Restoration Update




	June 2004www.saltonsea.ca.gov

Tom Kirk Leaves Executive Director’s Post

Longtime Salton Sea Authority Executive Director Tom Kirk, who guided the Authority from a shoestring operation to a $750 million environmental reclamation project, has resigned. Kirk, 37, advised he will be leaving the La Quinta based office in two months to work with a leading Coachella Valley engineering and land planning company, MSA Consultants in Rancho Mirage.

Kirk is credited with rallying support for the frequently disdained Sea, California’s largest inland lake, from Salton City to Washington D.C. “Tom’s time at the helm has been characterized by action – innovative pilot projects, wildlife programs, and aggressive public outreach that ultimately led to the approval of a comprehensive restoration plan,” said SSA Board President Andy Horne.

Tom Kirk surveys the launch of a drill barge at Johnson’s Landing - Salton City.

When Kirk was hired as the group’s first executive director in 1997, “Few people outside of Riverside and Imperial Counties knew about the Sea, its plight and its promise,” stated SSA board member Gary Wyatt. “Tom spearheaded a public outreach campaign to increase awareness by making hundreds of presentations to civic groups, legislators, even school children. Back then the environmental community did not embrace the Sea’s restoration but Tom reached out to them and changed their perspectives,” he added.

During his tenure at SSA, the organization grew from an operation with no staff, no office and a $50,000 budget to become the most visible guardian of the deteriorating Sea, which is home to countless fish and one of the most significant rest stops for North American migrating birds.

Kirk, the board, seaside locals and supporters from the environmental community spent months pressing to include the Sea in a multi-billion-dollar deal to divert Imperial Valley irrigation water to San Diego and the Coachella Valley. The effort netted a commitment by the state to set aside as much as $300 million for the Sea as part of the pact. Kirk said the inclusion of the Sea in the 2003 deal to transfer Colorado River water from farms to cities leaves tomorrow’s caretakers on firmer ground from which to fight for the lake’s future.

But including the Sea in the water deal was not an easy sell. Kirk and other proponents only succeeded after the six state, four-agency water pact fell apart because of disagreement over how to mitigate damage to the Sea. Environmentalists, seaside residents and Kirk said diverting inflows from the Sea would dry the lake bed, hasten the rise in salt levels and expose the Sea bed to high winds that could send dust storms across the Coachella and Imperial Valleys.

Stella Mendoza, a board member for the Imperial Irrigation District and the Salton Sea Authority said, “He just kept working on it and he is a hard worker. Tom was able to convey that the Sea is worth saving.” But at times Kirk’s position frustrated deal-makers, according to Steve Robbins, general manager of the Coachella Valley Water District. “He was just there all the time reminding people of the potential impact of the water deal on the Sea,” said Robbins. And as such, Kirk’s posit ultimately won respect.

After the water deal was approved, Kirk encouraged the Authority board to consider a Sea restoration plan that would use money from the deal to manage shrinking inflows as a result of the diversions. On April 22, 2004, the board unanimously endorsed the plan which aims to shrink the Sea into a higher quality lake. This landmark decision was the first ever endorsed at any level of government despite decades of studies on the Sea. It has led to drafts of a plan estimated to cost $750 million to enact. The State of California is also considering plans of its own as it sees itself as the potential leader of Salton Sea Restoration.

Andy Seidel, chief executive officer of US Filter in Palm Desert, praised Kirk’s diligence, stating, “In the long run the community will be better off thanks to Tom’s vision.” And because of his passion, he has changed the mindset from “how much restoration will cost” to “how much it will greatly benefit the region.”

The Desert Sun, Opinions/Editorial Page Tuesday, June 15, 2004

(Reprinted with permission from The Desert Sun)
Our Voice: Salton Sea Restoration Vital to Valley Future
Restoration Effort Losing a Powerful Voice

There’s no doubt about it – Tom Kirk has been a great ambassador for the Salton Sea. As executive director of the Salton Sea Authority, he helped bring the importance of restoring the Sea onto the national stage. Two years ago, after a federal process fizzled, the Authority assumed the driver’s seat for restoration planning and just this past April endorsed a restoration project for the Sea. As part of last year’s enabling legislation for the historic water transfer between Imperial Irrigation District and San Diego, Kirk and others were able to include a plan to set aside as much as $30 million in potential water sale proceeds for restoration efforts.

Of course, that much money can wake even the sleepiest of Sacramento lawmakers and in this case resulted in the state’s decision to put itself in charge of restoration efforts (and all that money) and start the study process all over again.

The Authority has shown great leadership in developing a restoration project with broad conceptual support. While Rep. Mary Bono, R-Palm Springs, and the Salton Congressional Task Force are supportive, the feds are unlikely partners in anything but a three-legged stool (feds, state, Authority).

One thing we all seem to agree on is that restoration of the Salton Sea is critical. To that end:

	•	We urge the Salton Sea Authority to maintain the momentum it has built in its restoration efforts. Stay the course and complete the mission.
	•	We encourage the Authority to continue to build a private sector constituency to add to the foundation of the grass roots support already in place to create a powerful new voice with decision makers.
	•	Officials must continue to focus on the economic development and job creation potential at and around the Sea and communicate those aspects of restoration to key decision making bodies.
	•	The leadership of Bono and the Salton Sea Congressional Task Force continue to be critical to the success of any restoration efforts.

We continue to believe that restoration efforts are best led at the local level by those with the greatest stake in the outcome. Make sure local voices are heard. We urge the Authority to select a successor for Kirk with these important elements in mind. And soon.

THE ISSUE: Tom Kirk is departing as executive director of the Salton Sea Authority. Kirk did an exceptional job during his seven-year tenure. But now the Authority has a big void to fill at a critical time. Especially since Sacramento is trying to wrest control away from the local agency.

OUR STANCE: The Salton Sea Authority needs to combine economic benefit with environmental value to make restoration viable. The Authority must continue its efforts to keep control of restoration efforts. We continue to believe that restoration efforts are best led at the local level by those with the greatest stake in the outcome.

Restoration Concept

On April 22nd, the Salton Sea Board of Directors unanimously endorsed a restoration concept to shrink the sea into a higher quality lake.

M E E T I N G S
S C H E D U L E

Board of Directors
June 24, 10am
Imperial Irrigation District
El Centro

Technical Advisory Meeting
July 8, 10:30am
Salton Community
Service District
Salton City

Board of Directors
July 22, 10am
Imperial Irrigation District
La Quinta

Plaza La Quinta
78-401 Highway 111, Suite T
La Quinta, CA 92253
www.salton sea.ca.gov

Coachella and Imperial Valleys Team up to Define Restoration Economic Impacts

The Salton Sea has been the subject of numerous studies; from water quality to things geological, ecological and environmental. Now, thanks to a team effort between the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership (CVEP), Imperial Valley Economic Development Corporation (IVEDC) and other stakeholders, an economic impact/benefit study is being developed to measure the potential economic impact that will result from the Sea’s restoration. The study will focus on the Sea as an “economic engine” for the region as well as an amenity that could attract greater visitation and investment, attract capital investment and generate revenue.

The organizations expect to use results of the study to expand the restoration dialogue with decision makers to include potential economic development and benefits for the area and constituents surrounding the Sea.

Some of the recreational amenities that will attract residents and visitors include swimming, boating, water sports, camping, fishing and bird-watching. As a result of restoration, visitation to the area would generate higher occupancy, longer stays, more day visits and a new complement of visitor entirely creating new and additional public revenues from sales tax, transient occupancy tax and property tax.

Construction and jobs will be generated in many ways: Salton Sea Restoration Project Infrastructure, development infrastructure, and new residential and commercial development.

Employment opportunities will stem from hotel and lodging, retail, gaming, lake management, environmental governance, recreation, energy production and dining.

The restored area could be an ideal venue for corporate and personal growth retreats as well as for renewed interest in jet-ski and water skiing competitions, boat races and other special events.

Conversely, if restoration does not take place, continued degradation of the Sea would have an adverse environmental impact that will devastate the local economies in both counties.

CVEP and IVEDC are currently collecting input from stakeholder groups and expect to finalize a scope of work in June, issue a Request for Qualifications shortly thereafter and select a vendor to begin work this summer and deliver a report defining economic impacts and benefits this fall.

For more information regarding this effort please contact the CVEP at (760) 340-1575 or IVEDC at (760) 353-8332.

Tourism and Recreation Part of Economic Development

Recreational water sports brought economic development in the 1960’s (pictured) and it is believed that a restored Salton Sea would again bring a recreational boom to the area.

Click here to download a printable version of this newsletter. (Must have Adobe Acrobat Reader).