Proposed legislation would give $50 million to Salton Sea restoration
An Inland Empire lawmaker proposed legislation todayto spur action on restoring the shrinking Salton Sea by allocating $50 millionfor projects overseen by the Salton Sea Authority.
Assemblyman Brian Nestande, R-Palm Desert, introduced Assembly Bill 709ahead of a hearing tomorrow in Mecca, during which representatives fromgovernment and private organizations will address the sea’s needs.
“The issues surrounding the restoration of the Salton Sea have beengoing on for far too long,” Nestande said. “State and federal inaction hasstymied restoration progress. We need to return control to the Salton SeaAuthority as the lead agency so they can move forward.”
AB 709 would require that $50 million in Proposition 84 bond revenue beearmarked for sea improvements and would direct the California WildlifeConservation Board to apply for matching federal funds in support ofrestoration.
The Salton Sea Authority would take charge of all projects underNestande’s bill. Currently, the SSA — composed of officials from Riverside andImperial counties — acts primarily in an advisory capacity.
“There was a time when the Salton Sea attracted more visitors per yearthan Yosemite,” Nestande said. “I want to empower the Salton Sea Authority sothey can return the area to the recreation and destination site it once was.”
According to the assemblyman, the SSA would have to develop a concreterestoration plan that passes muster with the state Legislative Analyst’sOffice, after which funds would be made available.
Nestande’s bill follows several proposals introduced last month byAssemblyman Manuel Perez, D-Coachella, that address funding for a restorationfeasibility study and mitigation measures necessary to prevent environmentaldamage that might result from changes to the sea.
The 365-square-mile body of water — the largest part of which lies inImperial County, with the north portion stretching to within a few miles ofThermal — has been plagued with increasing salinity over the last 40 years, tothe point that some of the sea’s deeper places are saltier than the ocean.
According to studies, nutrient compounds from agricultural runoff havecreated a “eutrophic” condition where high levels of hydrogen sulfide andammonia kill fish and produce gagging odors.
Water reclamation plans by local agencies and Mexico, as well as areduction of Colorado River supplies, will shrink the sea in the coming years,according to the Salton Sea Authority.
