL, FOOTBALL, BASEBALL; ALL THAT STUFF!   VOLLEYBALL!   John Waters: FORGOTTEN AND FLOODED,   BOMBAY BEACH IS THE PERFECT REFUGE   FROM THE OUTSIDE WORLD.   BUT WHEN YOU LIVE IN A TRAILER PARK   ON THE EDGE OF AN ECOLOGICAL TIME BOMB,   YOU GOTTA HAVE SOME FUN, AND DRINK PLENTY OF BEER.   Lechon: EVERYBODY, WATCH HUNKY DADDY.   Olivia Benitez: THIS IS HUNKY DADDY,   OUR FAVORITE GUY IN THE TOWN!   THIS IS MY GUY!   Olivia: AND THIS IS THEIR OTHER DOG!   THIS IS A BABY BOY.   THAT OVER THERE'S THE GIRL--   SHE HAD BABIES, AND SHE IS PRETTY, TOO.   I LIKE HER.   THEY ARE VERY FRIENDLY.   LES, HE'S ONE OF A KIND, THAT'S FOR SURE.   THAT'S EMBARRASSING!   Olivia: BYE, HUNKY DADDY!   THAT'S MY GUY RIGHT HERE!   WHOO!   HE'S, UH...   ( Laughs ) WHAT CAN I SAY ABOUT HIM?   HE'S NUTS! ( Laughs )   HE'S, UH...HE'S WILD!   HE'S A WILD CHILD!   HE LOVES WOMEN, ALL WOMEN,   I DON'T CARE WHAT THEY ARE, BLACK, WHITE, YELLOW, GREEN.   HE LOVES 'EM ALL!   THERE'S A LOT OF HUNGARIANS IN BOMBAY,   THEY SEEM TO LIKE THE--   WELL, ALL HUNGARIANS LIKE TO PARTY, I MUST SAY.   SOME PEOPLE CALL THEM HUNGARIANS,   BUT YA PAY ATTENTION TO THEIR LANGUAGE   AND I'LL BET YA THEY'RE SPEAKIN' RUSSIAN.   YOU KNOW, MY DAD MOVED THERE,   AND THEN ZOLI BOTCHY MOVED THERE,   AND LOUIE MOVED THERE,   AND YOSHKA JOE, HE MOVED THERE--   THEY'RE ALL DEAD, ALL OF THEM DIED.   AND THEN THERE WAS LES, AND SEGON AND...   YEAH, THERE'S A BUNCH OF 'EM.   THERE'S ONE THERE, THERE'S ONE THERE.   THERE WAS ONE OVER, ACROSS THE STREET THERE.   THERE ARE KIDS LIKE ME, LANKA AND ANIKO AND--   GOD, THERE'S A LOT OF HUNGARIANS,   I'M TELLING YA!   Male Narrator: ALMOST WITH BARE HANDS,   PATRIOTS JOINED BY THE HUNGARIAN ARMY   ROSE SPONTANEOUSLY   AND MADE A SHAMBLES OF THE MIGHTY RUSSIAN TANKS.   FOR 10 DAYS THEY SENT THE RED MIGHT REELING.   Male Narrator: BUT RETRIBUTION WAS SWIFT AND CRUSHING.   TWENTY NEW DIVISIONS OF TANKS MOVED IN.   THIS TIME,   SHAKEN KREMLIN LEADERS TOOK NO CHANCES   AND REBELLION TURNED TO SLAUGHTER   IN THE UNEQUAL STRUGGLE.   ( Explosions )   YEAH, HE WAS A FREEDOM FIGHTER.   I NEVER SAW ANY PICTURES OF HIM IN UNIFORM,   YOU KNOW, I KNOW HE WAS IN THE WAR,   BUT I NEVER SAW ANY PICTURES OF HIM IN UNIFORM.   SO I GUESS   THAT HE SAVED PEOPLE'S LIVES UNDERGROUND OR WHATEVER,   AND THEN HE CAME TO AMERICA   AND HE LOVED THIS... DESOLATE DESERT.   (* Music )   IT'S HURT ALL THE BUSINESS AROUND THE VALLEY HERE.   ALL THE BOAT LANDINGS HAVE CLOSED   'CAUSE THERE WASN'T ANY BUSINESS.   YOU KNOW WHAT? IF THEY'D DO THE SALTON SEA,   EVERYTHING'LL BE SO MUCH BETTER.   AND PROPERTY TAXES WILL GO UP.   AND THERE'S JUST--   LOOK IT, WE'RE OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS DESERT,   WHERE IT GETS 120,   WITH THIS HUGE BODY OF WATER THAT WE CAN'T EVEN USE!   IT'S ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS; IT MAKES ME SICK.   EVERYTHING'S BUILT UP IN BIG CITIES NOW.   IT HAS TO GO SOMEWHERE.   IT HAS TO COME THIS WAY.   WHERE ELSE CAN THEY GO?   THIS'LL BE A WINTER RESORT DOWN HERE   BEFORE TOO MANY YEARS I THINK.   IT USED TO BE A NICE LITTLE TOWN.   BUT NOW THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE SOMETHING OUT OF IT,   BUT THEY NEVER WILL.   AND YOU CAN'T TAKE NOTHING,   AND MAKE ANYTHING OUT OF NOTHING.   John Waters: ONCE A STATION FOR THOUSANDS OF VACATIONING FISHERMAN   COMING TO THE SALTON SEA,   NILAND NOW BARELY HANGS ON.   ITS ONLY SALVATION LIES IN THE CONSTRUCTION   OF A VERY DIFFERENT KIND OF TOURIST ATTRACTION.   LEONARD KNIGHT CAME HERE ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO   AND STARTED BUILDING THAT MOUNTAIN.   HE'S WORKING ON IT EVER SINCE, EVERY DAY.   HE COMES IN HERE EVERY MORNING EARLY,   STAYS AN HOUR OR SO AND HAS COFFEE WITH US.   HE'S A GOOD MAN.   HE'S RELIGIOUS, BUT HE DOESN'T PUSH IT ON YOU.   YOU CAN BE AS RELIGIOUS AS YOU WANT TO,   AS LONG AS YOU DON'T TRY TO PUSH HIM INTO YOUR RELIGION.   ( Laughs )   (* Music )   Leonard Knight: I JUST BELIEVE THAT GOD REALLY BUILT THIS MOUNTAIN,   I DIDN'T.   I'M NOT REALLY CAPABLE OF-- ESPECIALLY BEING AN ARTIST--   I'M JUST NOT CAPABLE OF DOING ANYTHING,   BUT GOD ALMIGHTY CAN DO ANYTHING.   AND IF I'VE TALKED TO GOD A LOT,   AND I KEEP SAYING ALMOST EVERY MORNING,   "GOD, USE ME IF YOU CAN.   I WANT TO WORK FOR YOU, GOD."   AND LOOK AT THE MOUNTAIN,   IT'S GOING BETTER THAN 10 CHURCHES   ALL PUT TOGETHER SOMETIMES.   YOU KNOW, WHEN IT COMES TO PAINT--   I JUST LOVE PAINT--OLD PAINT, NEW PAINT, PRETTY PAINT.   AND I LIKE LATEX AT FIRST.   IF I GET A PRETTY COLOR OF OIL HIGH-GLOSS PAINT,   I KEEP IT FOR THE FLOWERS.   SO, NO MATTER WHAT COMES IN, I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT. HA!   PEOPLE JUST BRING ME THEIR PAINT.   AND I LIKE TO GIVE POSTCARDS TO PEOPLE,   SO IT'S A "GIVE ME" MOUNTAIN.   NO EDUCATION FROM MAN WHATSOEVER.   SO, IF THERE IS ANY PART OF THIS MOUNTAIN,   IT'S NOT--I DIDN'T READ IT IN A BOOK,   OR I DIDN'T PUSH AN INTERNET PUSH BUTTON.   AND NOW PEOPLE REALLY THINK I'M AN ARTIST.   I HOPE I AM NOT A COUNTERFEIT. ( Laughs )   YOU LEARN BY MISTAKES MAINLY.   YOU MAKE A MISTAKE, AND YOU KINDA HAVE FUN DOING IT,   BUT THEN YOU LOOK BACK AND SAY,   "HEY, THERE MUST BE A BETTER WAY."   I MADE ONE MISTAKE THAT TOOK ME FOUR YEARS--   AND THE WHOLE MOUNTAIN FELL ON ME.   SO I DON'T WANT TO MAKE MISTAKES THAT BIG ANYMORE.   AT FIRST I DIDN'T BUILD IT RIGHT.   AND I WENT TO THE DUMP,   AND THEN I'D GET A REFRIGERATOR, TRUCK TIRES,   AND I'D FILL 'EM WITH SAND   AND PUT 'EM IN HERE AND PUT SOME CEMENT WITH IT.   AND IN 1991, THE WHOLE MOUNTAIN FELL DOWN.   I PROBABLY HAD 200 OR 300 TONS OF ADOBE UP HERE.   AND IT WAS ABOUT THAT TIME, I LOOKED UP AND I SAYS,   "GOD, YOU BUILD THE MOUNTAIN, JUST DON'T LET LEONARD BUILD IT.   GOD, YOU DO IT."   AND, BOY, EVER SINCE THEN--   I JUST STARTED DIGGING IN THIS MOUNTAIN,   AND I'VE BEEN TOTALLY HAPPY EVER SINCE.   THE SALTON SEA NEEDS TOURISM AND MONEY.   WE NEED PEOPLE TO COME IN AND FILL UP THE RESTAURANTS   AND PUT THEIR WAITRESSES TO WORK.   AND I HOPE THAT, IN YEARS TO COME,   THIS THING WILL TURN INTO A TOURIST ATTRACTION,   AND BRING MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO CALIFORNIA.   Clark Bloom: THE SALTON SEA REFUGE, IN PARTICULAR,   WAS SET UP AS A WATERFOWL WINTERING AREA,   THAT WAS OUR MAIN GOAL, BUT THINGS HAVE CHANGED A LOT.   ( White Noise )   (* Foreboding Music )   Male Newscaster 1: ON MONDAY, BIOLOGISTS DISCOVERED   58 DEAD BIRDS AT THE SALTON SEA,   AND RESCUED 10 BROWN PELICANS.   Male Newscaster 2: A MYSTERIOUS OUTBREAK OF AVIAN BOTULISM,   A DEADLY ILLNESS FROM BACTERIA USUALLY FOUND IN MAGGOTS.   Clark Bloom: WATER TEMPERATURES REMAIN HIGH,   EVERYTHING IS IDEAL FOR BOTULISM,   AND IT USUALLY DOES ITS THING.   Male Newscaster 3: FOR THE PAST THREE WEEKS,   EXPERTS AND VOLUNTEERS HAVE BEEN RESCUING   AS MANY BIRDS AS POSSIBLE,   INCLUDING THE RARE CALIFORNIA BROWN PELICAN.   I GUESS I COULD BEST DESCRIBE '96--   YOU HAD BIRDS GETTING SICK AND DYING   LITERALLY BY THE HUNDREDS ON A DAILY BASIS.   THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN AN INDICATION   THAT THE SEA WAS NOT DOING WELL,   THAT THERE WAS, ECOLOGICALLY, A PROBLEM.   THE NUMBER OF DEAD BIRDS BUILT UP TO THE POINT WHERE--   AT THAT TIME, WE ONLY HAD THE ONE INCINERATOR,   WHICH IS THE SMALLER ONE,   IT COULD NOT EVEN BEGIN TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM,   IT RAN 24 HOURS A DAY, NONSTOP.   ( Fire Crackling )   IT'S DEPRESSING, IT'S VERY DEPRESSING,   MAINLY BECAUSE YOU KNOW   THAT THERE'S NOTHING THAT YOU CAN DO,   OTHER THAN TRY TO CLEAN THE MESS UP,   TO MAKE IT STOP.   WHEN YOU HAVE REALLY HOT DAYS   WITH A VERY HIGH SALINITY LEVEL,   IT SETS THE TABLE FOR BOTULISM TO GO CRAZY.   THE TILAPIA PICK UP BOTULISM AND CARRY IT IN THEIR BODY.   THE FISH BECOME TOXIC TO THE PELICANS,   AND THEY GET BOTULISM AND DIE.   BOTULISM SPREADS THROUGH CONTAMINATION   OF OTHER BIRDS.   WHEN A DEAD BIRD THAT HAS BOTULISM   BEGINS TO DECOMPOSE,   OF COURSE, IT FILLS UP WITH MAGGOTS.   THE MAGGOTS PICK UP THE BOTULISM TOXIN,   AND IT DOES NOT AFFECT THEM.   SO EACH MAGGOT THAT CRAWLS AROUND,   PRESENTS THE POSSIBILITY OF ANOTHER DEAD OR SICK BIRD.   IT SPREADS QUITE FAST   IF YOU DON'T DO ANYTHING TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM.   CLEANING UP THE AREA   IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO.   YEAR-ROUND WE WILL GO OUT, ONCE A WEEK OR SO,   AND COVER ONE PARTICULAR AREA OF THE SEA OR ANOTHER,   AND ONCE WE START PICKING UP PELICANS,   USUALLY OUT OF THE SOUTH END HERE   AROUND THE ALAMO RIVER OR THE NEW RIVER,   THEN WE'LL STEP UP PATROLS,   TO EVENTUALLY TO 7 DAYS A WEEK.   SO WE'LL GO OUT THERE,   WE'LL PICK UP THE BIRDS OFF OF THE SHORE   THAT ARE DEAD.   WE'LL ALSO PICK UP AS MANY LIVE BIRDS AS WE CAN,   TREATING THEM ON-SITE AT OUR REHAB HOSPITAL.   IT WAS KIND OF DIFFICULT AT FIRST,   PICKING UP ALL THOSE PELICANS,   AND KNOWING THAT THEY'RE SICK AND POSSIBLY COULD DIE,   BUT NOW KNOWING THAT 7 OUT OF EVERY 10   ARE GOING TO MAKE IT,   YOU KNOW, IT KIND OF GIVES YOU A GOOD FEELING.   THERE IS JUST A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF BIRDS   THAT COME THROUGH THIS AREA,   SIMPLY BECAUSE OF ITS GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION,   PLUS THE MILD WINTERS.   AND YOU ALSO HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT MOST OF THE--   CALIFORNIA'S WETLANDS HAVE BEEN LOST   FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER   AND THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW REMAINING WETLANDS THERE ARE.   WE STILL HAVE DISEASE PROBLEMS IN THE SUMMERTIME,   WE HAVE HAD EVERY SUMMER SINCE '96.   I MEAN, IT'S, AGAIN, PROBABLY NOT GOING TO GO AWAY.   BUT BECAUSE OF OUR EXPERIENCE   AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE NOW HAVE,   THESE PROBLEMS AREN'T REALLY BAD.   WE ARE ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH IT,   AND ACTUALLY STAY AHEAD OF THE GAME.   (* Acoustic Guitar )   THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PLANS   TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS WITH THE SALTON SEA.   AND THERE ARE DOZENS AND DOZENS OF PLANS   TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS WITH THE SALTON SEA,   AND PERHAPS THAT'S A PROBLEM IN ITSELF.   IN MY MIND IT'S A CANAL, OR IT'S A PIPELINE,   A WATER MOVEMENT:   TAKE WATER OUT, PUT WATER BACK IN.   THERE ARE OTHER APPROACHES   TO LOOK AT PONDING PORTIONS OF THE SALTON SEA;   TO DRAW THE SALT OUT;   TO USE ENHANCED EVAPORATIVE SYSTEMS   CURRENTLY USED IN ISRAEL.   IT'S AN AGE-OLD PROBLEM,   IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR 30 YEARS.   BUT IT'S COME TO THE POINT   WHERE I REALLY DON'T THINK THAT WE HAVE ANOTHER 30 YEARS.   WE NEED TO SOLVE IT NOW.   John Waters: SCIENTISTS KNEW HOW TO SAVE THE SEA,   BUT THEY LACKED THE ATTENTION AND FUNDS   TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.   WHAT THEY NEEDED WAS A HERO,   WHAT THEY GOT, WAS A ROCK STAR!   * WITHOUT LOVE, WHERE WOULD YOU BE NOW? *   * NOW, NOW, NOW...   John Waters: SONNY BONO-- MUSICIAN, RESTAURATEUR,   PALM SPRINGS MAYOR, AND EX-HUSBAND OF CHER--   WAS ELECTED TO CONGRESS,   AND THE SALTON SEA FOUND ITS CHAMPION.   I MAY HAVE TO WEAR THAT "SONNY AND CHER" THING   FOR A WHILE,   BUT I'LL OVERCOME THAT.   I JUST NEED TO TALK TO PEOPLE AND I'LL OVERCOME THAT.   SONNY BONO WAS ABLE TO DEVELOP AND GENERATE   A LOT OF INTEREST IN THE SALTON SEA   WITH HIS PEERS IN CONGRESS   AND I THINK HE'S THE ONE THAT REALLY BROUGHT ATTENTION   TO THE PROBLEMS OF THE SALTON SEA   TO CONGRESS, TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.   Sonny Bono: IT'S THE FIRST TIME I'VE SEEN THIS KIND OF ENERGY   GO INTO A PROJECT THAT IS DEARLY NEEDED   TO PREVENT AN ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER.   Clark Bloom: SONNY WAS A REBORN ENVIRONMENTALIST.   HE DID HAVE QUITE AN INTEREST IN WILDLIFE,   AND WANTED TO SEE SOMETHING DONE.   YOU COULD NOT ONLY AVOID THIS DISASTER,   BUT YOU COULD ALSO CREATE A RECREATIONAL MECCA.   I THINK SONNY WAS GOOD FOR THE SEA.   UNFORTUNATELY, HE WENT SKIING.   HE HAD INTRODUCED SOME LEGISLATION INTO CONGRESS   JUST BEFORE HE DIED.   AND, UNFORTUNATELY--   I MEAN, THAT IS A TERRIBLE WAY TO HAVE TO GET SOMETHING PASSED   IS TO HAVE SOMEBODY GET KILLED IN AN ACCIDENT,   BUT I THINK THAT WAS PROBABLY THE SPARK   THAT GOT CONGRESS TO GO AHEAD   AND COME FORWARD WITH SOME FUNDING.   AS SONNY SAID, "THE BEAT GOES ON,"   AND ALL OF HIS FRIENDS IN CONGRESS   HAVE PICKED UP THE BALL THAT HE WAS CARRYING   AND I THINK WE'LL TAKE IT ACROSS THE GOAL LINE.   Female Newscaster: REFERENCES WERE MADE ALL DAY   TO KEEPING SONNY BONO'S LEGACY ALIVE,   AS FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL LEADERS   DISCUSSED WAYS TO SAVE THE AILING SEA.   THIS IS A GREAT NATURAL RESOURCE   TO BE MANAGED AND NURTURED AND RECLAIMED,   AND WE WILL BE INTRODUCING, WITH MARY'S PERMISSION,   ON SONNY'S BIRTHDAY,   THE SONNY BONO SALTON SEA RESTORATION PROJECT.   ( Applause )   WE WANT TO KEEP THE AREA FOR THE THINGS   LIKE SONNY BONO WANTED,   LIKE BOATING AND FISHING AND WATER-SKIING.   AND WE WANT TO HELP ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,   THE SPORTS FISHERY;   AND THEN THE FINAL ONE IS   WE WANT TO HELP THE MIGRATORY BIRD HABITAT.   WE HAVE A LOT OF GROUPS THAT ARE WORKING WITH US,   THAT ARE INTERESTED IN SAVING THE SEA.   WE HAVE ALL THE WAY FROM IRRIGATORS AND DEVELOPERS   AND CITIES, ALL THE WAY TO ENVIRONMENTALISTS.   SO WE'VE GOT A NICE GROUP OF A LOT OF PEOPLE.   AND THAT'S NICE, THAT'S FUN TO DO THAT,   BECAUSE MAYBE WE CAN ALL COME UP WITH AN ANSWER.   THAT'S WHAT WE HOPE. THAT'S WHAT WE HOPE.   (* Music )   John Waters: WITH THE CREATION   OF THE SALTON SEA RESTORATION ACT IN 1998,   THE PEOPLE AROUND THE SEA WERE ALL DOLLED UP   AND READY FOR THE POOL PARTY TO BEGIN.   BUT WITH THE PASSING YEARS AND CONTINUED DELAYS,   THEIR VISIONS OF A HAPPY, BRIGHT FUTURE   HAD BEGUN TO FADE.   IT NOW SEEMS EVEN THE BONO BOOM   HAS GONE BUST.   (* Electric Guitar )   EVERYONE WAS GOING TO SAVE THE SALTON SEA.   WHEN THE HYPE ENDED, SONNY'S BURIED,   A PARK--A RESERVE WAS NAMED AFTER HIM,   HALF A FREEWAY SOMEWHERE,   ALL THOSE PEOPLE LEFT.   WE'RE BACK TO SQUARE ONE BASICALLY.   JUST A LITTLE MORE IMPULSE,   BUT WE'RE BASICALLY BACK TO THE SAME PROBLEM.   WE ALL FELT LIKE,   ONCE THE SALTON SEA AUTHORITY WAS CREATED,   THIS WOULD THE BEST, PROBABLY FINAL EFFORT,   AND THEY'VE DONE A BEAUTIFUL JOB.   I DON'T KNOCK THE SALTON SEA AUTHORITY AT ALL.   THEY'VE JUST BEEN GIVEN THEIR CRITERIA   AND THEIR PARAMETERS   AND BEEN TOLD WHAT TO DO BY CONGRESS,   AND THEN YOU'VE GOT THE POLITICAL PRESSURE AGAINST IT.   WHATEVER THEY TRY TO DO, IT'S JUST UP A ONE-WAY STREET.   I THINK IT BETTER CHANGE,   OTHERWISE THERE AIN'T GONNA BE NO FUTURE,   AT LEAST NOT HERE.   THIS PLACE HERE IS GOING.   THE WATER'S RECEDING RATHER RAPIDLY.   LAST YEAR, THOSE ROCKS RIGHT THERE,   WERE UNDERWATER.   THE FISHING IS NOT WHAT IS USED TO BE.   THE PARTYING IS NOT WHAT IS USED TO BE.   AND PEOPLE ARE, YOU KNOW WHAT,   THEY SELL OUT AND GET OUT.   THEY DON'T COME BACK.   THIS IS DARN-NEAR A GHOST TOWN.   THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE, WHO LIKE ME,   CAN'T AFFORD TO MOVE   IN THE SENSE THAT,   "WHAT I COULD GET OUT OF THIS HOUSE,   WOULDN'T BUY ANYTHING ANYPLACE ELSE."   SO, PEOPLE HAVE SETTLED IN,   AND A LOT OF THEM HAVE COME HERE TO DIE.   THE WATER THAT COMES INTO THE SALTON SEA,   IN GREAT PART, COMES FROM AGRICULTURE.   SO THIS WATER COMES FROM THE COLORADO RIVER,   IS USED ON OUR CROPS,   AND EVENTUALLY FINDS ITS WAY INTO THE SALTON SEA.   THAT WATER IS ATTRACTIVE.   MANY PEOPLE ARE SAYING,   "WELL, LET'S RECYCLE THAT WATER THAT GOES INTO THE SALTON SEA,   AND USE IT FOR SOMETHING ELSE."   SOME PEOPLE IN THE WATER DISTRICTS   HAVE FLAT OUT SAID-- IN THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER--   SAY THAT IT'S A WASTE OF WATER   TO LET IT FLOW INTO THE SALTON SEA."   SAN DIEGO AND THE IMPERIAL VALLEY   ARE WORKING ON A WATER TRANSFER AGREEMENT.   IF APPROVED, SAN DIEGO COUNTY WOULD BUY COLORADO RIVER WATER   FROM THE IMPERIAL IRRIGATION DISTRICT.   THE COUNTY WILL RECEIVE   UP TO 200,000 ACRE FEET OF WATER EVERY YEAR,   FOR AT LEAST THE NEXT 40 YEARS.   WE'RE IN THE BEST POSSIBLE POSITION   IN TERMS OF THIS BEING A GOOD DEAL FOR SAN DIEGO   NOT ONLY TODAY,   BUT 10 AND 20 AND 30 YEARS FROM NOW.   I'M GETTING CYNICAL AND I'M GETTING VOCAL   AND I'M TELLING PEOPLE, "THEY'RE STEALING IT!   LIKE WAKE UP! WAKE UP!"   THEY HAVE ABSOLUTELY CUT OFF EVERY SOURCE OF WATER   THAT WILL MAINTAIN THIS.   WE'RE DOWN TO ANNUAL RAINFALL.   IT IS AN IDEAL, PERFECT SEWER.   PUT IT IN THAT PERSPECTIVE, USE IT THAT WAY,   AND THEN, THE WHOLE WORLD IS HAPPY.   GO IN THERE, KILL ALL THE CRUMMY FISH OFF,   TELL PEOPLE TO QUIT SWIMMING IN IT.   IF YOU KILL ALL THE FISH OFF, THE BIRDS WILL GO AWAY.   WELL, THEN THE BIRDS AREN'T DYING ANYMORE,   SO THE BIRD LOVERS ARE HAPPY.   THE BIRDS--THEY'LL JUST GO SOMEPLACE ELSE.   THE PROBLEM IS,   IS THAT WE HAVE, IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA,   CONSUMED 90% OF OUR WETLANDS   IN THE TIME THAT THE SALTON SEA HAS EXISTED,   SO THE SALTON SEA HAS COME TO BE   A REPLACEMENT FOR THE WETLANDS   FOR THESE BIRDS.   SO NOW, AS THE SEA BECOMES SALTIER,   AND THE FISH WILL NO LONGER BE ABLE TO SURVIVE,   THE FISH-EATING BIRDS THAT COME HERE,   WELL, THEY'LL HAVE TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.   THE QUESTION IS, WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO GO?   THEY CAN'T GO TO L.A., BECAUSE WE'RE THERE.   THEY CAN'T GO TO ORANGE COUNTY BECAUSE WE'RE THERE.   SAN DIEGO, WE'RE THERE.   THE COLORADO RIVER, WE'RE THERE.   Norm Niver: PEOPLE SAY,   "WHY SHOULD WE CARE IF THE SALTON SEA'S SAVED?"   AND I SAY, "WELL, YOU'RE REALLY GONNA CARE   "WHEN ABOUT 7 MILES OF THE NORTH END IS EXPOSED   "AND THERE'S A LOT OF DRY BOTTOM THERE,   "AND YOU GET A DOGGONE ALKALINE DUST STORM COME DOWN   "AND SHUT THE WHOLE VALLEY DOWN   IN A CLOUD OF ALKALINE DUST."   WE'VE WARNED THEM AND STUFF.   NO ONE CARES.   THE STORMS THAT RUN THROUGH HERE--   WE'VE HAD AS HIGH AS 75 MILE AN HOUR WINDS NOTED HERE--   RAISE DUST LIKE THEY DO UP IN THE OWENS LAKE,   NORTH OF LOS ANGELES,   WHICH THE METROPOLITAN DISTRICT OF LOS ANGELES CREATED   BY THEIR BANKRUPTING THE OWENS LAKE FOR WATER.   THE SAME WILL HAPPEN TO THE SEA IF IT DRIES UP.   SAN DIEGO ONLY GIVE US $9 MILLION TOWARD MITIGATION   TO FIX ALL THAT?   I DON'T KNOW.   NOW THESE PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE NICE HOMES   IN INDIAN WELLS AND PALM SPRINGS AND--   WE HAVE BEAUTIFUL GOLF COURSES IN PALM SPRINGS,   YOU DON'T HEAR ANYBODY SAYING,   "LET'S PUT SOME OF THE WATER IN THE PALM SPRINGS GOLF COURSES   INTO THE SALTON SEA."   YOU'D PROBABLY HAVE A REBELLION!   I THINK WHAT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND,   THAT SMELL THAT YOU DO SMELL OCCASIONALLY   FROM THE SALTON SEA,   AS IT GETS WORSE, THAT SMELL WILL GET WORSE, TOO.   PALM SPRINGS WILL HAVE NOTHING BUT THAT SMELL,   WHERE SOME OF THE RICHEST PEOPLE   IN THE UNITED STATES LIVE.   WILL THEY KEEP   THEIR MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR WINTER HOUSE   AND GO GOLFING   WITH GREEN FEES AT HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS EVERY DAY?   NOTHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE SALTON SEA   UNTIL PEOPLE REALIZE THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE MONEY   OR IT'S GOING TO HURT THEM IN THEIR POCKETBOOKS.   THE FOLKS UP NORTH OF US HAVEN'T REALIZED   THAT PALM SPRINGS WON'T BE PALM SPRINGS   IF THE SALTON SEA FAILS.   (* Music )   YEAH, WE'VE BEEN HERE NOW FOR 27 YEARS.   IT'S A GOOD PLACE. YEAH.   WE'VE DONE A LOT OF BUSINESS HERE.   BUT WE'RE GETTING READY TO SELL IT.   I THINK WE'RE--   I'M JUST ABOUT GETTING TOO OLD TO RUN A RESTAURANT.   I DID A LOT OF FISHING,   A LOT OF HUNTING ON THE SALTON SEA.   IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL RECREATION AREA,   AND WE HOPE IT WILL BE THAT WAY AGAIN.   Eva Worthy: CATHY!   Cathy: YEAH.   I NEED TWO CHEESE OMELETS, A SHORT STACK...   I'M GOING TO BE IN THE UNEMPLOYMENT LINE   HERE SHORTLY.   GOD, I'VE WORKED HERE FOUR YEARS.   FOUR YEARS; I'M SURE GONNA MISS IT.   THERE'S PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN COMING HERE   FOR 20 YEARS,   JUST TO COME IN AND HAVE A CUP OF COFFEE IN THE MORNING,   EVEN IF IT'S FOR FIVE MINUTES AND LEAVE.   THEY'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR 20 YEARS.   AND SO IT'S GONNA BE A CHANGE FOR 'EM.   LIKE LEONARD, HE COMES IN, HE FILLS UP MY ICE THING,   BEFORE I EVEN GET THERE,   AND HE'S GONE BEFORE THE PLACE EVEN OPENS UP.   THEY'VE BEEN GOOD FRIENDS AND GOOD COMPANY,   AND I'M GONNA MISS 'EM.   WELL, I'M GLAD THEY'RE CLOSING,   AND THEY CAN'T CLOSE SOON ENOUGH,   BECAUSE I'VE GOTTEN USED TO 'EM NOT BEING THERE ALREADY.   THEY'RE THE HIGHEST-PRICED PLACE IN TOWN.   ...SAYS YOU'RE GONNA TAKE THE TAPE OFF AND BURN IT.   NO, I SAID TAKE THE TAPE OFF.   DO YOU'RE THING!   OH, SHUT UP. ( Laughing )   ( Smack )   SO I CAN TAKE THE TAPE OFF!   I SAID I'M DONE.   HE'S GONNA MISS IT; HE LOVES IT.   I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY, YOU'RE 91 YEARS OLD   AND YOU'RE STILL WORKING FOUR DAYS A WEEK,   YOU HAVE TO LIKE IT A LITTLE, YOU KNOW?   IT'S KIND OF SAD BECAUSE IT'S BEEN HERE FOR SO LONG.   BUT AT LEAST I WILL GET A DAY OFF. ( Laughs )   NO, IT'S SAD BECAUSE...   I DON'T KNOW,   IT'S PART OF NILAND, YOU KNOW?   HAROLD AND THIS CAFE ARE JUST PART OF NILAND.   (* Music )   CAPTION TECHNOLOGIES INC. www.captiontech.com   Announcer: WANT MORE OF TRULY CALIFORNIA?   VISIT OUR WEBSITE   TO WATCH PREVIEWS OF UPCOMING EPISODES,   LISTEN TO INTERVIEWS WITH FILMMAKERS,   WATCH SHORT DOCUMENTARIES, AND SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER.   IT'S ALL AT:   (* Theme Music )   Female Announcer: SUPPORT FOR TRULY CALIFORNIA IS PROVIDED BY:   ...INDIVIDUALS, FOUNDATIONS, AND CORPORATIONS   COMMITTED TO THE PRODUCTION AND ACQUISITION   OF QUALITY PROGRAMS.   AND BY:   AND:   Male Announcer: TRULY CALIFORNIA IS A KQED PRODUCTION,   PRESENTED IN ASSOCIATION WITH:   AND: