Salton Sea Research and Community Impact

By Hania Khan, Communications Assistant

DEEPS PhD candidate Alejandra Lopez describes her research on the Salton Sea alongside community volunteers. Through rigorous science and community engagement, Alejandra's work on the Salton Sea Project is demonstrating what environmental research can accomplish when it centers the needs and knowledge of those most impacted.

Alejandra Lopez on site at the Salton Sea data collection project, wearing blue gloves in front of a table of water samples For Brown University PhD candidate, Alejandra Lopez, the path to environmental research began on the shores of California's Salton Sea, working alongside local volunteers to monitor water quality. What started as weekend data collection in 2021 has evolved into a comprehensive community science initiative reshaping how environmental research can serve the communities most affected by pollution and policy decisions.

Alejandra's decision to pursue graduate studies at Brown was driven by a desire to build on a background in GIS by combining it with remote sensing. Working with Dr. Mara Freilich offered the perfect opportunity to bring together these interests.

Her journey with the Salton Sea Project began during her master's studies at USC, when she joined local volunteers filling the gap left after the Bureau of Reclamation stopped water testing in 2021. Over time, her role expanded as she became one of the core team members, and the project grew to include air quality monitoring and satellite imagery analysis.

The research has yielded troubling findings with immediate policy implications. The team's data revealed that hydrogen sulfide levels near the Salton Sea have exceeded California's air quality standards—a reality that government monitoring networks miss because their stations are located too far from emission sources. By collecting data directly at the source, the team has documented conditions that demonstrate the urgent need for more localized monitoring.

"We have often heard from community members who share what they are experiencing, such as illness or noticing that something feels wrong, and then they see our data confirm what they have been saying for years," Alejandra notes. This validation of lived experience through scientific data has proven powerful for communities long overlooked by traditional research.

Alejandra Lopez discussing samples with fellow scientists on site at the Salton Sea

three scientists in shallow creek taking water samples

four scientists working together to launch a dingy into the salton sea

a top-down photo of a scientist's notebook, samples, measurements and tools on a table at the Salton Sea project

The team has published findings and produced two policy briefs through the UCLA Latino Public Policy Institute. Alejandra contributed through editing, creating figures and maps, and researching relevant policies. The briefs propose coordinated actions including enforcing hydrogen sulfide standards, creating a unified air and water quality authority, expanding monitoring networks, establishing pollution limits, and ensuring local leadership in environmental decisions. Following publication, the team has met regularly with state and local agencies to advocate for evidence-based policy changes. The response has been significant, highlighting the value of communicating research beyond academic journals.

photo of the shallow waters at the Salton Sea — *Photo by Assistant Professor Mara Freilich.*

“Working on this project really changed how I think about research and what it means to do science in a responsible way,” writes Alejandra. Traditional academic research often follows a pattern of extraction: scientists collect data, publish findings, and leave. The Salton Sea Project models a different approach, involving community members early, sharing data openly, and shaping research around community concerns.

"It has made me a more self-aware researcher," she reflects. “I think a lot more now about who my work is for and how it can actually make a difference for the people living with these issues every day.”

The project comes at a critical moment for the region. While lithium extraction and economic development have drawn attention, the work emphasizes that environmental and public health conditions must be addressed simultaneously, and that residents themselves must lead decisions affecting their lives. Through rigorous science, community partnership, and persistent advocacy, the Salton Sea Project is demonstrating what environmental research can accomplish when it centers the needs and knowledge of those most impacted by environmental injustice.