The Flyway spans over 4,000 miles, and forms one of four major migratory routes in North America. Due to its length, birds need stopover points to fuel up and to rest, which means key habitats like wetlands and lakes along the way need to be protected.
The Salton Sea is an attractive rest stop for millions of birds (approximately 400 species) in California due to the water and food contained in the lake, such as brine shrimp, which nourish waders and waterfowl. However, the Salton Sea is California’s most polluted inland lake. Lack of inflow from the Colorado River and the ongoing impacts of climate change have created a toxic environment resulting in an increased concentration of salts and agricultural chemicals. This has led to deaths of the fish and insects within.