Upcoming Community Events
Earth Day at the Salton Sea: Coffee & Canvas — April 25
A community Earth Day celebration featuring program updates from the Salton Sea Program and Audubon California, followed by a guided canvas tote painting activity. Spanish interpretation provided. Registration encouraged; limited to 25 participants.
- April 25, 9:00–11:30 a.m. North Shore Yacht Club, 99‑155 Sea View Drive, Mecca, CA 92254
Feasibility Study Community Meetings — April 29 & 30
Learn about efforts to bring significant federal investment for the long-term restoration of the Salton Sea through the Imperial Streams and Salton Sea Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility Study. Spanish interpretation provided.
- April 29, 12:00–1:30 p.m. (Virtual via Zoom)
- April 29, 5:30–7:30 p.m. — North Shore Yacht Club, 99155 Sea View Dr, Mecca, CA 92254
- April 30, 5:30–7:30 p.m. — Brawley Teen Center, 220 Magnolia St, Brawley, CA 92227
2026 Salton Sea Program Annual Report Community Meetings — May 6, 7, & 8
Receive updates on 2025 accomplishments, ongoing projects, and Phase I: 10-Year Plan milestones.
- May 6, 5:30 p.m. — Mecca Community Center, 65250 Coahuilla St, Mecca, CA 92254
- May 7, 5:30 p.m. — Grace Smith Elementary School, 9 E 4th St, Niland, CA 92257
- May 8, 12:00 p.m. (Virtual via Zoom)
State Water Board Annual Salton Sea Workshop — May 20
The Salton Sea Program team will update the State Water Board on progress under the Phase I: 10-Year Plan and long-term restoration planning efforts.
- May 20, beginning at 9:00 a.m. CalEPA Headquarters, 1001 I Street, Sacramento, CA Also offered via Zoom and webcast.
To learn more about how to participate in the State Water Board’s annual Salton Sea workshop on May 20th, visit waterboards.ca.gov/saltonsea. For questions about the annual workshop, contact Stephanie Holstege at Stephanie.Holstege@waterboards.ca.gov.
Salton Sea Conservancy Board of Directors and First Meeting
Currently appointed voting members:
Janeth Corona, Public Member Appointed by the Governor
Silvia Paz, Public Member Appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules
Supervisor V. Manuel Perez, Riverside County Board of Supervisors
Designee: Juan Perez
Supervisor Ryan Kelley, Imperial County Board of Supervisors
Director Castulo Estrada, Coachella Valley Water District
Director Gina Dockstader, Imperial Irrigation District
Chair Joseph Mirelez, Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians
Designee: Vice Chair RoseMarie Morreo, Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians
President Jonathan Koteen, Fort Yuma Quechan Indian Tribe (Appointed by Secretary Crowfoot)
Camila Bautista (Appointed by Secretary Crowfoot)
Director Joe Stephenshaw, California Department of Finance
Designee: Michele Perrault
Secretary Wade Crowfoot, California Natural Resources Agency (Chair of the Conservancy’s Board of Directors)
Designee: Joe Shea
Director Meghan Hertel, California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Designee: Tonya Marshall
Director Karla Nemeth, California Department of Water Resources
Designee: Evon Willhoff
Director Armando Quintero, California Department of Parks and Recreation
Designee: Ray Lennox
Currently appointed ex-officio nonvoting members:
Secretary Yana Garcia, California Environmental Protection Agency
Designees: Executive Director Michael Placencia (Colorado River Basin Regional Water Quality Control Board) and Maurice Lyles
Chair Joaquin Esquivel, California State Water Resources Control Board
Designee: Board Member Laurel Firestone, California State Water Resources Control Board
Chair Lauren Sanchez, California Air Resources Board
Designee: Jane Sadler
Jennifer Mata, United States Bureau of Land Management
Genevieve Johnson, United States Bureau of Reclamation
Jonathan Shore, United States Fish and Wildlife Service
The Salton Sea Conservancy’s first meeting will be held on Thursday, May 14, 2026 at 9:30am in person at Imperial Irrigation District’s La Quinta Boardroom and online. Additional meeting information will follow. Please sign up for the Salton Sea Program’s listserv here for additional updates, or reach out to mario.llanos@resources.ca.gov.
SSMP eNewsletter — March
The Salton Sea Program’s 2026 Annual Report is Now Online!
The California Natural Resources Agency has released the 2026 Annual Report for the Salton Sea Program, offering a clear look at how much progress was made in 2025—and what’s coming next. Both English and Spanish versions are now available at saltonsea.ca.gov under “Featured Documents.”
Here are just a few highlights from the annual report:
- The State’s Salton Sea Program achieved a key breakthrough in 2025: filling its first major network of “mega ponds” with water, which has brought fish and thousands of birds back to the Salton Sea – all while suppressing dust for the benefit of Salton Sea communities. This project, called the Species Conservation Habitat (SCH) project, is still in construction and will cover some 9,500 acres at full buildout – which is the same size as 7,200 football fields. Its existing mega ponds cover about three square miles – roughly four times the size of Disneyland. The success of the SCH is proof-positive that efforts to bring cleaner water, plants and wildlife back to the Salton Sea on a massive scale are possible, and that we must do more.
- In a signal of broad support for more massive-scale projects at the Salton Sea, the Legislature and Governor approved more funding to support three additional major water-based restoration projects in the north, southwest and east Salton Sea. The Salton Sea Program is currently focused on delivering these projects for Salton Sea communities. Additionally, in January 2026, Governor Newsom proposed $30 million in complementary funding to advance public recreation as a component of these projects.
- The State advanced key proposals for the creation of the new Salton Sea Conservancy, which will help ensure long-term operations and maintenance for completed Salton Sea projects while allowing the Salton Sea Program to keep implementing new habitat and dust suppression projects.
- Long-term planning for the Salton Sea – beyond the State’s current portfolio of projects — advanced as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed key technical modeling and evaluated project concepts as part of the Imperial Streams and Salton Sea Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility Study.
- Significant advancements were also made on vegetation enhancement projects to grow plants that suppress dust and create habitat on exposed lakebed.
While we share substantial progress in this annual report, we recognize that significant work remains ahead, and we must continue to accelerate and broaden our work at the Sea.
Click here to read the 2026 Annual Report. Public meetings will be held in May to share more about the milestones achieved in 2025 and how the SSP will continue to advance priorities at the Salton Sea for the coming years.
SSMP eNewsletter — March
Governor Newsom Proposes More Funding
for the Salton Sea
The Governor’s January 2026 budget proposal includes $30 million for enhancing and expanding priority Salton Sea projects with new public access opportunities across these projects. If approved, this funding will address a key community priority identified during the Community Needs Report process: public access to Salton Sea Program (SSP) projects for Salton Sea communities. Read more about why this funding is critical for Salton Sea communities and wildlife here. The Salton Sea Program stands ready to work with regional and community partners to implement this funding if it is approved in the final State budget later this year.
2026 Salton Sea Bird Festival: SCH Tour
As part of the 2026 Salton Sea Bird Festival, the Salton Sea Program offered a tour of the Species Conservation Habitat (SCH) Project earlier this year. Under clear skies and gentle breezes, a diverse group of participants —families, long-time birders, residents, and community leaders— gathered to experience the southern end of the Sea and witness firsthand the progress achieved at the project and the filled water ponds.
The guided tours offered information about the multiple project components and features, with opportunities for conversations and questions about the overall status of the Salton Sea and how the State’s Salton Sea Program is focused on implementing multiple restoration projects around the Salton Sea. We also offered more insight into what the future milestones for this project are, like the completion of the new berms that are being constructed for the expansion area. Tour guides also offered more information about the ongoing collaboration with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Salton Sea Authority for the Imperial Streams and Salton Sea Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility Study.
As the tour progressed and we drove across the New River, the East Pond was alive with activity, showcasing an impressive array of bird species interacting across the filled ponds and shoreline. Some of the species that were seen during that Saturday morning included the American White Pelican, the Brown Pelican, American Avocets, a combination of different duck species, among other forms of wildlife, including a coyote. These moments offered good insight into what the SCH project aims to achieve upon completion and what other Salton Sea Program projects can achieve to address community concerns and improve ecological conditions at the Sea.
If you are interested in taking a tour of the SCH project, please sign-up for this e-Newsletter and contact us at cnra-saltonsea@resources.ca.gov.
Federal Partners Visit Projects at the Sea
In late February, team leaders with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) visited the SCH Project to continue coordination and collaboration on the Imperial Streams and Salton Sea Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility Study. The USACE team is working to advance an Ecosystem Restoration Plan for the Salton Sea through the feasibility study process. This effort is critical to the future of the Sea, as the feasibility study provides a pathway to significant federal investment for long-term ecological restoration. With support and partnership from the Salton Sea Program and the Salton Sea Authority, development of the study is ongoing, and interagency collaboration continues to strengthen.
In March, Federal parters from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Bureau of Land Management visited the habitat restoration projects at the Sea. The group toured the SCH site and stopped at key points to understand the core engineering components that make a project of this scale possible. The group was able to see the mixing chambers where the Salton Sea water and the New River water is being mixed to achieve salinity levels that sustain aquatic life and offer important resources to the different bird species already found at the project site, specifically at the 2,000 acres of filled ponds on the east.
The group also visited the Bombay Beach Wetlands Enhancement Project area and went on a hike to better understand the project design and what is expected to see upon implementation of this habitat restoration project at the east side of the Salton Sea. The group saw firsthand where different project components will be located and the existing wetlands. The Bombay Beach Wetlands Enhancement Project is a collaborative effort with Audubon California that is aimed at stabilizing, preserving, and enhancing 577 acres of existing wetlands to benefit wildlife and local communities.
Upcoming Engagement Opportunities
Earth Day at the Salton Sea: Coffee, Canvas, & Connect — April 25
REGISTER TODAY!
Join us to celebrate Earth Day and hear from CNRA and Audubon California about the work shaping the Sea’s future. Then, pick up a brush and bring the landscape to life on a canvas tote bag in a guided painting experience in collaboration with Brushour Paint. This is a community event, open to anyone interested in learning more about the Salton Sea. Everyone is invited!
This a bilingual event and Spanish interpretation will be provided. Este es un evento bilingüe habrá interpretación al español.
Saturday, April 25, 9:00 am – 11:30 am North Shore Yacht Club 99-155 Sea View Drive Mecca, CA 92254
Registration is highly encouraged. Limited to 25 registered participants. Click here to register.
For any questions or comments, contact Rhian Reyes at rhian.reyes@audubon.org or Miguel Hernández at miguel.hernandez@resources.ca.gov.
Community Meetings on the Feasibility Study — April 29 & 30
Join the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to get the latest on the different project alternatives being considered for the long-term restoration of the Salton Sea. Learn about Imperial Streams and Salton Sea Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility Study and how it can lead to significant federal funding for the long-term restoration of the Salton Sea to improve air quality and provide critical environmental habitat for birds along the Pacific Flyway. Meet the team working on the study, get engaged, and ask questions.
Spanish interpretation will be provided. Habrá interpretación al español.
In-person:
Wednesday, April 29, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
North Shore Yacht Club
99155 Sea View Dr, Mecca, CA 92254
Thursday, April 30, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Brawley Teen Center (behind the Lions Center)
220 Magnolia St, Brawley, CA 92227
And a virtual Zoom webinar:
Wednesday, April 29, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. Zoom Link: https://bit.ly/SSMPzoom Teleconference Dial-in: (669) 444-9171
To learn more about the Study, please visit: https://bit.ly/SaltonSeaFeasibilityStudy For questions and comments, contact us at: CESPL-Imperial-Streams-Salton-Sea@usace.army.mil
2026 SSP Annual Report
Community Meetings — May 6, 7, 8
Join us at one of the upcoming public meetings on the Salton Sea Program 2026 Annual Report on May 6, 7, or 8. The Salton Sea Program team will provide an overview of the report, share project updates, and answer questions on the work completed in 2025. We will provide the most current information about the Program, the status of the different projects, milestones accomplished on the Phase I: 10-Year Plan, share details about the strong partnerships supporting the work at the Sea, and explain how we continue to deliver on commitments that support ecosystem restoration and protect air quality.
We will host two in-person meetings:
Wednesday, May 6, 5:30 p.m. Mecca Community Center 65250 Coahuilla St, Mecca, CA 92254
Thursday, May 7, 5:30 p.m. Grace Smith Elementary School 9 E 4th St, Niland, CA 92257
And a virtual Zoom webinar:
Friday, May 8, 12:00 p.m. Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89862021776 Teleconference Number: (719) 359-4580 Teleconference Access Code: 89862021776# More details on these community workshops are forthcoming and will be announced via the SSP e-Newsletter and posted on the SSP website.
State Water Board
Annual Salton Sea Workshop — May 20
You are invited to this year’s State Water Resources Control Board’s annual Salton Sea workshop! The workshop will be held in person in Sacramento on May 20, beginning at 9:00 a.m. and will also be streamed over virtual platforms for remote public participation.
The California Salton Sea Program team will provide an update to the State Water Board on the progress that the Program has achieved in the implementation of the Phase I: 10-Year Plan and other efforts for the long-term restoration of the Sea, such as the Imperial Streams and Salton Sea Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility Study.
The workshop is also an opportunity for members of the public to provide input to the State Water Board regarding the status of the Salton Sea Program. We encourage your participation through any of the available options and invite you to submit your comments in advance or provide oral comments during the time of the workshop.
The workshop will offer three simultaneous options for participation:
- Physical meeting location at the CalEPA Headquarters building, 1001 I Street, Sacramento, CA
- Virtual participation through Zoom
- Watch-only webcast
For more information:
- Live Spanish interpretation will be provided on all platforms, and all workshop materials will be translated into Spanish. More information will be released as the date approaches.
To sign up to the email list, receive meeting notices, and review workshop materials visit the State Water Board’s Salton Sea webpage at waterboards.ca.gov/saltonsea (English) waterboards.ca.gov/saltonsea/es/ (Spanish).