A 4.3-magnitude earthquake struck near the Salton Sea early Friday morning, jolting residents and triggering a series of smaller quakes in the seismically active region. The temblor, centered approximately 7.5 miles west-northwest of Calipatria, occurred at 2:55 a.m. PDT at a depth of 6.5 miles, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). … Interestingly, recent research suggests that the shrinking Salton Sea may be delaying a major quake. As the lake—formed [refilled] in 1905 by a breach in the Colorado River—dries up due to drought and reduced runoff, the reduced water weight is easing stress on the San Andreas Fault. A 2023 study by San Diego State University and UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography found that when the basin filled with water historically, it increased seismic activity by lubricating faults. The current drying trend may be stabilizing the fault, though it could also mean greater stress accumulation for a future rupture.

Other Salton Sea news:

• Imperial Valley Press (El Centro, Calif.): BLM to conduct competitive geothermal lease sale in Imperial County
• Watershed Sentinel: Blog: Lithium Valley: Clean energy, dirty legacy