Selenium is an increasingly common toxin found within N.A. wetlands due to its accumulation in agricultural drainage water. Researchers are studying the impacts of this contaminant on the endangered Yuma Ridgway’s Rail.
Once a vibrant tourist destination and thriving wetland habitat that supported millions of birds annually, the Salton Sea is now experiencing ecological collapse. Without regular freshwater inputs, the increased salinity and concentrations of pollutants are killing fish, reducing bird populations, and posing health risks to the local communities. Read more about the history of the Salton Sea, the conservation challenges, and what the SJV and its partners are doing to help.