Join the Salton Sea Management Program, Audubon California, the Imperial Irrigation District, and the California State Parks at our Open House to learn more about the habitat restoration projects and other initiatives happening near Bombay Beach.
We will meet at the Bombay Beach Community Center on October 23, at 5:30 p.m., for an in-person open-house community event. Click here to learn more.
The California Natural Resources Agency and the Salton Sea Management Program celebrated Latino Heritage Month from September 15 through October 15, which is an annual tradition of honoring, remembering, and uplifting the enduring contributions of Latino communities across California. This year’s theme, “Esperanza en Acción: Honoring Roots, Defending Nature,” underscores the powerful connections between cultural heritage, community resilience, and environmental stewardship.
On October 4, the SSMP team hosted a public tour at the Species Conservation Habitat (”SCH”) project to celebrate and spend a Saturday morning at the Salton Sea. On a two-hour drive around the project area, the group received more details about the project and its infrastructure, saw the different habitat features and experienced the wildlife that is already making use of the recently filled ponds. Tour attendees also got the opportunity to play an SCH Lotería game, a competitive and interactive game to see how much the group was learning from this experience.
Additionally, and in partnership with Imperial Valley Equity and Justice Coalition, members of the SSMP hosted a family-friendly arts gathering on Wednesday, October 8 in Calexico. The event was a very colorful experience to celebrate the region’s artistry. Attendees connected with local artists, learn about the work happening at the Sea, and joined in celebration of Latino roots.
Last month, the California State Legislature passed, and Governor Newsom signed, Senate Bill 105, which provided funding for the Salton Sea Conservancy. The Conservancy was created by SB 583, which was authored by Senator Steve Padilla and signed by Governor Newsom in September 2024.
This is a big deal — the Salton Sea Conservancy is the first new State conservancy in over 20 years, and will play a critical role in shaping the future of the Salton Sea. The Conservancy’s responsibility of operating and maintaining completed projects built by the State’s Salton Sea Management Program will allow the SSMP to continue its focus on building more large-scale habitat restoration and dust suppression projects at the Salton Sea.
The Conservancy is governed by a 22-member Board of Directors, which includes designees from Federal, State, local, and tribal entities, as well as nongovernmental organization representatives and members of the public. This includes one representative of a nongovernmental organization focused on environmental justice work in the region and one representative of a nongovernmental organization focused on fish and wildlife habitat work in the region, both appointed by the California Natural Resources Secretary. We would like to invite members of the Salton Sea community to apply for these roles — if you are interested in applying for the environmental justice representative role, please fill out this form. If you are interested in applying for the environmental habitat role, please fill out this form. Please apply by Friday, November 14.
Our Salton Sea Management Program team is excited about the addition of the Salton Sea Conservancy and committed to assisting with its next steps. We will continue to use this newsletter to provide updates on the Conservancy, including upcoming meeting notices, as well as staffing updates and job postings.
In addition to funding for the Salton Sea Conservancy, the Budget passed last month by the Legislature and signed by the Governor includes over $147 million for new habitat restoration and dust suppression projects at the Salton Sea, which will be built by the SSMP in the coming years. We know that many of you played a critical role in advocating for this funding – we are grateful for your support and look forward to sharing more details with you soon.
Join the Salton Sea Management Program, Audubon California, Imperial Irrigation District, and California State Parks at our Open House to learn more about the habitat restoration projects and other initiatives happening near Bombay Beach.
We will meet at the Bombay Beach Community Center on Thursday, October 23, at 5:30 p.m. for an in-person open-house community meeting. Complimentary food and drinks will be provided by Audubon California. Click here for more information.
La Agencia de Recursos Naturales de California y el Programa de Gestión del Salton Sea celebraron el Mes de la Herencia Latina del 15 de septiembre al 15 de octubre, una tradición anual que honra, recuerda y enaltece las contribuciones perdurables de las comunidades latinas de todo California. El tema de este año, “Esperanza en Acción: Honrando las raíces, defendiendo la naturaleza,” subraya los fuertes vínculos entre el patrimonio cultural, la resiliencia de la comunidad y la protección del medio ambiente.
El 4 de octubre, el equipo del SSMP organizó una excursión pública al proyecto del Hábitat para la Conservación de Especies (SCH) para celebrar y pasar una mañana de sábado en el Salton Sea. Durante un recorrido de dos horas por el proyecto, el grupo recibió más detalles sobre el proyecto y su infraestructura, vio las diferentes características del hábitat y observó la fauna que ya está haciendo uso de los estanques recientemente llenados. Los participantes también tuvieron la oportunidad de jugar a la Lotería SCH, un juego competitivo e interactivo para ver cuánto estaba aprendiendo el grupo de esta experiencia.
Además, y en colaboración con Imperial Valley Equity and Justice, los miembros del SSMP organizaron un agradable convivio artístico para toda la familia el miércoles 8 de octubre en Calexico. El evento fue una experiencia muy colorida para celebrar el arte de la región. Los asistentes conectaron con artistas locales, aprendieron sobre el trabajo que se está realizando en el Salton Sea y se unieron a la celebración de las raíces latinas.
El mes pasado, la Asamblea Legislativa del Estado de California aprobó, y el gobernador Newsom firmó, el proyecto de ley del Senado 105, que proporcionaba financiación para la Salton Sea Conservancy. La conservación fue creada por el proyecto de ley SB 583, redactado por el senador Steve Padilla y firmado por el gobernador Newsom en septiembre de 2024.
Esto es muy importante: la Conservación del Salton Sea es la primera nueva entidad conservacionista estatal en más de 20 años y desempeñará un papel fundamental en el futuro del lago Salton Sea. La responsabilidad de la Conservación de operar y mantener los proyectos completados construidos por el Programa estatal de Gestión del Salton Sea (SSMP) que permitirá que el SSMP continúe centrándose en la construcción de más proyectos a gran escala de restauración del hábitat y supresión del polvo en el Salton Sea.
La Conservación está gobernada por una Mesa Directiva de 22 miembros, que incluye a personas designadas por entidades federales, estatales, locales y tribales, así como a representantes de organizaciones no gubernamentales y miembros del público. Esto incluye a un representante de una organización no gubernamental centrada en el trabajo de justicia ambiental en la región y a un representante de una organización no gubernamental centrada en el trabajo relacionado con el hábitat de los peces y la vida silvestre en la región, ambos nombrados por el Secretario de Recursos Naturales de California. Nos gustaría invitar a los miembros de la comunidad de Salton Sea a que se postulen para estos puestos. Si está interesado en postularse para el puesto de representante de justicia ambiental, complete este formulario. Si está interesado en postularse para el puesto de representante de hábitat ambiental, complete este formulario. Las solicitudes deben enviarse antes del viernes 14 de noviembre.
Además de la financiación para la Conservación del Salton Sea, el presupuesto aprobado el mes pasado por la Asamblea Legislativa y firmado por el gobernador incluye más de 147 millones de dólares para nuevos proyectos de restauración del hábitat y supresión del polvo en el Salton Sea, que serán construidos por el SSMP en los próximos años. Sabemos que muchos de ustedes desempeñaron un papel fundamental en la defensa de esta financiación; les agradecemos su apoyo y esperamos poder compartir más detalles con ustedes pronto.
Únase al Programa de Gestión del Salton Sea, Audubon California, el Distrito de Riego de Imperial y los Parques Estatales de California en nuestra jornada de puertas abiertas para obtener más información sobre los proyectos de restauración del hábitat y otras iniciativas que se están llevando a cabo cerca de Bombay Beach.
Nos reuniremos en el Centro Comunitario de Bombay Beach el jueves 23 de octubre a las 5:30 p. m. para una reunión comunitaria presencial de puertas abiertas. Audubon California ofrecerá comida y bebida gratis. Haz clic aquí para más información.
Los estanques recientemente llenados en el proyecto Hábitat para la Conservación de Especies (SCH) están mostrando beneficios ecológicos prometedores, especialmente para las poblaciones de aves locales y migratorias. Múltiples especies de aves están utilizando activamente estos humedales restaurados, lo que indica un cambio positivo en la biodiversidad de la región. En particular, el regreso de especies clave como el pelícano pardo y el pelícano blanco, ambos indicadores importantes de la salud ambiental, destaca el prometedor éxito de este proyecto de restauración.
El proyecto SCH tiene como objetivo proporcionar condiciones vitales para que las aves puedan alimentarse, descansar y anidar en sus 9000 acres de superficie mediante la restauración y la creación de zonas de hábitat de aguas profundas y poco profundas, al tiempo que se suprime el polvo del lecho del lago expuesto. En la actualidad, unos 2000 acres (poco más de tres millas cuadradas) se han cubierto con una combinación de agua del Río Nuevo y del Salton Sea, donde se ha observado la interacción de aves costeras y acuáticas en los estanques rellenados y en la estructura de desviación del Río Nuevo.
Un grupo de líderes comunitarios del Valle de Coachella y el Valle Imperial, liderado por Alianza Coachella Valley, está colaborando y organizándose para promover las necesidades regionales y ayudar a acelerar la acción colectiva. Esta iniciativa se denomina Campaña para la Prosperidad de las Comunidades del Salton Sea y se centra en mejorar la calidad de vida e identificar oportunidades económicas para los residentes de la región del Salton Sea.
La campaña reúne a miembros de la comunidad, organizaciones sin fines de lucro, investigadores y entidades gubernamentales para trabajar por una visión compartida que impulse las prioridades de la comunidad y aumente la inversión para apoyar el desarrollo de las comunidades del Salton Sea. A través de esta campaña, el grupo está identificando acciones colectivas estratégicas para alinear prioridades, fortalecer alianzas y continuar aumentando la capacidad organizativa.
A lo largo de los años, incluso mediante la elaboración de su Informe sobre las necesidades de la comunidad, el equipo del Programa de Gestión del Salton Sea ha aprendido que las necesidades de las comunidades locales van mucho más allá de la mejora de las condiciones físicas del Salton Sea. Hemos aprendido que los residentes prevén una serie de cambios que pueden mejorar sus vidas y sus comunidades. Una mejor comprensión de estas necesidades y oportunidades nos ayudará a dar forma a nuestros proyectos del SSMP, identificar sinergias y, cuando sea posible, ofrecer múltiples beneficios. El equipo del Programa de Gestión del Salton Sea participa activamente en la Mesa Redonda para la Prosperidad de las Comunidades del Mar de Salton y espera continuar colaborando para alcanzar una visión compartida.
El grupo volverá a reunirse en una futura mesa redonda durante el otoño. Visite www.thrivingsaltonsea.com para obtener más información.
El equipo del SSMP se enorgullece de celebrar un hito importante para nuestra colega y socia, Camila Bautista, de Audubon California, quien recientemente completó su maestría en ciencias ambientales en la Universidad Estatal de California, Los Ángeles. Su investigación de tesis exploró cómo las aguas subterráneas ayudan a sostener los humedales de Bombay Beach, proporcionando nuevos conocimientos sobre cómo funcionan y persisten estos importantes hábitats alrededor del Salton Sea. Los logros académicos de Camila son un reflejo de su profunda dedicación a la justicia medioambiental, las soluciones basadas en la ciencia y la defensa centrada en la comunidad. En su función en Audubon California, Camila ha sido una incansable defensora tanto de la restauración ecológica como de la salud de las comunidades que rodean el Salton Sea.
Camila ha contribuido al avance de proyectos en el mar que no solo apoyan la restauración del hábitat de las aves y otros animales salvajes, sino que también dan prioridad al bienestar de las comunidades de toda la región. Su trabajo en el proyecto de mejora de los humedales de Bombay Beach ha consistido en facilitar la participación local, apoyar los esfuerzos de educación y divulgación, y ayudar a diseñar estrategias de restauración que reflejen las necesidades tanto de las personas como de la naturaleza. Su experiencia científica, sus conocimientos sobre la comunidad y su espíritu de colaboración la convierten en una colaboradora inestimable para la visión a largo plazo del estado de un Salton Sea más saludable y sostenible. <BR />Extendemos nuestra más sincera enhorabuena a Camila Bautista por este logro y esperamos con interés todo el importante trabajo que le espera.
Felicidades!
Jessica Humes, supervisora de cumplimiento medioambiental del Distrito Imperial de Irrigación, ha aparecido en un artículo reciente publicado en Imperial-San Diego Currents. El artículo ha sido escrito por Darren Simon, socio de SSMP.
En el artículo, Darren describe cómo Jessica lidera los esfuerzos de mitigación del Salton Sea del IID, junto con su equipo. Ella lleva a cabo una serie de programas críticos, entre ellos un programa de mitigación de la calidad del aire que hasta la fecha ha abordado 2700 acres de playa expuesta en el mar, con miles de acres adicionales en desarrollo.
El equipo del SSMP también ha reconocido que ella ha sido una socia clave para el SSMP. Haga clic aquí para leer el artículo completo: Jessica Humes: Centrada en proteger la salud del valle | Imperial-San Diego Currents
The recently filled ponds at the Species Conservation Habitat (SCH) project are showing promising ecological benefits, particularly for local and migratory bird populations. Multiple bird species are now actively utilizing these restored wetland environments, signaling a positive shift in the region’s biodiversity. Notably, the return of key species such as the brown pelican and white pelican—both important indicators of environmental health—highlights the promising success of this restoration project.
The SCH project aims to provide vital conditions for birds foraging, resting, and nesting within its 9,000-acre footprint by restoring and creating deep and shallow water habitat areas, all while suppressing dust on exposed lakebed. Currently, about 2,000 acres — little over three square miles — have been covered with a combination of New River and Salton Sea water, where shorebirds and waterfowl have been observed interacting across the filled ponds and the New River Diversion Structure.
A group of community leaders from the Coachella Valley and Imperial Valley, led by Alianza Coachella Valley, is collaborating and organizing to uplift regional needs and help accelerate collective action. This initiative is called the Campaign for Thriving Salton Sea Communities, and it focuses on improving quality of life outcomes and identifying economic opportunities for residents of the Salton Sea region.
The campaign brings together community members, non-profits, researchers, and government entities to work towards a shared vision to uplift community priorities and increase investment to support thriving Salton Sea communities. Through this campaign, the group is identifying strategic collective actions to align priorities, strengthen partnerships, and continue to grow organizational capacity.
Over the years, including through the development of its Community Needs Report, the Salton Sea Management Program team has learned that needs of local communities go far beyond improving physical conditions at the Sea. We have learned that residents envision a range of changes that can improve their lives and communities. Better understanding these needs and opportunities will help us shape our SSMP projects, identify synergies, and when possible, deliver multi-benefits. The Salton Sea Management Program team is an active participant in the Thriving Salton Sea Communities Roundtable and looks forward to a continued collaboration towards this shared vision.
The group will reconvene at a future roundtable during the fall. Visit www.thrivingsaltonsea.com for more information.
The SSMP team is proud to celebrate a major milestone for our colleague and partner, Camila Bautista, from Audubon California, who has recently completed her master’s degree in environmental science from California State University, Los Angeles. Her thesis research explored how groundwater helps sustain the Bombay Beach wetlands, providing new insights into how these important habitats function and persist around the Salton Sea. Camila’s academic achievement is a reflection of her deep dedication to environmental justice, science-based solutions, and community-centered advocacy. In her role with Audubon California, Camila has been a tireless advocate for both ecological restoration and the health of communities surrounding the Salton Sea.
Camila has contributed to advancing projects at the Sea that not only support habitat restoration for birds and other wildlife but also prioritize the well-being of communities across the region. Her work on the Bombay Beach Wetlands Enhancement project has included facilitating local engagement, supporting education and outreach efforts, and helping shape restoration strategies that reflect the needs of both people and nature. Her scientific expertise, community insights, and collaborative spirit make her an invaluable contributor to the state’s long-term vision for a healthier and more sustainable Salton Sea.
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Camila Bautista on this achievement and look forward to all the important work ahead.
Felicidades!
Jessica Humes, Environmental Compliance Supervisor for Imperial Irrigation District, has been featured in a recent article posted at the Imperial-San Diego Currents. The piece was authored by SSMP partner, Darren Simon.
In the article, Darren describes how Jessica leads IID’s Salton Sea mitigation efforts, along with her team. She carries out a number of critical programs, including an air quality mitigation program that to date has addressed 2,700 acres of exposed playa at the sea with thousands of additional acres in development.
The SSMP team has also acknowledged how she has been a key partner to the SSMP. Click here to read the full article: Jessica Humes: Focused On Protecting the Valley’s Health | Imperial-San Diego Currents
The Salton Sea Management Program (SSMP), alongside its regional partners and State officials, gathered at the southern end of the Salton Sea to witness a major milestone for the SSMP’s Species Conservation Habitat (SCH) project. Water was released into a newly constructed pond as part of the ongoing efforts to restore habitat, protect air quality, and support wildlife. The filling of the original East Pond and the East Pond Expansion will cover about 2,000 acres with water to create habitat and for fish and birds while suppressing dust from the previously exposed lakebed.
Implementation of the SCH Project was initiated in 2021. With the East Pond 1 Expansion, the project footprint has now expanded to cover nearly 5,000 acres at the south end of the Sea. Further expansion on the Center and West Ponds is envisioned, to add an additional 4,500 acres to the project — raising the total SCH footprint to over 9,000 acres.
This milestone is yet another chapter of the larger Salton Sea Management Plan, which is accelerating restoration projects at the Sea to help protect local communities from harmful dust and restores nature.
Media Coverage:
LA Times: California turns on water to create new wetlands on the shore of the shrinking Salton Sea
Calexico Chronicle: Officials Celebrate Flooding of Expanded Habitat at the Salton Sea
IVPressOnline: State celebrates major Salton Sea milestone
The SSMP website is currently undergoing maintenance as we work to enhance accessibility. These changes are part of our ongoing commitment to making sure our digital services are usable and inclusive for everyone.
While access to some documents may be limited or temporarily unavailable, please contact us at cnra-saltonsea@resources.ca.gov if you need assistance or have issues accessing a specific document.
The SSMP is excited to announce that Melinda Dorin, from the Department of Water Resources (DWR), has accepted the position of Lead Manager of the Salton Sea Restoration Office (SSRO). Melinda officially began in this new role in May, and we are thrilled to have her in this new capacity. As SSRO’s Lead Manager, Melinda will lead DWR’s multidisciplinary Salton Sea team, coordinate with other DWR divisions and offices, as well as within the SSMP partner agencies, and other outside partners and agencies.
Melinda Dorin joined DWR SSRO in May 2020 as a Program Manager Since joining DWR, Melinda has managed several SSMP 10-Year Plan projects, as well as served as the lead for all SSMP environmental permitting and regulatory compliance. Notably, she led the development of SSMP 10-Year Plan NEPA document, Program Biological Opinion and Section 106 Programmatic Agreement that covers 30,000 acres of projects. Under her leadership, one of the SSMP projects has been accepted as a pilot project into the new (Jan 1, 2025) “Cutting the Green Tape” Restoration Management Permit process at CDFW.
Prior to joining DWR, Melinda worked for multiple agencies including licensing power plants, renewable energy, and environmental research related to power production at the California Energy Commission, water rights permitting at the State Water Resources Control Board, and on special status species for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Melinda has also worked as a contractor and for several NGOs. She conducted research in Costa Rica and worked with a BBC nature film crew. Melinda received a B.S. in Ecology, Behavior and Evolution from U.C. San Diego.
A new science brief published by Audubon California shows that a number of factors have resulted in an increase in wetland habitat at the Salton Sea, and that an increasing number of shorebirds are taking advantage of the changes — driving a growth rate average of 15 percent per year in waterbirds overall between 2016 and 2023.
The report highlights the findings of bird surveys and habitat assessments, revealing that bird populations are responding to environmental changes at the sea. An Audubon bird count in August 2023 yielded a record 250,000 shorebirds sighted in one day. The report also provides other findings and recommendations for a healthier and sustainable Sea as an essential oasis for migratory birds.
“We are grateful to our partners at Audubon for this valuable report, which provides critical data that will help advance our collective work for the Salton Sea,” said Joe Shea, Assistant Secretary for Salton Sea Policy. The SSMP team continues to work in partnership with Audubon California on its Bombay Beach Wetlands Enhancement Project, which will suppress dust while also creating managed wetland habitat on the east side of the Sea. Audubon has also supported the SSMP by helping to address data gaps, collaborating in community tours, and supporting the work of the SSMP Community Engagement Committee.
Salton Sea – El 22 de mayo, líderes de organizaciones locales, estatales, federales, tribales y organizaciones sin fines de lucro se reunieron para celebrar un logro fundamental en el Salton Sea: el llenado del primer estanque de expansión en el emblemático esfuerzo de restauración del Estado. Conocida como la Ampliación del Estanque Este, esta zona es un componente clave del Proyecto de Hábitat de Conservación de Especies, que restaurará aproximadamente 14 millas cuadradas de hábitat vital cuando esté totalmente construido.
Este hito es solo el último ejemplo de la prioridad que el gobernador Gavin Newsom otorga a la realización de proyectos a gran escala en el Salton Sea que creen hábitats medioambientales y aporten beneficios a las comunidades cercanas. Previamente previsto como un proyecto de 4,100 acres financiado principalmente a través de los fondos de bonos del Estado con un costo de aproximadamente $ 200 millones, el Estado aseguró compromisos del gobierno federal en 2023, 2024 y 2025 por un total de $ 245 millones en fondos adicionales, lo que permitirá que el Proyecto de Hábitat de Conservación de Especies a más del doble de tamaño.
Ahora se prevé que la huella total del Proyecto de Conservación de Especies Hábitat abarque más de 9,000 acres, espacio suficiente para albergar unos 7,500 campos de fútbol. Creará una red de estanques, bermas, islas de anidamiento y descanso y sistemas de suministro de agua diseñados para mantener las poblaciones de peces y aves, restaurando la función del ecosistema y protegiendo la calidad del aire al reducir el polvo en una zona clave del lecho lacustre anteriormente expuesto en el Salton Sea. El llenado de la Ampliación del Estanque Este, combinado con el llenado del Estanque Este original a principios de abril, significa que aproximadamente 2,000 acres del proyecto estarán operativos en las próximas semanas. Continúan los trabajos adicionales para completar los restantes componentes de expansión del proyecto.
El Salton Sea, la mayor superficie de agua interior de California, se ha reducido en los últimos años debido a la disminución de los flujos de entrada, lo que ha dejado al descubierto un lecho que podría liberar pequeñas partículas de polvo en determinadas zonas alrededor del mar, lo que afectaría aún más a la ya de por sí mala calidad del aire en el Valle Imperial. La reducción de los niveles de agua y el aumento de la salinidad también afectan negativamente al hábitat de la fauna, incluidas las aves que viajan por la ruta migratoria del Pacífico.
LO QUE DICEN:
El Estado se ha comprometido a impulsar este proyecto y otros a través de su Programa de Gestión del Salton Sea, integrado por la Agencia de Recursos Naturales de California, el Departamento de Recursos Hídricos y el Departamento de Pesca y Vida Silvestre de California. Para más información sobre el Programa de Gestión del Salton Sea y sus iniciativas de restauración, visite https://saltonsea.ca.gov/.
Haz click aquí para leer en español
Salton Sea — On May 22, leaders from local, state, federal, tribal, and nonprofit organizations gathered to mark a pivotal achievement at the Salton Sea — the filling of the first expansion pond in the State’s flagship restoration effort. Known as the East Pond Expansion, this area is a key component of the Species Conservation Habitat Project, which is set to restore approximately 14 square miles of vital habitat when fully built out.
This milestone is just the latest example of Governor Gavin Newsom’s prioritization of delivering large-scale projects at the Salton Sea that create environmental habitat and provide benefits to nearby communities. Previously envisioned as a 4,100-acre project funded primarily through the State’s bond funds at a cost of approximately $200 million, the State secured commitments from the federal government in 2023, 2024, and 2025 totaling $245 million in additional funding, which will allow the Species Conservation Habitat Project to more than double in size.
The total Species Conservation Habitat Project footprint is now envisioned to span over 9,000 acres – enough space to fit roughly 7,500 football fields. It will create a network of ponds, berms, nesting and loafing islands, and water delivery systems engineered to sustain fish and bird populations — restoring ecosystem function and protecting air quality by reducing dust at a key area of previously exposed lakebed at the Salton Sea. The filling of the East Pond Expansion, combined with the filling of the original East Pond in early April, means that roughly 2,000 acres of the project will be operational in the coming weeks. Additional work continues to complete the remaining expansion components of the project.
The Salton Sea, California’s largest inland water body, has shrunk in recent years due to reduced inflows, resulting in an exposed lakebed that has the potential to release small dust particles in certain areas around the sea that further impact the already-poor air quality in the Imperial Valley. The reduced water levels and increased salinity also negatively impact habitat for wildlife, including birds traveling the Pacific Flyway.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING:
The State is committed to advancing this project and others through its Salton Sea Management Program, comprising the California Natural Resources Agency, Department of Water Resources, and California Department of Fish and Wildlife. For more information about the Salton Sea Management Program and its restoration initiatives, visit https://saltonsea.ca.gov/.
As we continue to expand the largest restoration project at the Salton Sea, the Species Conservation Habitat (SCH) Project, this month marks a critical milestone: for the first time, water is flowing into the first pond (“East Pond”) of the project! The East Pond is now receiving mixture of Salton Sea and New River water. Once the East Pond is filled by the end of May, water will be directed into the next pond at the project (“East Pond 1 Expansion Pond”). Together, these ponds will provide about 2,000 acres of habitat restoration – a little over three square miles. This achievement marks an important step towards meeting the goals to improve conditions at 29,800 acres of aquatic and dust suppression projects around the Salton Sea.
Implementation of the SCH Project was initiated in 2021. With the East Pond 1 Expansion, the project footprint has now expanded to cover nearly 5,000 acres at the south end of the Sea. Further expansion on the Center and West Ponds is envisioned, to add an additional 4,500 acres to the project — raising the total SCH footprint to over 9,000 acres. The SCH Project aims to restore deep and shallow water habitats lost as a result of the Salton Sea’s increasing salinity and recession, while providing an important dust suppression benefit to surrounding communities at the south end of the Sea.
The SSMP team is hosting an in-person meeting and a virtual Zoom meeting on its 2025 Annual Report. Join us at one of the upcoming community meetings to learn more about what’s happening at Salton Sea
Receive an overview of the recently released 2025 SSMP Annual Report, learn about the restoration projects at the Sea and current planning efforts, and meet with members of the State’s Salton Sea team to ask questions and provide feedback.
Spanish interpretation will be provided. Habrá interpretación al español.
All community members are welcome!
Wednesday, April 30 at 5:30 pm, in person.
West Shores Community Center,
3389 Sea View Avenue, Thermal, CA 92274
Thursday, May 1, at 12:00 pm Virtual Meeting on Zoom
[deleted]
or dial: +1 (669) 444-9171
SSMP partners, Los Amigos de la Comunidad and the Pacific Institute are bringing a full-day conference at Imperial Valley College. This event is being offered for free for participants to hear more about community and public health; the Colorado River and Water; an update on the 2025 SSMP Annual Report; and an update on lithium.
Friday, May 9, in-person Imperial Valley College 380 E Aten Rd, Imperial, CA 92251
Visit www.losamigosdelacomunidad.com for more information
The annual report and the status of the SSMP will be the focus of an all-day public workshop convened by the State Water Board on May 21, 2025.
The State Water Resources Control Board will hold its annual workshop on the status of Phase 1 of the Salton Sea Management Program on May 21, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to ~6:00 p.m. The one-day workshop will be hosted at the Coachella Valley Unified School District Board Room 87-225 Church Street, Thermal, CA 92274, and a virtual participation option through Zoom. Public comments are welcomed and encouraged.
Spanish interpretation will be provided as well as materials translated into Spanish. Additional meeting information will be uploaded as it becomes available on the Water Board Salton Sea page at waterboards.ca.gov/saltonsea/.
Click here to receive Salton Sea Community Updates.
