California’s largest lake is shrinking—and transforming. NBC Palm Springs’ Olivia Sandusky set sail from Bombay Beach to explore the beauty, controversy, and potential of the Salton Sea. Stretching 343 square miles and sitting 226 feet below sea level, the Salton Sea is both majestic and endangered. Local photographer Kevin Key, who now calls Bombay Beach home, says he fell in love with the tranquility and surreal sunsets. But the picturesque views mask serious problems: pollution from agricultural runoff, receding shorelines, and a sharp decline in wildlife. Despite decades of restoration attempts, many question whether meaningful progress is being made. At the sea’s south end, an ambitious future is taking shape: Lithium Valley. With over 17 million metric tons of lithium beneath its geothermal brine, the area is a focal point for renewable energy development.