How was the Salton Sea created by Colorado River floodwaters in 1905?

The Salton Sea was created in 1905 when floodwaters from the Colorado River breached diversion controls of the Imperial Canal. This break occurred approximately three miles south of the California-Mexico border, allowing the river's flow to rush northward into the Salton Sink, a deep, salt-covered depression located about 280 feet below sea level.12

The resulting inundation created a large lake that threatened to flood the agriculturally significant Imperial Valley and disrupt vital railroad infrastructure. To mitigate this danger, the railroad repaired the breach, and the construction of protective levees was completed in 1907 to stop the flow and stabilize the basin. While the lake initially began to shrink due to evaporation, it was eventually stabilized by the inflow of irrigation drainage water from the Imperial and Coachella valleys.21