Press Release

Dec. 11, 1999

Contact Tom Kirk (760) 564-4888
Or Bill Gay (760) 337-1700

LA QUINTA--California Sen. Diane Feinstein, Congresswoman Mary Bono and Deputy Interior Secretary David Hayes will be making keynote speeches at the Salton Sea Symposium Jan. 13 and 14 in Desert Hot Springs.

The event, sponsored by the Salton Sea Authority, will bring together top local, state and federal agencies and officials to review the progress of restoration efforts at the Salton Sea. It will be held in the Miracle Springs Hotel and Spa.

The symposium is dedicated to the memory of the late Congressman George Brown. His wife Marta Brown will be on hand for a tribute.

“He was one of the best friends of the Salton Sea,” said Tom Veysey, authority president. “Congressman Brown grew up in Holtville and understood the science, the politics and the economics of restoring the Salton Sea,” said Veysey, who is also chairman of the Imperial County Board of Supervisors.

During the course of the two-day gathering, speakers and presenters will discuss many of the issues involved in restoring the Salton Sea environment, not only for the Sea’s ecology but also for the area’s economy.

Subject matter during the first day of the symposium will be restoration planning, policy and politics.

Session topics include The Restoration Plan Presented to Congress; Balancing Agricultural, Environmental, Recreational and Economic Interests of the Sea; Governmental Roles and Responsibilities; The Sea in Context: California Water Issues, the Pacific Flyway and Mexico.

Scientific issues will be covered during the second day of the symposium and will be centered on new scientific information and discoveries regarding ecological issues. Seminar topics will include the biological and physical environments; fish, wildlife and vegetation and the next scientific steps.

Other confirmed speakers include Congressman Ken Calvert; State Senator David Kelley; Assemblyman Jim Battin; Milt Friend, chair of the Salton Sea Science Committee, Bill Steele, Salton Sea Program Manager, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation; Mike Bracken, executive director, Coachella Valley Economic Partnership; Steve Horvitz, park superintendent, Salton Sea State Park; Mike Spear, manager, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Brad Luckey, chief executive officer, Imperial Irrigation District among others.

The conference cost is $80 for both days or $50 for one day.

Registration forms or additional information on the symposium may be obtained by calling the Salton Sea Authority at (760) 564-4888.

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