Salton Sea Management Program Community Workshop, April 20, 2023

April 20, 2023 Presentation Slides

Recording and Presentation Slides From March 1, 2023 Event

Presentation Slides

SSMP Community Meeting on Long Range Plan – March 1, 2023

On March 1, join the Salton Sea Management Program Team (SSMP) for a virtual community meeting on the Draft Salton Sea Long-Range Plan. At the meeting, the SSMP Team will provide an overview of the draft plan, answer questions, and receive community input as part of the 45-day public comment period that ends on March 17, 2023. We will also discuss next steps as the long-range plan becomes part of a feasibility study led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Join the conversation and ask your questions. Your voice is important to the success of the Salton Sea Long-Range Plan!

SSMP Community Meeting on Long Range Plan – March 1, 2023
March 1, 2023, 5:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m.
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82067469497
Teleconference Dial In: 360-209-5623 US Toll-free
Meeting ID: 82067469497
Facebook Live in Spanish: “Salton Sea COEE” page
Spanish interpretation will be provided. Habrá interpretación al español.

Comments on the draft Long-Range Plan may be sent via email to SaltonSeaLRP@resources.ca.gov, or via regular mail to the California Natural Resources Agency, Attn: Salton Sea Long-Range Plan Review, 715 P Street, 20th Floor Sacramento, CA 95814. Please send your comments on or before March 17 at 11:59 p.m. PST.

SSMP Project Update

Work Continues at Vegetation Enhancement Projects Around the Salton Sea

A mixture of native plant seed was placed between the rows of grass bales that were placed during phase-1 of the Vegetation Enhancement Projects at Clubhouse and West Bombay Beach sites.

The SSMP is implementing the vegetation enhancement projects in partnership with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation near communities around the Salton Sea. The projects cover approximately 1,700 acres and are located near the communities of Salton City and Bombay Beach. The projects aim to establish and enhance native vegetation on the exposed lakebed to reduce wind-blown dust and improve habitat value for desert wildlife. Native plants being established at the project sites include iodine bush, big saltbush, salt grass, honey mesquite, palo verde, among others still being considered.

Phase 1 of the Vegetation Enhancement Projects consists of grading, grass bale placement, and site modifications in the project areas. Grass bales will help protect plants and vegetation that will be coming into the projects as part of the phase 2, which includes planting and/or seeding and irrigation. Until sites get planted, the bales create a form engineered surface roughening for interim dust suppression, important to the nearby communities.

The SSMP team was successful in getting approximately 290 acres seeded within the existing rows of grass bales at Clubhouse and West Bombay Beach sites. This work was done as part of the second phase of these projects during the months of November and December. At the request of residents at our public meetings, we will be adding native trees to complement our native shrub mix throughout all sites, where feasible.

A total of 1,085 acres of vegetation enhancement projects began implementation in 2022. The team is working with local nurseries to grow out tens of thousands of plants for placement during this winter/spring season. Seeding and planting will continue over the next couple of months.

SSMP Project Spotlight – November 2022

Bringing you timely and concise updates on the Salton Sea Management Program

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New River Diversion Structure Under Construction as Part of the Species Conservation Habitat Project

The New River diversion structure (star icon) is a major component of the Species Conservation Habitat Project. Completion of this feature signifies a major milestone for the project.

The Species Conservation Habitat (SCH) Project, spanning the New River at the southern end of the Salton Sea, will create a network of ponds and wetlands to provide important fish and bird habitat while suppressing dust emissions to improve regional air quality as the Salton Sea continues to recede. On schedule for completion in 2023, the 4,100-acre SCH is the first of many projects the Salton Sea Management Program (SSMP) team will implement as part of the SSMP Phase 1: 10-Year Plan.

The New River diversion structure is a major component of the overall SCH Project. It will allow water diversion into the habitat ponds. The East and West Sluiceways will allow the water coming from the New River to flow north into the Salton Sea. The Labyrinth weir will allow the New River water to rise and a portion of it will flow by gravity to the New River West and East Intake Structures. The mixing occurs between the weir and the sedimentation basins at the mixing basins. Saline water from the Salton Sea is pumped in from the Saline Pump Station located at the north end of the Causeway into the mixing basins. The mixed water (from the New River and from the Salton Sea) will then flow by gravity to the sedimentation basins and then to the habitat ponds. The New River diversion structure is also a flood control structure that will allow for water to go through without compromising the integrity of the project.

During the first phase of construction of the diversion structure, material placement and removal was completed for ground improvement. Then followed by excavation and embankment, installation of sheet piles, and the concrete and rebar installation for the weir structure. The New River Diversion Structure is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2022.

Construction of the SCH Project is expected to continue through the end of 2023.

A few weeks ago, SSMP partners from Audubon California published a blog post that narrates their recent experience at the SCH Project site. “We were pleasantly surprised to find ourselves counting thousands upon thousands of Black-necked Stilts, Long-billed Curlews, Least and Western Sandpipers…”

Click here to read Audubon’s blog post: https://ca.audubon.org/news/shorebirds-flock-salton-sea

SSMP Team

SSMP Team Employee Spotlight

The California Natural Resources Agency, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife are implementing the Salton Sea Management Program to address air quality and ecological threats at the Salton Sea. These agencies are collectively known as the SSMP team.

In this edition, we are putting Miguel Hernández in the spotlight to share more about his important work, as part of the SSMP Team.

Hernández is the Public Affairs Officer at the California Natural Resources Agency for the for the Salton Sea Management Program. He has been serving in this role since September of 2021.

• Hi Miguel, can you tell us a bit more about your role at the SSMP?

Hola, my role is to provide effective public communications for the SSMP program. Leading the Outreach and Communications office to communicate activities, priorities, and progress happening for the SSMP, including its restoration projects. As part of the SSMP leadership, continue prioritizing community involvement so local input can better shape the work of the SSMP. Part of my role is to support the work of the SSMP Community Engagement Committee, in collaboration with the Committee co-chairs to achieve meaningful community engagement and utilize effective outreach strategies to connect with communities. I’ve had the fortune of been a part of the Community Engagement Committee years before joining the SSMP team.

• What part of your job do you enjoy the most?

I enjoy engaging with SSMP partners, community-based organization, non-governmental organizations, community members. My job requires that I work in close collaboration with others to advance environmental justice priorities, bringing people together to achieve collective goals and identify effective ways to meet our objectives.

• What inspired you to seek a career in communications and public outreach?

I was always part of school extracurricular activities that required significant public interaction. I also served in church programs that allowed me to learn from my community. I believe this is the baseline for my interest in communicating and interacting with folks around me.

Years after graduating, I found an opportunity to work with a grassroots organization in Imperial County. My work here required me to coordinate communications and media relations for the organization, including conducting community outreach for multiple programs. I led the Salton Sea Community Outreach, Education, and Engagement program intending to inform the hard-to-reach communities of the Salton Sea region. This opportunity allowed me to have close conversations with community members, learning that there is a ton of information that is not reaching these communities and that the Salton Sea is another item in a list of the multiple concerns in the area. I joined the State SSMP team inspired to communicate accurately and transparently with the people of my community.

• What is your vision for the future of the Salton Sea?

I’m confident that if we continue to work in collaboration, not only the SSMP will achieve its commitments, but we will be able to achieve those collective goals that better serve the communities of the Salton Sea region. There are still significant challenges ahead of us, perhaps uncertainties too, but my vision for the Salton Sea is one with a positive outcome that prioritizes community concerns and preserves habitat value for the Sea.

• Thanks Miguel!

The State is Recruiting Two Candidates to Join the SSMP Team

The Department of Water Resources is seeking applicants for a Budget Analyst to work with the SSMP.

The Budget Analyst works independently performing a wide variety of challenging and complex analytical and administrative tasks, as well as working closely with program managers on budget planning and tracking and grant contract development and invoicing for the Salton Sea Program.

The final filing date is November 18. The job announcement may be found at https://www.calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Jobs/JobPosting.aspx?JobControlId=326086

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking applicants for Senior Environmental Scientist with the SSMP.

Under the general supervision, the Senior Environmental Scientist serves as scientific and regulatory lead for the CDFW Salton Sea Program and independently identifies problems, develops courses of action, conducts critical scientific investigations, prepares guidance, policy, planning, and regulatory documents, and legislative proposals and analysis. The incumbent requires a broad understanding of natural resources, conservation, and environmental laws, including aquatic ecology, fisheries, and water quality, and habitat structure affecting fish and bird health and abundance. This position is seeking applicants from any of the following counties: Riverside, Imperial, San Bernardino, San Diego, Los Angeles, San Joaquin, or Orange County.

The final filing date is November 15. The job announcement may be found at: https://www.jobs.ca.gov/CalHRPublic/Search/JobSearchResults.aspx#kw=Salton%20Sea%20Management

Job opportunities to join the SSMP team are updated regularly. Click here to view available jobs.

Upcoming SSMP Engagement Opportunities and Salton Sea Events

UPDATE: SSMP Science Committee Meeting Set for December 1

The SSMP Science Committee will meet on December 1 for a virtual meeting on Zoom. The Committee will present a public update on the Monitoring Implementation Plan and provide informational background on the Monitoring and Adaptive Management Plan (MAMP) for the SSMP’s SCH Project.

SSMP Science Committee Meeting

When: Dec 1, 2022, 1:00 p.m.

Please click this link to join the webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85404503973

Or Dial: +1 (646) 931 3860

Webinar ID: 854 0450 3973

This meeting will be recorded and uploaded to the SSMP website. Spanish Interpretation will be available. Habrá interpretación en español.

The Science Committee provides scientific review of various plans being developed for resource management at the Salton Sea. The committee is composed of scientists with specialized expertise in key resources (hydrology and water quality, geography, air quality, biological resources, and socioeconomics) related to the Salton Sea and/or experience with the application of scientific data to environmental management.

SSMP Update Community Meeting set for December 7

The SSMP team will provide an informational program update on a hybrid meeting on December 7 at 5:30 p.m. Attendees may participate in person at Calipatria High School Library located at 601 W Main St, Calipatria, CA 92233, or join virtually using the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81967335579

SSMP Update Community Meeting

When: Dec 7, 2022, 05:30 p.m. -7:30 p.m.

In person location: Calipatria High School Library, 601 W Main St, Calipatria, CA 92233

Please click this link to join the webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81967335579

Or Dial: +1 360 209 5623

Webinar ID: 819 6733 5579

This meeting will be recorded and uploaded to the SSMP website. Spanish Interpretation will be available. Habrá interpretación en español.

Meeting materials and other documents will be uploaded to the SSMP website. For questions or comments, please contact: Cnra-saltonsea@resources.ca.gov.

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@CalNatResources Join us for the next Secretary Speaker Series: Strengthening Tribal Partnerships in Our Nature-Based Solutions Work. Secretary @WadeCrowfoot and panelists will discuss recent tribal-state collaborations and projections for future initiatives.

The Salton Sea e-Newsletter Update is issued the second week of each month to deliver up-to-date information on the Salton Sea Management Program. For questions or comments, please contact: Cnra-saltonsea@resources.ca.gov.

To sign up to receive Salton Sea Community Updates, please click here.

California Natural Resources Agency
715 P Street
Sacramento, CA 95814

SSMP Project Updates

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August 2022 – Bringing you timely and concise updates on the Salton Sea Management Program

Species Conservation Habitat Project is Now 60% Complete

Construction of the Saline Pump Station at the end of the Causeway is ongoing.​

Major construction activities continue full steam ahead at the SSMP’s 4,100-acre Species Conservation Habitat (SCH) Project which is located at the southern end of the Salton Sea. The SCH project is the state’s first large-scale habitat restoration project that will create a network of ponds and provide important fish and bird habitat while also suppressing dust emissions to protect regional air quality.

Even as work continues, endangered desert pupfish and a broad range of bird species already are actively using the new habitat created with completion of the interception ditch last year.

The following are key recent accomplishments:

• Project design has been completed and construction is 60% complete.
• All perimeter berms of the habitat ponds are 90% complete.
• Bird nesting and loafing Islands are 75% complete.
• Work on the saline intake, northern berm, and New River intake are ongoing.

The project is on schedule and is expected to be completed in 2023

Forward Progress Continues on the Vegetation Enhancement Projects at the Salton Sea

This Iodine Bush seedling was planted last spring at the Clubhouse site. Iodine Bush is one of several plant species being planted to establish native desert vegetation communities.

In partnership with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the SSMP continues work on the three vegetation enhancement projects near communities around the Salton Sea. The projects cover approximately 1,700 acres and are located near the communities of Salton City and Bombay Beach. The projects aim to establish and enhance native vegetation on the exposed lakebed to create habitat for desert wildlife and reduce wind-blown dust.

These projects consist of initial physical site modification through placement of grass bales or construction of swales and berms to protect and facilitate plant growth and improve plant survival rates followed by seeding and/or planting of native vegetation. Three vegetation establishment methods will be used including natural recruitment, seeding, and planting.

Construction began in 2021 and initial bale placement and site modifications has been completed at the Clubhouse and West Bombay Beach sites. In addition, planting and seeding on approximately 35 acres was completed last spring at the Clubhouse site. Work at the Tule Wash project site began in July 2022. Planting and seeding are scheduled to restart this fall as the weather cools and will continue until vegetation communities are established across all three sites.

Upcoming SSMP Engagement Opportunities and Events

The SSMP continues to prioritize community involvement and meaningful community engagement in all its projects and processes. The team is coordinating public events to further inform the community about projects around the Salton Sea, transparency in plan development, as well as to create spaces for community members to familiarize themselves with the various processes that are part of the overall SSMP. Links to the meetings and other materials are uploaded to the SSMP website at www.saltonsea.ca.gov.

The SSMP team kindly invites you to join us in the upcoming engagement opportunities:

• August 23, 2:30 p.m. Community Engagement Committee Meeting – Join Meeting
• September 1, 5:30 p.m. SSMP Long Range Plan Community Workshop- Join Meeting
• September 7, 9:30 a.m. Long-Range Plan Committee Meeting – Join Meeting

 Salton Sea Independent Review Panel’s Status Update Meeting Set for September 30

The Independent Review Panel studying water importation concepts to restore California’s Salton Sea will be hosting a virtual public meeting on  Friday, September 30. This meeting will present the results of the Feasibility Analysis and the Summary Report. Please be on the lookout for additional meeting information and documents.

Army Corps of Engineers Extends Public Comment Period on Draft Environmental Assessment to August 20, 2022

Salton Sea Management Update – August 1, 2021

Haga click aquí para leer este mensaje en español

Also: Upcoming SSMP Engagement Opportunities and Events; SSMP Community Engagement Committee to Meet on August 23; SSMP Community Workshop: Long Range Plan Workshop set for September 1; SSMP Long-Range Plan Committee to Meet on September 7

On June 21, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) released the Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) and the proposed Letter of Permission procedures for the State of California’s Salton Sea Management Program (SSMP) Phase 1: 10-Year Plan. The public review period has been extended to August 20 and comments can still be submitted.

Public comments can be submitted on the Draft EA and proposed Letter of Permission procedures electronically to: splregssmp@usace.army.mil until 5:00 p.m. (PST) on August 20, 2022.

This important comment period is your opportunity to help shape the projects planned for the Salton Sea as part of the SSMP’s 10-year Plan.

For more information and to view the official Corps documents, please visit: https://www.spl.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/Projects-Programs/.

Upcoming SSMP Engagement Opportunities and Events

The SSMP team continues to place a strong focus on meaningful community engagement throughout the program. The team is coordinating public events to further inform the community about projects around the Salton Sea, as well as to create spaces for community members to familiarize themselves with the processes that are part of the SSMP’s Phase I: 10-Year Plan as well as the Long-Range Plan.

The following are upcoming SSMP engagement opportunities planned over the coming weeks.

SSMP Community Engagement Committee to Meet on August 23

The SSMP Community Engagement Committee will hold a virtual meeting on August 23 at 2:30 p.m.

SSMP Engagement Committee Meeting

Tuesday, August 23 at 2:30 p.m.

Please click the link below to join the webinar:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88016801572

Or join over the phone by dialing:

Dial: 1 (669) 900 6833

Webinar ID: 880 1680 1572

SSMP Community Workshop: Long Range Plan Workshop set for September 1

The SSMP invites community members, and all interested parties to participate in a virtual Community Workshop on September 1. The team will provide updates on the Long-Range Plan and would like to receive your comments to help develop the Long-Range Plan.

Long-Range Plan Community Workshop

Thursday, September 1 at 5:30 p.m.

Please click the link below to join the webinar:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87412669300

Or join over the Telephone:

Dial: +1 (253) 215 8782

Webinar ID: 874 1266 9300

SSMP Long-Range Plan Committee to Meet on September 7

The Long-Range Plan Committee will meet on Wednesday, September 7 at 9:30 a.m. for a virtual meeting on Zoom to discuss updates and receive feedback on the development of the Long-Range Plan.

SSMP Long-Range Plan Committee Meeting

Wednesday, September 7 at 9:30 a.m.

Please click the link below to join the webinar:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83504819444

Or join over the Telephone:

Dial: +1 (346) 248 7799

Webinar ID: 835 0481 9444

Links to the meetings and other materials will be uploaded to the SSMP website at www.saltonsea.ca.gov.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact: Cnra-saltonsea@resources.ca.gov.

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Independent Review Panel on Water Importation to Hold Informational Meeting on July 20

Salton Sea Management Program Update – July 6, 2022

The Independent Review Panel evaluating proposals for water importation to the Salton Sea will provide an update and present its latest report on July 20, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. in a virtual Zoom meeting. The report summarizes de Panel’s fatal flaw analysis for the 13 submissions on water importation still under review.

The meeting will cover:

• the Panel’s overall activities and where the fatal flaw analysis fits in;
• the potential fatal flaws the Panel looked for in each submission;
• the outcomes for all the submissions;
• what comes next on the Panel’s agenda; and
• answering your questions.

Independent Review Panel Update

Wednesday, July 20th 5:30-7:00 p.m.

Please click the link below to join the meeting

https://zoom.us/j/93007308543

Meeting ID: 930 0730 8543

Password: 010109

Phone: +1 669 900 6833

Spanish interpretation will be available. Habrá interpretación en español.

The Salton Sea Management Program contracted the University of California, Santa Cruz to establish the Panel and provide research and analytical support. The Panel is tasked with studying submissions to determine whether water importation to the Salton Sea is feasible as part of a long-range plan for the Sea.

If you have any questions, please email sslt-eval-input@ucsc.edu

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Long Range Plan Committee Meeting Set for July 6

The Long Range Plan Committee will meet on Wednesday, July 6, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. for a virtual meeting on Zoom to discuss updates and get feedback on the development of the Long-Range Plan. This meeting will be open to the public and are encouraged to participate during the public comment period.

Agenda in English | Agenda En Español

Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://bit.ly/ssmpLRPcommittee
Or join over the Telephone:
Dial: +1 (408) 638 0968
Webinar ID: 896 0918 4276
Passcode: 889483

If you have any questions or comments please contact: Cnra-saltonsea@resources.ca.gov

Army Corps of Engineers releases Draft Environmental Assessment for SSMP 10-Year Plan

Salton Sea Management Update – June 21, 2022

Today, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) released the Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) and proposed Letter of Permission procedures for the State of California’s Salton Sea Management Program Phase 1: 10-Year Plan (SSMP 10-Year Plan). For more information and to view the official Corps documents please visit:  https://www.spl.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/Projects-Programs/.

As the federal lead agency, the Corps has prepared the Draft EA to analyze and disclose the effects of implementing the SSMP’s 10-Year Plan, pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The SSMP 10-Year Plan proposes to implement a total of 29,800 acres of dust suppression and aquatic habitat restoration projects around the perimeter of the Salton Sea. At least 50 percent of the project acreage will be created as habitat for fish and wildlife that depend on the Salton Sea ecosystem and the remainder will be projects to suppress dust. Additionally, the Draft EA includes and evaluates actions by several federal agencies.

Public comments can be submitted on the Draft EA and proposed Letter of Permission procedures electronically to: splregssmp@usace.army.mil until 5:00pm (PST) on July 21, 2022.

In addition, the Corps will host three virtual public meetings to receive comments on the Draft EA and the Letter of Permission Procedures on the following dates and times:

July 7: 1 to 3 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m.

July 12: 6 to 8 p.m.

Each of the three meetings will be the same and allow community members and stakeholders to provide input and official comments that will help shape the federal decision as to which projects are implemented, what community amenities are included, how potential environmental effects are addressed, and the proposed alternatives to be considered.

This vitally important comment period is your opportunity to help shape the projects coming to the Salton Sea as part of the SSMP’s 10-year Plan.

Spanish interpretation will be provided. Habrá interpretación al español.

Please click the link below to join the webinar:

Zoom Link: https://ca-water-gov.zoom.us/j/81408174164

Or join over the phone by dialing:

Teleconference Dial In: 888-278-0296

Access Code: 596019

Meeting ID: 81408174164

Facebook Live in Spanish: @SaltonSeaCOEE page

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