Salton Sea Management Program Update – February 25, 2022
The California Natural Resources Agency has submitted its 2022 Annual Report on the Salton Sea Management Program (SSMP) to the State Water Resources Control Board, prepared in compliance with Order WR 2017-0134.
English and Spanish versions of the report can be found at https://saltonsea.ca.gov/ under the Quick Links heading.
The report summarizes progress in 2021 toward reducing exposed lakebed and creating habitat at the Salton Sea. Highlights include breaking ground on the largest restoration project in the Sea’s history, advancing with partners several other community-oriented restoration projects around the Sea, beginning vegetation enhancement on exposed lakebed to reduce dust emissions, and securing commitment from state leaders for an additional $220 million in funding. This was made possible through partnerships with many other entities and by growing the SSMP Team, including several critical new hires.
The report also details progress to advance programmatic permitting that will enable future work to happen more quickly. Outreach and engagement with local communities was strengthened so that local input can better shape the work of the SSMP. This included reinvigorating the Engagement Committee, re-establishing the Long-Range Planning Committee, and working to identify community amenities that local residents prioritize along with work to directly address the receding Sea. With an eye toward the future, the SSMP established an independent panel of experts to evaluate the feasibility of a range of proposals for water importation, which will inform the Long-Range Plan for the Salton Sea. This Long-Range Plan will be submitted to the State Water Board by the end of this year (2022).
The annual report and the status of the SSMP will be the focus of a public workshop convened by the State Water Board in April. Workshop details will be available soon on the State Water Board’s Salton Sea program webpage.
In addition, the SSMP team plans to hold a community meeting in advance of the State Water Board’s workshop to provide an overview of the report and answer questions. Details will be shared soon.
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Salton Sea Management Program Update – February 24, 2022
The California Natural Resources Agency, Salton Sea Authority, Torres Martinez Tribe, Riverside County, Imperial County, Imperial Irrigation District, Coachella Valley Water District and San Diego County Water Authority were each deeply saddened to learn of the recent passing of Bruce Wilcox, California’s inaugural Assistant Secretary of Salton Sea Policy.
Although Bruce was originally from the Midwest, and a proud University of Wisconsin graduate, he had a deep dedication for the wildlife and people of the Salton Sea region, whom he served tirelessly in different professional capacities from 2007-2019 and never stopped caring about.
Bruce was appointed to serve as Assistant Secretary of Salton Sea Policy within the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) in 2015. It was a new post within CNRA, created in the wake of Gov. Brown’s formation of a Salton Sea Task Force to recommend stepped-up efforts at the Sea. Bruce’s efforts led to what is now the Salton Sea Management Program; the state’s approach to restoration at the sea. He developed the Agency’s 10-Year Plan to develop 30,000 acres of dust suppression and environmental habitat at the Sea and he brought the state closer to designing and implementing key habitat projects at the Sea. Prior to his appointment, Bruce was manager of the Imperial Irrigation District (IID) environmental mitigation program for the Quantification Settlement Agreement (QSA) conserved water transfer, and responsible for numerous other projects and efforts related to protecting wildlife and the ecosystem at the Salton Sea. He started his career working with large environmental and engineering consulting firms, eventually serving as a section leader.
As the state’s first “Salton Sea Czar” Bruce played a crucial role in coalescing efforts at the Sea into a path forward, bringing stakeholders around a shared goal at a difficult time. In all his work he brought a truly kind, genuine, and gentle spirit. He was hardworking, friendly, and open making himself available to all and was relentlessly optimistic—always seeing the best in everyone and open to new ideas. He is remembered fondly by colleagues from all walks of life at the Salton Sea. He loved travel, books, and antiques. He also appreciated the opportunities to see the world that environmental work brought him.
Bruce spent much of his career as an advocate for birds, ranging from his work around burrowing owls at the IID to the brown pelican at the Salton Sea. However, in his personal life he was a lover of cats–feeding all the stray cats at the IID offices until one day one just followed him home.
Donations can be made in his name to the Humane Society of the Desert or the Humane Society of Imperial County.
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Also: SSMP Long-Range Planning Committee to Meet March 2
Salton Sea Management Program Update – February 16, 2022
The Salton Sea Management Program (SSMP) is reconvening the SSMP Science Committee for a virtual kick-off meeting via Zoom on Thursday, February 17, at 1 pm. The committee will provide independent 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.
As part of its first task in 2022, the committee will be charged with scientific review of the Draft Monitoring Implementation Plan (MIP). The Draft MIP will guide measurement of important resources and provide a monitoring framework and priorities for environmental indicators at the Salton Sea. In 2021, the Draft MIP was developed through working groups with input from agencies and stakeholders with expertise and monitoring experience in hydrology, air quality, water quality, biology, and socioeconomics.
During the kick-off meeting the SSMP team will introduce the committee, provide background on the MIP purpose and development process, and solicit input and questions from the public.
SSMP Science Committee Meeting
https://youtu.be/D47Bf4sfHw4
Feb 17, 2022 01:00 PM Pacific Time
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
[deleted]
Or join over telephone by dialing:
USA 216 706 7075 US Toll
USA 866 390 1828 US Toll-free
Conference code: [deleted]
Public meeting link and other materials will also be uploaded to the SSMP website at saltonsea.ca.gov
SSMP Long-Range Planning Committee to Meet March 2
The Long-Range Planning Committee is convening over Zoom on Wednesday, March 2, at 10 am.
The SSMP Team plans to cover the following topics:
- Provide the status of the planning process
- Solicit feedback from the committee members on preliminary restoration concepts
- Solicit feedback on evaluation criteria to evaluate restoration concepts
- Discuss community engagement and the schedule of future meetings
Community members are welcome to attend and share their comments during the public comment period.
SSMP Long-Range Committee Meeting
Weds Mar 2, 2022 10:00 AM Pacific Time
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
[deleted]
Or join over telephone by dialing:
USA 216 706 7075 US Toll
USA 866 390 1828 US Toll-free
Conference code: [deleted]
Posted March 7th, 2022:
- LRP Meeting Presentation March 2, 2022
- LRP Active Committee members
Salton Sea Management Program Update – February 4, 2022
Also: Virtual Community Meeting Set for February 5 on North Lake Pilot Demonstration Project; Upcoming Community Engagement Committee Meeting; Air Quality Monitoring Network at North End of the Salton Sea
Projects aimed at establishing and enhancing native vegetation on exposed lakebed are underway at the Salton Sea. Work on this collaborative project with the US Bureau of Reclamation started on December 29. The purpose of this 1,700-acre project is to restore exposed lakebed sites through establishment of native vegetation and enhancement of existing vegetation communities.
The work is planned at three project sites. Two sites are located near the community of Salton City: Clubhouse (approximately 400 acres) and Tule Wash (approximately 1,215 acres). The third site is located near the community of Bombay Beach (approximately 90 acres). A stable vegetation community is expected to enhance habitat value at these sites and reduce wind-blown dust emissions.
Three vegetation establishment methods will be used, including natural recruitment, seeding, and planting. Vegetation in the form of seeding or planting (potted plants or plugs grown in a nursery) will be combined with physical modification(such as storm-water spreading features) and wind protection such as straw bales and water to help protect and facilitate plant growth and improve plant survival rates. Initial water supplies will be obtained through the spreading of storm-water in local creeks, and through trucked-in water for early germination at selected sites. In addition, groundwater is expected to be a supplemental water supply for irrigation in 2022 and beyond. The initial phase of work was started at the Clubhouse site in late 2021, including placement of straw bales to create conditions for plant growth by reducing wind speeds and dust emissions from across the lakebed.
The SSMP team began harvesting local seeds from around the Salton Sea in early 2021. Working with botanists, plants have been grown and tested to tolerate the salinity that is present in the region. This work is ongoing relative to the plant species and the ideal time to harvest the seeds. Planting of native plants grown in a nursery and seeds collected in 2021 will start in March following the initial phase of work.
With the initiation of the vegetation enhancement projects and the 4,100-acre Species Conservation Habitat (SCH) Project moving forward full steam, nearly 6,000 acres of restoration work is now underway at the Salton Sea with several other projects advancing in 2022, including the North Lake Demonstration Pilot Project, Desert Shores Channel Restoration Project, and others.
Virtual Community Meeting Set for February 5 on North Lake Pilot Demonstration Project
As part of a joint project of the Salton Sea Authority, Riverside County, and the SSMP, Riverside County and Salton Sea Authority invites the community to the first in a series of outreach meetings for the North Lake Pilot Demonstration Project set for Saturday, February 5.
The meeting will be an opportunity for community members to learn more about the North Lake Pilot Demonstration Project, ask questions, and provide comments on the project.
The meeting will be held virtually over Zoom on Saturday, February 5, 2022, at 1 p.m.
Spanish interpretation will be provided.
Join this community meeting by clicking this Zoom link: [deleted]
The meeting ID is 862 9435 8371 and passcode is [deleted]
The Spanish stream will be accessible through this Zoom link:
(Para acceder a la transmisión en vivo en español, haga click en este enlace) [deleted]
The meeting ID for the Spanish stream is 816 0296 5146, with passcode: [deleted]
Context
As part of the state’s SSMP 10-year Plan, the vision of the North Lake Pilot Demonstration Project is to build an approximately 160-acre lake near the North Shore Beach & Yacht Club Community Center. The project would: restore and manage habitat for fish, birds, and wildlife; control dust, and revitalize the northern end of the Salton Sea, as well as the community of North Shore. This project could be integrated into a larger North Lake concept, envisioned as a ~4,030-acre horseshoe-shaped lake.
Late last year, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors and the Salton Sea Authority board of directors approved reimbursement agreements that allow Riverside County to utilize $19.25 million in state funding, from the voter-approved Proposition 68 parks bond, to manage this project. In managing this project, Riverside County will serve as a subcontractor to the Salton Sea Authority in consultation with the SSMP Team. The agreement applies Riverside County’s experience and expertise in capital project delivery.
For more information and questions regarding this community meeting or support accessing the meeting, please contact Douglas Ordonez, dordonez@rivco.org
Upcoming Community Engagement Committee Meeting
The SSMP Community Engagement Committee will meet on February 9 at 2 p.m. for an online meeting on Zoom.
When: February 9, 2022 2:00 PM Pacific Time
Topic: SSMP Community Engagement Committee Meeting
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
[deleted]
Or join by telephone:
Dial:
USA 216 706 7075 US toll
USA 866 390 1828 US toll-free
Conference code: [deleted]
The committee meets regularly to coordinate outreach and engagement strategies for upcoming public community meetings. The state’s Salton Sea team collaborates with the Community Engagement Committee to ensure that proper and effective outreach methods are intentionally used to reach and engage the frontline communities of the Salton Sea region.
Meeting materials will be uploaded to the SSMP website at saltonsea.ca.gov
Air Quality Monitoring Network at North End of the Salton Sea
Based on public feedback received through the Dust Suppression Action Plan, the SSMP Team is establishing an air quality network that will assess the amount of dust emissions occurring at the north end of the Salton Sea. The team installed two of five proposed monitors at the end of last year and is on target to complete installation of two more monitors this month.
This network is being established in collaboration with the California Air Resources Board, South Coast Air Quality Management District, Coachella Valley Water District, and the Imperial Irrigation District.
The air quality monitoring stations are designed to continuously monitor and collect data for:
• PM10 concentration (dust)
• Saltation flux (sand blasting)
• Wind speed and wind direction
• General meteorological parameters
The data acquired through this network will be reviewed on a quarterly basis. It will be used to create a year-end report to inform future management actions and projects at the Sea.
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