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August 2004www.saltonsea.ca.gov |
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Salton Sea Authority Names New Executive
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New Executive Director Pledges Cooperation & Collaboration in Pursuit of Restoration Goals
La Quinta, CA, August 23, 2004 – Ron Enzweiler, a 54-year-old environmental engineering consultant with expertise in water management and policy issues, has been named executive director of the Salton Sea Authority.
Enzweiler most recently worked on the San Francisco Bay Delta Ecosystem Restoration Program in northern California. He will begin his position at the Authority Oct. 4, announced Salton Sea Authority board president Gary Wyatt.
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Ron Enzweiler, new Executive Director begins October 4.
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Since 1994, Enzweiler has been the principal and owner of his own environmental engineering, research and development firm, WaterTech Partners. His involvement in the San Francisco Bay Delta Ecosystem Restoration Program has been aimed at resolving the agricultural drainage problems on farms in the San Joaquin Valley. The drainage from farms in this area contains high levels of salt, selenium and other contaminants – which ultimately ends up in the San Joaquin River causing problems in the Bay Delta ecosystem. Enzweiler has worked in partnership with the Panoche Water District and the California Bay-Delta Authority to address this issue. He has also performed related projects for the Department of Water Resources and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which are member-agencies of the California Bay-Delta Authority.
“Ron has the professional and inter-personal skills and experience we need to build upon the work that has already been accomplished in developing the preferred Salton Sea restoration project,” Wyatt stated.
Enzweiler, father of three college-enrolled students, and his wife Elena, will be relocating to the La Quinta area from Moraga where his current environmental engineering practice is based. Wyatt describes him as “a very outgoing person and an excellent communicator who has an outstanding grasp of the big picture.”
Enzweiler’s responsibilities include helping to implement the Authority’s preferred restoration option: development of a smaller Salton Sea that features a stable marine lake in the northern portion with shallow water habitats and a freshwater lake in the southern portion.
The San Francisco Bay Delta Ecosystem Restoration Program is similar to the restoration effort envisioned for the Salton Sea in that, in both cases, high salinity levels, water quality degradation and habitat impairment caused by agriculture drainage must be addressed. Both situations also have and will involve the coordination of work and consensus building among local, state and federal agencies.
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Gary Wyatt to Participate in Urban Water Conference
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Gary Wyatt will be attending and presenting at the 11th Annual California Urban Water Conference, August 25-27 in San Diego. The conference theme is “Meeting Future Water Needs: Are We Prepared?”
On Friday, August 27 at 11:30 a.m. Tom Kirk, former Authority Executive Director, will lead and moderate a panel in delivering a “final report” on the Salton Sea Authority entitled, The Salton Sea: Environmental Treasure or Urban Water Source? Wyatt will serve as a panelist along with representatives from Defenders of Wildlife, Department of Water Resources and Bureau of Reclamation.
Other confirmed conference speakers include Mike Chrisman, California Secretary of Resources; Lester Snow, Director, Department of Water Resources; and Chuck Ahlem, Undersecretary of Food and Agriculture.
Speakers on Colorado River issues and drought will include Pat Mulroy, General Manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority; Sid Wilson, Central Arizona Project; Don Ostler, Upper Colorado River Commission; and Dennis Underwood, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.
A pre-conference workshop on Seawater Desalination and Power issues is scheduled for August 25th.
Seats are available and registrations are still being accepted. See www.urbanwater.com or call (949) 679-9676 for information.
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“My involvement in the San Francisco Bay Delta Ecosystem Restoration Program has given me an understanding of California water and environmental issues. I have first-hand knowledge of the complexities involved in resolving high-profile, politically-sensitive environmental problems,” Enzweiler explained. He added, “I find the assignment of advancing the Authority’s endorsed Salton Sea restoration plan to fruition to be professionally challenging and rewarding and look forward to resolving the inevitable conflicts that arise with other entities.”
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“Ron has the professional and interpersonal skills and experience we need to build upon the work that has already been accomplished in developing the preferred Salton Sea restoration project.”
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– Gary Wyatt,
Salton Sea Authority
Board President
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Enzweiler, who will earn an annual salary of $96,000, will replace former executive director Tom Kirk, who left the Authority earlier this month for a job with a private engineering firm. The board has retained Kirk in a consulting capacity until Enzweiler assumes the job.
Enzweiler, who has been a registered Professional Engineer since 1980, holds a masters degree in business administration from Harvard University and a masters in civil engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. After obtaining his bachelor of industrial and systems engineering degree with honors at the Georgia Institute of Technology, Enzweiler served as U.S. Air Force Civil Engineering Officer at bases in South Dakota and Germany.
Enzweiler has been a member of the California Water Environment Association since 1992, as well as the American Membrane Technology Association since 1994, served as Council Member on the Moraga Town Council from 1996-2000, was Moraga Representative on the League of California Cities from 1996-2000 and Commissioner of the Contra Costa Transportation Authority from 1998-2000.
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“I have first-hand knowledge of the complexities involved in resolving high-profile, politically-sensitive environmental problems.”
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– Ron Enzweiler,
Salton Sea Authority
Executive Director
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The Salton Sea Authority is a coalition of water districts and local governments in Riverside and Imperial counties. It acts as caretaker of the 35-mile sea between the Coachella and Imperial valleys.
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Torres-Martinez and Salton Sea Community Attend Governor’s Hearings on State Inefficiency
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An unprecedented political process aimed at listening to the people and lessening government spending began August 13 when Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger held the first of a two month-long series of California Performance Review (CPR) hearings at the University of California – Riverside campus. The public hearings allow citizens to express concerns about some of the long and myriad arms of government.
Torres-Martinez Desert Cahuilla Tribal Chairman, Ray Torres, spoke at the Riverside CPR on behalf of his tribe and restoration efforts regarding the Salton Sea. He explained, “I asked that the panel take a close look at the ineffective use of money. I gave testimony letting them know that the Department of Water Resources (DWR) is a poster child for inefficiency and dysfunctional government spending.”
Torres stated that DWR, “wants to duplicate research and testing that has already been paid for and completed by multiple agencies and the Salton Sea Authority. The DWR wants control of the Salton Sea issues, to have power over the purse strings.” And that purse contains $300 million.
Torres is requesting an MOU, or Memorandum of Understanding, that would force the Department to work with local and federal agencies that have been intimately involved in the past, present and future of the sea. He said, “They have taken the public hearings outside of the impacted areas.”
“Working with these agencies would also allow for a more timely restoration of the sea. Why wait until 2006 when they can start working on it now by utilizing the results of what has been studied and recommended to date. They should not spend money to duplicate what has been done,” Torres said.
Tribal Environmental Director, Alberto Ramirez, explained the importance of expedient sea restoration to the tribe. “Our concern is community health. Everybody needs to work together to reach environmental and water quality goals which will protect community health as well as have a positive impact on recreational and economic issues.”
He summed it up simply with this statement, “The Salton Sea is completely attached to the history of our people, and we hope it is a resource that enhances our future. Outside of the tribe, people have the option to move. Within the tribe, moving is not an option. This is the only territory we have.” |
Future CPR Sessions
August 27
San Jose State University
Topics will include General Government; Information Technology, Performance-based Management, Procurement and Personnel
September 9
Either Long Beach or Los Angeles
Topics will include Education, Training and Volunteerism
September 10
California State University Long Beach
Topics will include Corrections Reform and Public Safety
September 17
California State University Long Beach
Topics will include Resource Conservation and Environmental Protection
September 27
Davis, Location TBD
The Topic will be Government Restoration
Hearings are from
10 am – 4 p.m.
For more information log onto http://cpr.ca.gov
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Fish Count Could be Bouncing Back
At the Salton Sea, dead fish congregate in “raft-like” proximity allowing the Salton Sea Authority to retrieve them; this leaves the sea cleaner and clearer. The Authority’s Senior Administrative Analyst, Dan Cain, explained that during a recent clean-up, where approximately 10,000 pounds of the fish biomass were removed. But according to those who have spent their lives fishing in and living near the Sea, the fish kills are “events” rather than on-going phenomena from which the sea and the fish population do rebound.
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Die-offs are considered natural “events.”
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Concurrent with the recent fish kill, Cain said, “We are finding large numbers of small-sized tilapia,” which are a mainstay food source for the Corvina. The silvery fish draws anglers to the sea both for its weight (some grow larger than 30 pounds) and for its challenge when hooked.
In addition to people who would be attracted to the Sea for its sport fishing is another important population – more than 400 species of birds either live within or migrate through the Salton Sea area. Tim Krantz, director of the Salton Sea Database program at University of Redlands adds, “The Sea is home to the threatened brown pelican and also supports as much as 80 percent of the North American white pelican population, which would have a hard time surviving without the sea as they do not adapt along the ocean.”
California Fish and Game biologist Jack Crayon said the tilapia sightings offer hope that the fishery could eventually rebound. A plan to shrink the sea into a smaller, higher quality lake includes the possibility of dividing the sea with an 8 mile embankment which could resolve the issues of salinity and excessive nutrients that have long been destroying the sea.
While the transition to a smaller sea could lower the fish population over the short-term, the smaller-sized lake could be a much more stable environment for all of its inhabitants and increase the likelihood of long-term population and species expansion. To kick-start the life cycles after the transformation from sea to lake, the Fish and Game department is considering saving some of the current stock of fish to preserve and hopefully re-start breeds of fish that are already adapted to the unique conditions of the sea.
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M E E T I N G S
S C H E D U L E
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Technical Advisory Meeting
September 9, 10:30am
CANCELED
Board of Directors
September 16, 10am
Torres Martinez Indian Tribe
Thermal
Technical Advisory Meeting
October 14, 10:30am
Salton Community Service District
Salton City
Board of Directors
October 28, 10am
Imperial Irrigation District
Salton City
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Plaza La Quinta
78-401 Highway 111, Suite T
La Quinta, CA 92253
www.salton sea.ca.gov |
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Salton Sea to Participate in Coachella Valley Water Symposium
Recognizing the need for a cooperative effort in managing the valley’s water supply, the Coachella Valley Water District is bringing together various agencies including the Salton Sea Authority, and stakeholders from across the valley to participate in the Coachella Valley Water Symposium.
Policy makers and representatives from diverse groups with an interest in water issues will be invited to discuss common concerns and solutions. Panel discussions will focus on groundwater management, conservation, and environmental issues including the Salton Sea.
“Whether you support or oppose the valley’s past and continued growth, everyone knows that water is, and will continue to be, one of the most important issues to the valley’s future,” said CVWD General Manager-Chief Engineer Steve Robbins. “It’s directly tied to every resident’s health and well being, as well as the valley’s economic viability.”
The event also will act as a catalyst for the formation of a valley-wide task force to help implement the strategies identified in the water district’s Water Management Plan. Adopted in October 2002, the plan is a blueprint for wise water management to help ensure a sufficient water supply for the Coachella Valley’s future. It calls for helping some groundwater users to convert to other water sources, such as Colorado River water, to lessen the demand on the aquifer. It also outlines conservation goals and stresses the importance of finding new water sources.
The symposium will be held October 20. More details – including time, location, a list of speakers and sponsorship opportunities – will be available as the event nears.
Salton Sea Centennial Celebration Count Down
Salton Sea will be celebrating its 100th Birthday May 7, 2005 at “The Fingers” in Desert Shores on Capri Lane, announced event publicity chairman, Ron Spears. This historic, educational, and exciting party promises to be an event not to be missed. Organizers are working to recreate the sea as it was as a tourist destination with a day of boating, skiing, jet skiing, entertainment, food, fishing and fun. The group is hopeful that Governor Schwarzenegger will agree to preside as Grand Marshall and a cast of dignitaries will be on hand to toast the next 100 years. Admission is free, Spears explained, adding that volunteer, vendor and sponsor opportunities are available.
For information, contact Ron Spears at ronnvi@aol.com or log onto www.ss100th.com.
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Copyright 2004 - Salton Sea Authority - La Quinta, California
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