People who want to learn about how quickly California can turn to dust should study the Salton Sea and Salton City area in California's Imperial Valley. In the 50s-60s it was a happening place. My mom said she visited there in the early 70s and attended some parade. She thought it was a nice place.

But some agricultural runoff polluted the lake and killed all the fish, and all the development money dried up; and now the only thing it's good for is off-roading and cheap land no one wants. And Salton City itself still has a bunch of roads and infrastructure for a bustling suburb but no houses.