The Alamo Canal and the Creation of the Salton Sea
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- Опубликовано: 12 сен 2023
- California's Salton Sea was created in 1905, when water from the Colorado River began to flood into the Alamo Canal through an unsecured and unauthorized breach. That water traveled through the canal to the Alamo River and New River in Mexico before heading north to the lower elevation of the Imperial Valley where it flooded the Salton Sink.
While the Imperial Valley was sparsely populated at the time, the damage was massive. The town of Salton was submerged under the newly formed body of water, and extensive damage was done to several mines and the Southern Pacific Railroad. The almost two year flood created the largest lake in the Southwestern United States, the Salton Sea.
But what happened to the Alamo Canal? In this video we travel to what's left of the Alamo Canal, located about 60 miles from the Salton Sea, on the U.S./Mexico border, and visit the historic Hanlon Heading, one of the head gates built to try and control the water that was flooding into the valley.
Hanlon Heading is located at: 32.721093844767786, -114.72509422075892
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One reason for the Alamo Canal leading to the Alamo River in Mexico was the planners for the water to go to the Imperial Valley had no idea how they were going to get through the sand dunes to the west of the Colorado River. The dunes shift and move with the weather, and the engineers at the time said that any canal dug in the area would be constantly blocked by the sand. When the All-American Canal was built, that problem was overcome.
I suggest the book, "The Water Seekers" by Remi Nadeau if you want to learn more about California's insatiable desire for water.
I also read that another reason the California development company used the canal through Mexico to avoid certain us regulations at that time. Certain regulations didn’t apply if the water came from Mexico to the us.
Mom and Dad took us to the Salton sea regularly when I was a child in the 60s. It was a beautiful place to play on the water at the time. I have always partially blamed the salton Sea for the cancer that killed Dad in the 70s.
Wow Steve. You could have literally spent a month going over everything that is happened it's salton sea to make it what it is today ... I am definitely looking forward to a sequel to this!
Yeah, I ran out of things to film while I talked about it. Its crazy some of the stuff they tried to do that ended up making things worse.
@@SidetrackAdventures to be honest Steve, I think our last hope with trying to fix the problem ended with Sonny Bono
I love the Salton sea, or should I say, my memories of it when I was a child. I never saw so many stars at night as I have there.
Another personal BFTP! (Blast from the past!)
In the early 60’s, this massive mistake created for me one of thee most memorable fishing trips of my life when at the age of about 7 yrs I caught a huge Corvina that pulled out little aluminum boat all over the Salton Sea! I also got the sunburn of my life spending the next day swimming. Who knew about sun screen in those pre-cancerous days? 😳
Crazy! I was cruising Google maps and street view of this area just a few weeks ago and was wondering what the purpose of the Hanlon headgate was because it was a dead end. It's awesome to find out its original purpose and its role in the Salton Sea.
Yeah, once you hit the border they built right on top of where the canal was.
Great video - an interesting book on this: 'Birth of the Inland Sea: How the Colorado River created the Salton Sea', Ellen Lloyd Trover. Short book with a lot of photos. It is really sad how it all began, the resulting sea, the unintentional boom years, and the crisis that is ongoing...
Thanks Steve, as an Imperial Valley native and son of Imperial Valley pioneers I found your video very interesting to watch. My children's grt. grandfather actually worked on the construction of the original All American Canal. Our family was there for the floods that created the Salton Sea. In the sequel you might mention Mobley Meadows' part in saving the Imperial Valley from the flood.
That's a pretty cool connection to history.
Great video, Steve! I like how you don't let history get lost to time 😊
Thank you.
That certainly clarified a lot of confusing facts I heard about back in the early 1960’s. During that period we lived in La Mesa, east of San Diego. I remember us visiting Salton City in early 1964. That community was booming. Many people had boats on the Salton Sea. There were lots of kids riding mini-bikes. I thought the community had a lot of potential. As you know, that deal fizzled. Oh, well.
Thanks for being out in 110 degree heat to make this interesting video on the creation on Salton Sea. Love your videos. Keeps them coming!
Thanks!
The Salton sea has a special magic to it...Never knew it existed until I drove to slab city from palm springs one day
You taught me stuff! I always assumed the breech was way north, crazy it came back north. 1st time I tent camped at the Salton Sea they just announced it might be a good idea to not eat the fish, early 80's, came out of the tent to cold rain and snow in the mountains. Nice people in RV's brought us coffee, good times.
Really interesting to see that old gate. I've seen the All American Canal many times, and heard that the Salton Sea was formed during a massive flood, but didn't know the details. I love how you always show us maps of the area, so we can orient ourselves. I've driven through the Imperial Valley on my way to the 78 and the sand dunes around Glamis. It's such a change of landscape, and then you go back to farmland again near Palo Verde. That was not only a big flood, but a long one. I like to imagine what would happen to the land and vegetation from floods and fire of man hadn't built cities and made other changes here in the West.
Another well done, entertaining, & educational video! I am very much a visual learner - who loves history - so your videos really hit the spot! Thanks, & keep up the good work. 👍
THANK YOU! SOOOOOoooo very much for this. Over the years I have looked for this EXACT detailed information about the creation of the Salton Sea, and could find next to nothing!!!! You have no idea how many years this itch in my mind has waited to be scratched! Ahhhhhhhhh!
Glad it was helpful!
How different the entire area would be today, had they thrown in the towel@@GAVACHO5150
Absolutely! My entire family gathers to see your episodes when you post. Thank you so much for such a fascinating channel that teaches us so much about where we have all lived as a family since the late 1800s@@SidetrackAdventures
Steve, you did it again! Your videos are fascinating! I love getting educated by these off the beaten path travels of yours! Great stuff!👍
I never realised that it happened so long ago, I would love to see more videos at other locations around the Salton sea.
I have plans to do some stuff at the Salton Sea when it cools down a bit.
@@SidetrackAdventures Awesome.
Good Vid Steve. Thanks to the spectacular successful engineering in bringing Colorado River Water to Imperial Valley, Apprx 500,000 Acres are being farmed, being fed by apprx 3,000 miles of irrigation canals. BTW, all 500,000 acres are irrigated from the All American Canal to the tributary canals by “gravity flow”. Water flows South to North, clear to the Salton Sea, downhill.
You find all these little places that turn into fascinating pieces of history through your thorough research. And your calm tollystering makes it even more fun to watch. Thx!
This is good! Most Salton Sea documentaries only provide a passing mention of the cause of the flood. I like the way you focused on the pre flood story without going into detail about the crazy history of the area afterwards. Short & sweet.
Parabéns por tratar a História de seu país de forma tão séria e apaixonante! Atitude louvável, Steve! ☺️👍⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐🇧🇷
Congratulations for treating the History of your country in such a serious and passionate way! Commendable attitude, Steve
As a kid my family went down to the Salton Sea. That was about 60 years ago. How it has changed. If people could have seen it back then with water skiers and fisherman. The way it is going it could become a Superfund site.
I have a dreadful feeling that it will be something much worse, as lithium has been discovered in the area.
@@elizabethbogle3533 Who ever mines the lithium should be required to help the Salton Sea be repurposed somehow to help the environment.
As usual, another excellent and informative video retelling a piece of the history of our section of the United States! As I have previously stated, as a 76 year resident of the greater metro area of Phoenix , all these southwest area tales are especially interesting to me and I just cannot get enough of them. Although I was aware of the story ,and have spent an afternoon visiting the Salton Sea, you made the story come to life by supplying all the blunders that were made! Thanks Steve . What’s next ?
Thanks! I haven't actually filmed next week's video yet so I'm not 100% sure.
Talk about timeing! We were talking about the Salton Sea on the Arizona Geological Survet group on FB yesterday and wonder which canal formed the sea... now we know... thanks!
Fascinating! Didn't know much about the history of the headgate. And yeah... not sure I would want to be a worker climbing around on all that, but still... gotta love the look of all those aging old metal buildings.👍
I think its location right next to a heavily patrolled border where no stopping is allowed has stopped the normal vandalism. Great to see them naturally aging.
Steve: I spent a Christmas vacation working as a grad student in that area many years ago. Your excellent video gave me a real appreciation of this area’s history! Thanks for braving the ‘warm’ weather 😅
Beautiful work. I've followed the story of the Salton Sea for many years, and I learned something new today as a result of your very well done video.
Bravo!
Thank you very much!
Thank you Steve for another outstanding video and history lesson! The whole Imperial Valley area and the Salton Sea is just so fascinating to me! 👍🙂
We used to water ski down the All American back in the 1970's north shore off Highway 111 cross the tracks and your there. We would get a ski rope about 100ft. long and then tie the end to the back of a truck. There is a dirt road alongside the cannel, you can get a good ride but there are breaks the go underground that keeps you from going further, but a kick in the butt lots of fun.
Canal water skiing. Great fun with the 47 Ford pick up, leaving a cloud of dust and smoke behind.
Great video Steve. Thanks
I'd heard that the Salton Sea was caused by a canal break. Thank you for this excellent explanation.
This is why I subscribe to Steve's channel. I haven't seen a bad episode yet.
Thank you sir.
I visited the Salton Sea in the early 80's and we met a park ranger who gave us a great history. Even though it smelled badly I can only imagine what a great place it was in in the past. Thank you for posting this. It is a CA history.
Great history lesson thanks for sharing.
What a great Video man !!
Fascinating video. Thanks for putting up with the grueling heat and humidity to show this
Agree with the comments from your viewers, very informative and entertaining. Thanks for a condensed version about the history on the creation of the Salton Sea. I will now appreciate the Sea Level marker on one of the tanks viewed from Interstate 8. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Steve ! Great video as always . We really enjoy watching ❤ thank you
Have seen three of your videos now and really enjoy learning about places you travel to. Keep it up! Looking forward to catching up.
@garyj1709, Steve does not disappoint.
This is a great video. I've been going to Algodones for quite a few years and drove by all this, not giving it a second thought. I knew the Salton Sea was caused by flooding, but never knew the details. Thanks for educating me on this interesting piece of history.
Another great video!
More impressed with each new video, keep doin' what you be doin' !
Excellent video. Thank you!
Another great video. 😊
Wow! I learned a great deal from this presentation! Great job, Mr. Adventures!
Cool! One of my favorite stories and a cautionary tale.
every video that I watch from steve is so incredible thanks for the great vid
Glad you like them!
110 and overcast. Brave man, I now only venture to the area in late fall or winter.
So interesting. People are always vague on what happened to create the Salton Sea, usually remembering only that the Colorado flooded. But, now I know! Thanks 👍
Yes !! The video helps take away the myth by some people that the Alamo River and Salton Sea were a creation of Mexico....thank you
Really good video…. Thanks for sharing!
Love love your videos ❤❤
Yours are my favorite documentaries of all time. I really enjoy watching. You do such a great job, Steve. You keep putting them out, and I’ll keep watching.
Love your videos. Better than anything on TV.
Great video! I really enjoy them. Very relaxing. Thanks!
These are the best parts of what's left of California.
Steve, thank you! This is the most informative summary I have seen on this. It answered a few of my long-standing questions.
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you so much for what you do. The information you give a lot of people is so interesting and fun to learn and I just thank you and God bless you and your family.
What another great video
Well done, sir. Thank you.
You do great work. I grew up in So Cal but you always find things I never knew. Thanks
Great video with details I've never heard about the Salton Sea.
Nice job on presenting an important of So Cal history.
Going to the Alamo, great idea!
Great video, Steve!
Nice and well-thought out
Great video. Playing with maps right now looking at your location, etc... I feel that due to our folly with this, we need to MARGINALLY recharge the Salton Sea, to prevent further air and water damage. Slowly, and controlled, with the final goal to figure out how to mitigate the damage. There might be a long term solution to other solutions. I'm facinated with this subject.
They need to figure out something for sure. The air quality will only keep getting worse in that area otherwise.
As a Congressman, the late Sonny Bono was devoted to the Salton Sea area and helping it to recover. If he had not died in an untimely accident he might have made more progress by now. One problem is that for the rest of the state it's "out of sight. , out of mind", with people not really realizing it is a serious problem of toxicity if allowed to stay like it is. There are fish and migratory birds with the potential to be harmed too. Saving the Salton Sea isn't a waste, it's important to the whole desert environment.
That would be the cheapest and easiest way to buy some time and help the environment
Looking forward to your Salton Sea video.
I have one from a few years ago, where we drove around the whole thing, but I have a couple of hopefully interesting things from there coming up once the weather cools a bit.
I remember going to the Salton Sea a few time when I was a kid in the 60s. It always seemed kind of swanky back then. A relative had a speedboat with the motor in front and I got a couple of rides.
Thanks Steve! Being a resident of Yuma, it's nice to know the history of the canal. Love your videos.
Glad you enjoy it!
Great info. Thanks
Thank you! Great vid
Steve for president! You do such a good job, thank you
haha I don't want the job!
Always loved exploring around the SS area.
very good video, I used to play there when I was a kid in the 60s
I have been to Al Godones many times and I wondered about the canal NOW I KNOW IT'S HISTORY.
Thank you so much.
Very interesting! Well done👍
Another great history lesson Steve !
Never learned how the Salton Sea was really formed through school....BRAVO !
Cheers from Detroit 🇺🇲
Great video Steve
Thanks for the video. The last time I was in that area was around 25 years ago.
I had no idea about Salton Sea until I saw it high up in Joshua Tree NP and then a closer view on a flight from LAX. Looked great from the air back then.
Learning lots of cool stuff, great videos 😊
Great Work! 👍👍
always wondered about this: thx
another great show Steve 👍🏼i spent a couple of winters camping along the Salton Sea. i love it . cheap rent , lots of warm sunshine.. was a perfect to get away from the wet , grey northwest funk . i so hope i can fo it again 🙏🏼. take care 😎
Thank you.
Great job👍🏻👍🏻
Another great video and history. In reading about the Salton Sea, it was never clear to me exactly what happened. Now I know. Thanks
Glad you enjoyed it
A great and informative video as usual. Thanks.
Thanks for the informative presentation. I've always heard about the Salton Sea being formed by an accidental breech but never heard the details before. Really incredible how fast and lose they used to play with the environment in those days.
My late father worked for SPRR for 29 years. He would have enjoyed this very much.
I always wondered this! Thx Steve! Keep up the good work! I love your vids! Head up to Bay Area NorCal ghost towns!!
I plan on getting back to NorCal soon.
Another fun topic filled with interesting history and trivia. Thanks so much. Clearly worth note, none of the current dams, lakes, and upstream flow control existed at the time...
The Hoover Dam ended the floods forever.
@@SidetrackAdventures I knew the basic story, but not the part about some aspects occurred south of the boarder. Thanks again...
Beauty!
Great info
Thanks for providing this history, this was great. I’ve often read of a canal overflowing to create the Salton Sea but never knew the details. I would go fishing in the Salton Sea (during hot summer nights!) in the 1960’s and 1970’s to catch corvina and sargo, those were the days.
Japanese-Americans settled in the Imperial Valley (Brawley and El Centro) in the early 1900’s to do farming, now I know where the water came from.
I’m interested in how the Salton Sea looks now after last winter’s rains, it’s a shame it was allowed to deteriorate.
Thanks!
The Salton Sea used to be filled with ocean water before the silt from the Colorado River filled an earthen dam all the way across across to the Baja Peninsula. The ocean water then dried up north of this blockage. That's why that land is below sea level.
Many of the wells in the area, especially near Sea of Cortez are salty. It's a gamble finding sweet water.
SIDENOTE - there is history of a Spanish Caravel buried somewhere in the sand in Imperial Valley. Allegedly this ship came up the Colorado River during a high tide / wet year. It got stuck in a sand bar and remained.
In the early 1900s an American claimed to have found it. He harvested what he could from the ship and sold it in Los Angeles.
Thanks!
Remember the Alamo Canal.
Thank you
I really enjoy your channel.😊
Thank you so much!
Love the video. Been in the "water" business 21 years. I was born and raised in the Imperial Valley. Now In Yuma.
If you're still in the area, and would like in inside look at the Imperial Dam, let me know.
I would love to see a video explaining how Imperial dam removes silt. I would also like to know where the railroad stopped the breach.
I don't know how much time you spend out there, but you should check out the Alamorio Store. (Just east of Brawley)
They have huge steaks on steak night. You'll have to find out when that is. It used to be Wednesdays, but that was years ago. You cook them yourself, but a cold one, and big as rib-eye after a hot day, is a pretty good deal.