Geyser threatening highway, railroad tracks and utilities near Niland

NILAND — The Imperial County Board of Supervisors approved the declaration of an emergency at its Tuesday meeting due to a geyser whose recent migration is threatening State Route 111, Union Pacific railroad infrastructure and underground utilities.

The geyser is releasing water and carbon dioxide approximately 0.6 miles from Highway 111 and Gillespie Road in the Imperial County.

This has destabilizing the soil and encroaching on the railroad.

“It was necessary to declare an emergency at the Board of Supervisors meeting in order to assure that the efforts are expedited so that the geyser does not affect critical infrastructure such as the Union Pacific Railroad track, underground utilities and State Route 111,” said Maria Peinado, public health information officer for the Imperial County Public Health Department.

This geyser has been in existence since 1953, the county said in a fact sheet. In the past 11 years, it has moved slowly, but recently its rate of movement has increased at a much faster rate.

The soil in the area can become unstable as it becomes loose.

“Destabilized soil can lead to the creation of subsurface voids, soil washouts and sinkhole-type conditions,” Peinado said.

“Geysers are naturally occurring phenomena in Imperial County, especially in the area around the Salton Sea. What is different about this situation is that this particular geyser has been moving at a much faster rate.”

Highway 111 has not been affected yet, but if the geyser continues to spread, it will be.

Carmen Sandoval, Caltrans District 11 public and legislative affairs officer said, “If for some reason the geyser continues to erode the soil and cannot be diverted, State Route 111 may be closed for safety reasons. The public will receive a notice if any closure of SR111 becomes necessary.”

The geyser is located five miles northwest of Niland. Peinado said that as of now there is no immediate danger to the residents of Niland. County officials are currently monitoring the situation and will notify the public if a danger is present.

In the meantime, Union Pacific Railroad will be installing extraction groundwater wells near the geyser to relieve and redirect the flow emanating from the geyser into a temporary diversion ditch. The extracted groundwater will be redirected to the Salton Sea.

The County of Imperial is working closely with officials from Union Pacific to assure that county infrastructure is not affected.