The region surrounding California’s Salton Sea has some of the highest rates of asthma in the state. This has been associated with high levels of airborne particulate matter in the region, due to a combination of a desert ecosystem, an agricultural environment, and the Sea itself. However, the extent to which the Salton Sea plays a role in respiratory health is not fully understood. This study investigates emergency room data from hospitals in desert agricultural environments to determine what impact the Salton Sea may have on respiratory health outside of the effects of other pollutants.