SSMP eNewsletter — November

SSMP in the Community: Bombay Beach Open-House Meeting

Joe Shea, Assistant Secretary for Salton Sea Policy providing opening remarks in front of room with participants sitting.

On October 23, the Salton Sea Management Program, together with our partners at the Imperial Irrigation District, California State Parks, and Audubon California, hosted an open-house community meeting to share information about ongoing restoration and vegetation [SJ1] projects, as well as the effort underway to update the Salton Sea State Park General Plan.  We appreciate the Bombay Beach Community Center for hosting us and all of the local residents who showed up to learn more about our shared work and sample some delicious tamales from the Audubon California team.

Enrique Arroyo from California State Parks providing information about the Salton Sea Recreation Area General Plan.

The event was designed to provide a broad overview of current and upcoming projects and initiatives, while creating space for one-on-one conversations between community members and staff. Each project featured its own station, featuring the Vegetation Enhancement Project, the Bombay Beach Wetlands Enhancement Project, the IID Bombay Beach Vegetation Project, and the General Plan update process for the Salton Sea State Recreation Area.

Participants were able to visit the different stations, explore maps and informational displays, and speak directly with team members to ask questions or share feedback. The open, flexible format allowed attendees to move at their own pace and engage in conversations about the issues most important to them.

We hope everyone left the event with a clearer understanding of the work ahead and felt encouraged to continue sharing their perspectives as these projects move forward.

Member of the Imperial Irrigation District providing information about the Bombay Beach Vegetation Project.

Two December Community Meetings Just Announced — Join Us for Project Updates and an End-of-year Recap!

The Salton Sea Management Program invites you to join one of our upcoming community meetings to get the latest on the active restoration projects happening around the Salton Sea. Connect with the Salton Sea State team to hear the latest project updates, ask questions, and stay engaged as projects continue to be implemented.

Everyone is welcome — community members, local leaders, and anyone interested in the future of the Salton Sea.

Event Dates & Locations

Wednesday, December 17, 2025
Time: 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Brawley Union High School Cafeteria
504 C Street, Brawley, CA 92227

Thursday, December 18, 2025
Time: 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Coachella Library
1500 Sixth Street, Coachella, CA 92236

For more information, visit www.saltonsea.ca.gov  or contact  cnra-saltonsea@resources.ca.gov.

Highlighting Coordination and Collaboration for a Thriving Salton Sea

a group of five people with trees in the background. From left to right, Joe Shea and Miguel Hernandez, California Natural Resources; Patricia Carrillo, Alianza Coachella Valley; Comissioner Noemí Gallardo, California Energy Commission; Aydee Rodriguez, Alianza Coachella Valley.

In October, members of the SSMP Team were invited to participate in a panel titled “Creating the Conditions that Make it Possible to Have More Vibrant and Prosperous Regions: A Salton Sea Case Study” at this year’s Community Economic Mobilization Initiative Conference in Davis, California. The panel also included SSMP partners from Alianza Coachella Valley and the California Energy Commission, and highlighted the ongoing regional collaboration driving meaningful progress toward a healthier, more vibrant Salton Sea.

During the session, panelists discussed how a shared vision, strong local leadership, and deep partnerships are enabling real, measurable change throughout the Salton Sea region.

This two-day conference brought together community-based organizations, philanthropic partners, and public sector leaders working at the intersection of community power-building and economic development. It provided a timely opportunity to forge new connections, strengthen existing relationships, align strategies, and explore bold approaches to building a just and resilient future for communities across California.

Partner Spotlight: A New Online Tool for Tracking Regional Salton Sea Projects is Now Available

Alianza Coachella Valley and the Campaign for Thriving Salton Sea Communities launched the new Land Use Alignment Project Dashboard, an online tool that maps and tracks major local development and infrastructure projects across the Coachella and Imperial valleys. The dashboard allows users to explore a database of proposed projects, or projects currently underway by local and county governments in infrastructure, agriculture, green spaces, and air quality. This tool was created to give communities more information about where coordinated, collaborative support and coalitions might work together to advance these projects and help secure support to uplift the region. 

Visit the Salton Sea Region Land Use Alignment Project Dashboard