Kids & Family
Odor Across Southern California Came from Salton Sea
A familiar smell to desert residents, the decay odor was noticed in Los Angeles on Monday
The rest of Southern California has found out what valley residents have known for years -- the Salton Sea reeks.
A strong sulphuric odor that repelled residents from Banning to Temecula and Los Angeles was confirmed yesterday to have emanated from the Salton Sea.
"We now have solid evidence that clearly points to the Salton Sea as
the source of a very large and unusual odor event,'' said Barry Wallerstein,
executive officer of the South Coast Air Quality Management District.
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The stench hung on the air in Riverside and numerous other Inland Empire
cities -- from Moreno Valley to Murrieta -- Monday morning after drifting
into the region Sunday night. Reports of the odor came from as far away as Simi Valley and Valencia, both north of Los Angeles.
Complaints came "from a very wide area including the Inland Empire and
much of the Los Angeles Basin,'' according to an AQMD statement, which noted
that "fish kills, algae blooms and other biologic conditions in lakes can
cause strong odors.''
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According to the agency, which monitors pollution levels in the region,
technicians took air samples and field inspectors used odor surveillance
techniques to isolate the location of the stink and results "showed a clear
progression of hydrogen sulfide levels, with the highest concentrations found
at the Salton Sea and decreasing concentrations found as the distance increased from the sea.''
"This progression, or gradient, points to the Salton Sea as the source
of the odor,'' Wallerstein said.
Organic decay, or dying plant and animal life, produces the unmistakable
rotten-egg scent, officials said, pointing out that thunderstorms over the
inland desert Sunday likely carried the stench from the stagnant Salton Sea to
points farther west.
Riverside County Supervisors John Benoit and Marion Ashley noted during
Tuesday's Board of Supervisors meeting that the foul smell has been a recurring problem in the Coachella and Imperial valleys for years and now the rest of Southern California was getting a taste of it.
The supervisors said the problem underscores the need for steps to
improve conditions at the site.
