DWR Executes Design-Build Contract with Kiewit for SCH Project
Salton Sea Management Program Update – September 14, 2020
Also: Save the Date: Next SSMP Engagement Committee Meeting Set for September 30; Community Input Sought for SSMP Projects; Virtual Public Workshops Set for September 22, 23 and 24
In a key step for the Salton Sea Management Program (SSMP), the Department of Water Resources last week finalized the design-build contract with Kiewit Infrastructure West Co. for the Species Conservation Habitat (SCH) project. Design and construction of the SCH Project is expected to begin in fall 2020.
“We are pleased to see this critical project take a major step forward with the signing of this contract,” said Arturo Delgado, Assistant Secretary for Salton Sea Policy at the California Natural Resources Agency. “The state team is eager to get projects on the ground that will improve conditions at the Salton Sea for residents of surrounding communities as well as for wildlife.”
Located at the southern end of the Sea along both sides of the New River, the 3,770-acre SCH project is aimed at creating habitat and suppressing dust to prevent further degradation of air quality.
The SCH anchors phase one of the SSMP, which focuses on constructing wetlands and other projects to reduce exposed lakebed and health hazards posed by airborne dust from exposed lakebed.
Save the Date: Next SSMP Engagement Committee Meeting Set for September 30
The Salton Sea Management Program’s Engagement Committee will hold a virtual meeting from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 30, via Zoom. Registration information, meeting agenda and materials will be available soon at https://saltonsea.ca.gov/.
The Engagement Committee is co-chaired by Rebecca Terrazas-Baxter, intergovernmental relations director for Imperial County, and Silvia Paz, executive director of Alianza Coachella Valley.
Community Input Sought for SSMP Projects; Virtual Public Workshops Set for September 22, 23 and 24
The SSMP team will hold a series of three virtual public workshops this month to seek community input on the draft Project Description for the SSMP Phase I: 10-Year Plan. The draft Project Description identifies habitat restoration and dust suppression projects around the Sea to revitalize the environment and protect public health.
The workshops will solicit input on the draft Project Description goals and objectives as well as the sizes, locations and types of projects being proposed and anticipated impacts. The State is also seeking feedback on how the public would like to access the Sea and what compatible community amenities should be prioritized. The input acquired will help inform the development of a range of alternatives for approximately 30,000 acres of projects that will be part of a forthcoming larger Environmental Assessment in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
The public workshops will be hosted via Zoom online and by phone on three different dates:
Tuesday, Sept. 22
1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Zoom Link: https://ca-water-gov.zoom.us/j/98237992567
Teleconference Number for English (Toll-free): 888-278-0296
Access code: 596019
Teleconference Number for Spanish: 888-363-4734
Access Code: 1738252
Wednesday, Sept. 23
6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Zoom Link: https://ca-water-gov.zoom.us/j/93711314339
Teleconference Number for English (Toll-free): 888-278-0296
Access code: 596019
Teleconference Number for Spanish: 888-363-4734
Access Code: 1738252
Thursday, Sept. 24
6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Zoom Link: https://ca-water-gov.zoom.us/j/93711314339
Teleconference Number for English (Toll-free): 888-278-0296
Access code: 596019
Teleconference Number for Spanish: 888-363-4734
Access Code: 1738252
The workshops will have simultaneous translation available from English to Spanish and vice-versa. Agenda and meeting materials will be available soon at the Salton Sea website at https://saltonsea.ca.gov/ssmp-draft-description-project/.
In addition to the public workshops, written comments on the Project Description will be accepted through Sept. 30 at cnra-saltonsea@resources.ca.gov.
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