An analysis of Salton Sea algal biodiesel and/or methane.

[NNadir]

Around Christmas, I engaged in some fantasizing about the energy potential of the Salton Sea:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=115&topic_id=37366

Here is an interesting study of the use of the Salton Sea water to manufacture algal biodiesel.

http://www.unh.edu/p2/biodiesel/pdf/algae_salton_sea.pdf

As envisioned, the costs seem rather high, but there does seem to be some wiggle room.

[benburch]

1. Good use for it!

Many people may not be aware that the Salton Sea is not a natural waterway, but is made entirely of agricultural runoff from irrigation in the Central Valley.

[XemaSab]

2. Factually incorrect

The Central Valley and the Salton Sea are in totally different drainages.

The Salton Sea was created from a breach in the Colorado River around the turn of the 20th century, and it's sustained from ag runoff from the Imperial Valley, not the Central Valley (which drains from the San Joaquin and Sacramento Rivers out through the Golden Gate).

[benburch]

3. Oops!

I get my valleys mixed up.

Y'all have too many out there.

[XemaSab]

4. It's all good

:hi:

[benburch]

5. Oooh, that popcorn looks good!

Can you tell I have been working all day and skipped breakfast? Your popcorn smilie makes me hungry!!!

[XemaSab]

6. You're welcome to help yourself!

[Oerdin]

7. Wrong.

As already pointed out the Imperial Valley is far from the central valley and the Salton Sea was created in the earliest part of the 20th century (pre-WW1) when an irrigation canal broke and water flowed from the Colorado river into the Salton Basin uncontrolled for over a year. The river practically changed course and it took a year of effort to get it back into it's original channal.

[bananas]

8. I posted a link to the history in the original thread

"The Salton Sea was caused by an irrigation accident"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=115&topic_id=37366&mesg_id=37408

and a relief map of the area:

"Salton Sea on an earthquake map"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=115&topic_id=37366&mesg_id=37414