I see that the difference in elevation is about 74m. Building a canal large enough could enable ocean ships to load cargo for import/export, but an accompanying pipeline could generate an incredible amount of electric power as the Sea refills. Eventually, the inflow would subside to the rate of evaporation, but even that would generate a reasonable amount of "free" electricity, especially because the tidal range at the end of the Gulf of California is about 6m.
twice a day!
I can understand that Mexico would not be thrilled with polluted Salton Sea water entering the Gulf, but to be fair the innermost end is pretty polluted now and the initial filling + twice daily flow would actually clean that area. The economic benefits would certainly spread into that area of Mexico.
The Salton Sea is too far from the coast for water from there to enter the sea, the long channel acts as a sizeable buffer. Assuming that you fill the Salton Sea to sea level.
Don't forget that canals need a gradient if you want the water to flow. By the time you're in the basin these 74m are pretty much gone, depending on how wide your canal is. Thus hydro power seems inefficient. I'd just put up a heap of solar cells, harvest the wind, and add a couple of backup batteries.
My thought about the cities we have now is that due to the increase in population in them since they were developed, the infrastructure is insanely inadequate. Building new cities elsewhere is a great idea. I lived in Nairobi as a kid and it was fabulous. Now, having well outgrown its infrastructure, it is no longer easy to live there. I think we are ruining my current city, Boulder in the same way.
Provided the level of the Salton Sea (SS) was kept sufficiently below sea level, you could use the power generated by the inflowing seawater pipe both to pump the salty, lithium-rich water from the bottom of the SS to evaporation ponds and/or to pump any less valuable brine or brine rejected by a desal process back out to sea. Eventually, this system would keep the SS at roughly the same salinity as the ocean, despite large amounts of it being used for desalination. Mexico is probably already getting polluted dust blown to it from the drying SS. Provided the returned brine flow was kept low, was taken far and deep offshore, and was well disseminated, there should be little to prevent them giving approval to the two pipelines, most of which could be made by drilling machines for boring tunnels. The deal might be sweetened by giving Mexico some of the desalinated water.
Also, one thing you didn't note: because there is not a lot of vegetation in these areas, there is a low fire risk. Good place for California residents burned out of highland area to move.
I see that the difference in elevation is about 74m. Building a canal large enough could enable ocean ships to load cargo for import/export, but an accompanying pipeline could generate an incredible amount of electric power as the Sea refills. Eventually, the inflow would subside to the rate of evaporation, but even that would generate a reasonable amount of "free" electricity, especially because the tidal range at the end of the Gulf of California is about 6m.
twice a day!
I can understand that Mexico would not be thrilled with polluted Salton Sea water entering the Gulf, but to be fair the innermost end is pretty polluted now and the initial filling + twice daily flow would actually clean that area. The economic benefits would certainly spread into that area of Mexico.
The Salton Sea is too far from the coast for water from there to enter the sea, the long channel acts as a sizeable buffer. Assuming that you fill the Salton Sea to sea level.
Don't forget that canals need a gradient if you want the water to flow. By the time you're in the basin these 74m are pretty much gone, depending on how wide your canal is. Thus hydro power seems inefficient. I'd just put up a heap of solar cells, harvest the wind, and add a couple of backup batteries.
My thought about the cities we have now is that due to the increase in population in them since they were developed, the infrastructure is insanely inadequate. Building new cities elsewhere is a great idea. I lived in Nairobi as a kid and it was fabulous. Now, having well outgrown its infrastructure, it is no longer easy to live there. I think we are ruining my current city, Boulder in the same way.
There's another important element to addressing the extreme toxicity of the Salton Sea: agricultural runoff.
These things are connected, and my plan would eliminate that. More details in the Salton sea article
https://unchartedterritories.tomaspueyo.com/p/seaflooding-past-and-future?r=36xnz&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
This is an even more ambitious solution, the biggest problem probably allowing shipping through the rich Sea of Cortez fishing/wildlife areas.
https://energycentral.com/c/pip/great-mexicali-energy-and-shipping-canal
What an amazing link. Thanks!
Provided the level of the Salton Sea (SS) was kept sufficiently below sea level, you could use the power generated by the inflowing seawater pipe both to pump the salty, lithium-rich water from the bottom of the SS to evaporation ponds and/or to pump any less valuable brine or brine rejected by a desal process back out to sea. Eventually, this system would keep the SS at roughly the same salinity as the ocean, despite large amounts of it being used for desalination. Mexico is probably already getting polluted dust blown to it from the drying SS. Provided the returned brine flow was kept low, was taken far and deep offshore, and was well disseminated, there should be little to prevent them giving approval to the two pipelines, most of which could be made by drilling machines for boring tunnels. The deal might be sweetened by giving Mexico some of the desalinated water.
This makes me want to go to those two cities as a tourist right now.
Some people do!
This is a great idea.
Also, one thing you didn't note: because there is not a lot of vegetation in these areas, there is a low fire risk. Good place for California residents burned out of highland area to move.
I'm really enjoying this series.
Oil, drain America first, in the meantime, enjoy 👉 https://youtu.be/9FASalIUNgM?si=ScnWsLfa0yT8wgK4 🤔