Samantha Arthur Appointed to Serve as Assistant Secretary for Salton Sea Policy
The SSMP is pleased to share that Governor Gavin Newsom has appointed Samantha Arthur to serve as the Assistant Secretary for Salton Sea Policy at the Natural Resources Agency. Arthur has served as Working Lands Director for Audubon California since 2019, and was Conservation Project Director there from 2016-2019 and Conservation Project Manager from 2014-2016. She is also a member of the California Water Commission.
Arthur is expected to officially join the team in late April.
“Samantha brings substantial experience planning and managing complex projects in California, particularly in the Central Valley, through her work with Audubon California. She understands state and federal processes and permitting agencies, and shares our passion and commitment to driving implementation of projects at the Salton Sea,” California Secretary for Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot said. “We look forward to integrating her into our team and continuing our work with partners to deliver on the state’s commitments at the Sea.”
SSMP Annual Report Submitted to State Water Board
The California Natural Resources Agency has submitted its 2023 Annual Report on the Salton Sea Management Program (SSMP) to the State Water Resources Control Board, prepared in compliance with Order WR 2017-0134.
The report summarizes progress in 2022 toward reducing exposed lakebed and creating habitat at the Salton Sea. Highlights include continuous work to deliver on the SSMP’s Phase-1: 10-Year Plan projects and taking steps toward programmatic access agreements with landowners to help accelerate dust suppression and aquatic habitat projects at the Sea. The largest restoration project in the Sea’s history – the Species Conservation Habitat project – completed major milestones in 2022 and remains on track for completion by the end of 2023. The SSMP also made progress on vegetation enhancement work at three sites around the Sea.
The report highlights development of the draft Long-Range Plan (LRP) with the support of Tribal leadership, community-based organizations and state, local, and federal agencies. The draft LRP was submitted as planned to the State Water Board in late 2022. The annual report also describes the cost-share agreement signed by the SSMP, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), and the Salton Sea Authority to launch a federal feasibility study to identify and recommend projects and actions for the long-term restoration of the Sea. In June, the Corps released for public review and feedback the Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Phase I: 10-Year Plan. The EA provides a broad umbrella for environmental compliance for a variety of SSMP Phase I: 10-year Plan projects, including ponds, wetlands, and dust suppression and vegetation enhancement projects around the Sea. Following receipt of public comments, the EA is being revised and is anticipated to be finalized in Spring 2023.
Through various opportunities, the team strengthened outreach and engagement with local communities so that local input can better shape the work of the SSMP. These opportunities included multiple public-facing meetings of the Community Engagement Committee, the Long-Range Plan Committee, the Science Committee, the Independent Review Panel for water importation proposals led by the University of Santa Cruz, and community-oriented meetings throughout the year. The team also continued working towards identifying community amenities and vital community infrastructure needs by engaging directly and on the ground with residents from the Salton Sea region to help inform a strategy document that will be completed in the coming months.
The annual report and the status of the SSMP will be the focus of a public workshop convened by the State Water Board in May 16 and 17. Workshop details are available on the State Water Board’s Salton Sea program webpage.
In addition, the SSMP team plans to hold a community workshop in advance of the State Water Board’s workshop to provide an overview of the report and answer questions. This meeting will occur on April 20, participants may join in person at Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians Tameka Gym, 66725 Martinez Road, Thermal, CA 92274; participate virtually by clicking here: http://bit.lySaltonSeaWorkshop; or by dialing (305) 226-1968. More information on this meeting is found below in this edition and the SSMP website.
UPDATED: Request For Qualifications for Salton Sea Management Program Technical Support
The Department of Water Resources (DWR), Division of Regional Assistance, invites qualified firms with extensive background in engineering and environmental services to support DWR in the conceptualization, design, environmental permit acquisition, construction, and monitoring of dust suppression and habitat restoration projects to submit a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) to support the Salton Sea Management Program. The Contractor will provide expert technical advice and consultation in planning and project management support; environmental permitting and compliance support; agricultural and land use economic analysis; hydrodynamic, air quality, and ecological modeling; engineering design support; and environmental and design support during construction in support of DWR compliance with the California State Water Resources Control Board Order 2017-0134. Estimated Contract Amount $5,000,000 – $10,000,000.
This opportunity opened March 6 and will close on April 13, 2022. The anticipated length of term for this agreement is five years. To learn more about this opportunity visit: https://caleprocure.ca.gov/event/3860/10185861
SSMP Team
SSMP Welcomes New Team Members
To continue delivering critical projects around the Salton Sea, the Salton Sea Management Program (SSMP) has filled two key vacancies at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (CDFW) Salton Sea Program.
In March, Maria Davydova-Flores joined the CDFW as the Salton Sea Program’s new Senior Environmental Scientist Specialist, headquartered in the Bermuda Dunes field office.
Maria has a B.S. in Biology: Ecology, Evolution and Behavior from University of Texas at Austin. She has lived and worked here in Coachella Valley for the past ten years, working at the Colorado River Basin Regional Water Quality Control Board. Starting as a scientific aid in 2012 and promoting to environmental scientist two years later, Maria has obtained extensive knowledge of Salton Sea water quality issues and state and federal environmental regulations. Over the past eight years, Maria has gained vast experience working with Salton Sea communities and stakeholders as the Regional Water Board’s environmental justice coordinator, outreach coordinator, Tribal coordinator, and water quality standards planning coordinator.
She has been actively involved in the Salton Sea Management Program Community Engagement Committee since its very early days in 2016, when it was known as the Outreach Committee, where she took a leading role in planning and facilitating 2016 and 2017 community workshops. Maria is very excited to continue her involvement with the Salton Sea in her new role as the Salton Sea Regulatory Specialist.
Upcoming SSMP Engagement Opportunities
SSMP Community Engagement Committee to Meet on April 3
The SSMP Community Engagement Committee will meet on April 3 at 11:00 a.m. for a virtual meeting on Zoom. Spanish Interpretation will be available. Habrá interpretación en español.
The SSMP team invites you to participate in its next SSMP Community Workshop on April 20 at 5:30 p.m. Attendees may participate in person or virtually and learn about projects underway and current planning efforts at the Sea; get an in-depth overview of the recently released 2023 SSMP Annual Report; and meet with members of the State’s Salton Sea team to ask questions and learn more about progress made at the Salton Sea during 2022.
Please join us in person at Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians Tameka Gym, 66725 Martinez Road, Thermal, CA 92274. Doors open at 5:00 p.m.
State Water Board Salton Sea Workshop set for May 16 & 17
The State Water Board will be holding its annual workshop on the status of Phase 1 of the Salton Sea Management Program on May 16, 2023, from 12:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m., and May 17, 2023, from 5:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.
The meeting will take place over two days and will provide live interpretation in Spanish, with multiple options for participation: 1) in-person at Imperial Valley College, 2) remote viewing at the North Shore Beach and Yacht Club, and 3) virtually via Zoom (to provide comment) or webcast (watch-only).
Every year, the California Natural Resources Agency provides an update to the State Water Board and interested parties on the progress that has been made on the Salton Sea Management Program. The workshop is an opportunity for participants to provide input to the State Water Board regarding the status of the Salton Sea Management Program. Input can be provided by submitting written comments in advance or providing oral comments on either day of the workshop.
Work Continues at Vegetation Enhancement Projects Around the Salton Sea
A mixture of native plant seed was placed between the rows of grass bales that were placed during phase-1 of the Vegetation Enhancement Projects at Clubhouse and West Bombay Beach sites.
The SSMP is implementing the vegetation enhancement projects in partnership with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation near communities around the Salton Sea. The projects cover approximately 1,700 acres and are located near the communities of Salton City and Bombay Beach. The projects aim to establish and enhance native vegetation on the exposed lakebed to reduce wind-blown dust and improve habitat value for desert wildlife. Native plants being established at the project sites include iodine bush, big saltbush, salt grass, honey mesquite, palo verde, among others still being considered.
Phase 1 of the Vegetation Enhancement Projects consists of grading, grass bale placement, and site modifications in the project areas. Grass bales will help protect plants and vegetation that will be coming into the projects as part of the phase 2, which includes planting and/or seeding and irrigation. Until sites get planted, the bales create a form engineered surface roughening for interim dust suppression, important to the nearby communities.
The SSMP team was successful in getting approximately 290 acres seeded within the existing rows of grass bales at Clubhouse and West Bombay Beach sites. This work was done as part of the second phase of these projects during the months of November and December. At the request of residents at our public meetings, we will be adding native trees to complement our native shrub mix throughout all sites, where feasible.
A total of 1,085 acres of vegetation enhancement projects began implementation in 2022. The team is working with local nurseries to grow out tens of thousands of plants for placement during this winter/spring season. Seeding and planting will continue over the next couple of months.
SSMP Team
SSMP Team Employee Spotlight
The California Natural Resources Agency, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife are implementing the Salton
Sea Management Program to address air quality and ecological threats at the Salton Sea. These agencies are collectively known as the SSMP team.
In this edition, we are putting Steven Garcia in the spotlight to share more about his important work, as part of the SSMP Team.
Garcia is a Senior Engineer at the California Department of Water Resources for the for the Salton Sea Management Program. He oversees the engineering design and implementation of Vegetation Enhancement and Dust Suppression Projects.
Hi Steven, can you tell us a bit more about your role at the SSMP?
Hello, I am a Senior Engineer with the SSMP, and my main role is to coordinate the engineering design and implementation of Vegetation Enhancement and Dust Suppression Projects. I work with biologist, ecologist, geologist, and other engineers to develop project designs that will result in vegetation on Salton Sea exposed lakebed. My day-to-day duties include planning and designing, developing bid packages, and coordinating construction activities for vegetation enhancement projects. These 2-phased projects were designed to immediately reduce dust emitting from within the project limits, by using bales, and are currently being planted with native vegetation that will continue to limit dust emissions into the future.
What part of your job do you enjoy the most?
The part about my job that I enjoy most is working with a diverse group of professionals to come up with project designs in a difficult environment to work in. Trying to establish thousands of plants has its challenges, but doing so in a remote, arid, and extremely hot environment is even more difficult. The project areas are not just remote but are also not easily accessible with typical equipment. We’ve had to come up with innovative engineering solutions, adapting to unforeseen constraints, to successfully construct dust suppression projects, and provide water to plants and seeds.
What inspired you to seek a career in implementing and managing ecological restoration projects?
I started my career with DWR as a student assistant with the South-Central Regional Office, working on the San Joaquin River Restoration Project (SJRRP). As a student, I worked with biologist, engineers, and geologist to survey and monitor the river from Friant Dam to the Chowchilla bypass. This was the first time I ever saw a river run dry. It was unconceivable to me that the San Joaquin River could just run dry and end. The US Bureau of Reclamation released pulse flows as part of this program so that we could monitor gravel bed mobility. Over the three (3) years I worked as a student on the SJRRP, I saw the river go from a dying ecosystem to one that was thriving due to the pulse releases. Seeing the River come back to life by just adding water gave me hope that there is still a chance to restore or enhance the natural environment. Before my time in the SJRRP, I wanted to be a structural engineer who designs tall buildings and bridges. After my experience working on the SJRRP, I decided to focus on environmental and water resources engineering, to do my part, and make it possible for the natural and human ecosystems to co-exist and thrive.
What is your vision for the future of the Salton Sea?
I see the Salton Sea being divided into brackish ponds that will host fish to support the millions of migrating birds of the pacific flyway, and other brackish/saltwater ponds for recreation. Fully established vegetation enhancement projects will cover the exposed lakebed of the Salton Sea and will be protecting the community by reducing dust emissions from it. The vegetation will also provide habitat for local wildlife. I would love to see a rim trail, for pedestrians and bicycles, around the Sea that would connect all projects so people may experience the Sea in its entirety.
Overall, I envision the Salton Sea as place where we people from around the world will be able to come recreate and enjoy the beautiful ecosystem that has been conserved. Potentially being inspired to create beautiful art or to converse the natural environment from where they reside.
Thank you Steven!
Welcome a New SSMP Team Member
AnaLisa Saldaña is a new Staff Services Analyst in the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, as part of the SSMP team. She is filling a position that became vacant last year and is based out of the Bermuda Dunes office. She is supporting with administrative tasks needed to make the program run smoothly.
AnaLisa was previously employed with the Department of Development Services-Canyon Springs as an Office Technician. She holds a degree in Liberal Arts and one in General Studies, both from Palo Verde College. Although AnaLisa is a native of the California low deserts, she has resided in the Coachella Valley since 2004. AnaLisa enjoys attending outdoor activities in the Coachella Valley and spending time with family and friends.
Upcoming SSMP Engagement Opportunities
Share Your Feedback on the
Draft Salton Sea Long-Range Plan
The Salton Sea Management Program has released the Draft Salton Sea Long-Range Plan for public review. This draft plan was developed with support from Tribal leadership, community-based organizations, and interested parties. The proposed concepts within the plan intend to protect or improve air quality, water quality, and wildlife habitat to reduce health and environmental consequences anticipated from the long-term recession of the Salton Sea.
Please visit SaltonSea.ca.gov to view the draft plan and provide your feedback. A Spanish version of this draft plan can also be found here.
Comments may be sent via email to SaltonSeaLRP@resources.ca.gov, or via regular mail to the California Natural Resources Agency, Attn: Salton Sea Long-Range Plan Review, 715 P Street, 20th Floor Sacramento, CA 95814. Please send your comments on or before March 17 at 11:59 p.m. PST.
Following the receipt of comments on March 17, the long-range planning effort will become part of a feasibility study led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. SSMP will partner with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Salton Sea Authority to undertake this feasibility study. The official title of the feasibility study is: Imperial Streams Salton Sea and Tributaries Feasibility Study. Additional public input opportunities will be available during this process to shape and enhance the plan for future actions at the Sea.
Thank you for supporting the future of the Salton Sea!
SSMP Community Workshop set for March 1
Join the SSMP Team on a virtual community workshop on March 1, at 5:30 p.m. During the workshop, the team will provide program updates and seek your feedback to help continue shaping the future of the Sea. Spanish interpretation will be available. Habrá interpretación al español.
Meeting details, Zoom link, materials, and other documents are forthcoming and will be uploaded to the SSMP website as they become available. For questions or comments, please contact: Cnra-saltonsea@resources.ca.gov.
Celebrate #BlackHistoryMonth on Feb. 3 at 9:30am w/“Career Pathways: Black & African Americans in State Service” where we will share resources & knowledge to plan for & achieve meaningful #statejobs. Topics: benefits, recruitment, & how 2 apply. Register👉http://bit.ly/3RbiAUW
SSMP Milestones
Draft Salton Sea Long-Range Plan Released
for Public Comment
The Salton Sea Management Program (SSMP) has posted its Draft Salton Sea Long-Range Plan for public review and comment.Developed with support from Tribal leadership, community-based organizations, and local, state, and federal agencies, the draft plan identifies concepts for long-term restoration of the Sea beyond the scope of the SSMP’s Phase 1: 10-Year Plan.
The goal of the plan is to protect or improve air quality, water quality, and wildlife habitat to prevent or reduce health and environmental consequences anticipated from the long-term recession of the Salton Sea.
A Spanish version of the draft plan will be available in early January on the SSMP website. The posting of the Spanish version will begin a 45-day comment period. Comments may be sent via email to SaltonSeaLRP@resources.ca.gov, or via regular mail to the California Natural Resources Agency, Attn: Salton Sea Long-Range Plan Review, 715 P Street, 20th Floor Sacramento, CA 95814.
Once the plan is finalized, the long-range planning effort will transition to an environmental review process led by a federal partnering agency. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will undertake this process in partnership with the Salton Sea Management Program and the Salton Sea Authority through the Imperial Streams Salton Sea and Tributaries Feasibility Study.
In the future, there will continue to be multiple opportunities to provide comments and input to shape and enhance the plan for future actions at the Sea. A Public Scoping period will provide opportunities for tribes, community members, responsible agencies, regional public agencies, and interested parties to comment on: locations, capacities, and operations of new structures and facilities to evaluate in the Environmental Impact Report (EIR)/Environmental Impact Statement (EIS); alternatives to evaluate in the EIR/EIS; impacts and mitigation to evaluate in the EIR/EIS; and other issues that the lead agency should consider for the EIR/EIS.
The Long-Range Plan is being developed as a second phase beyond the Phase 1: 10-year Plan projects that aim to improve conditions by constructing 30,000 acres of habitat and dust suppression projects by the year 2028, which will establish at least 14,900 acres of aquatic habitat, with the purpose of suppressing dust emissions and improving ecological conditions at the Salton Sea.
Local, State and Federal Agencies to Partner in Feasibility Study for Long-Term Restoration of the Salton Sea
Signatories of a Cost-Share Agreement: G. Patrick O’Dowd, Executive Director/ General Manager, Salton Sea Authority (Left); Col. Julie Balten, Commander, Los Angeles District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (center); Cindy Messer, Lead Deputy Director, California Department of Water Resources (Right).
The Salton Sea Management Program, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District and the Salton Sea Authority have signed an agreement launching a study aimed at identifying projects and actions for the long-term restoration of the Salton Sea. A Cost-Share Agreement was signed at a recent ceremony at the North Shore Yacht Club in Mecca on December 16.
The Corps has received funding to initiate and complete the Imperial Streams Salton Sea and Tributaries Feasibility Study, which will investigate and recommend projects and/or actions to contribute to improved public health and potential environmental restoration opportunities for communities around the Salton Sea.
The study will build on the Salton Sea Management Program’s Long-Range Plan document, released as a draft for public comment on December 15. The cost-share agreement brings together a diverse set of skills and experience from the three agencies and creates a framework for working collaboratively. Additionally, the agreement could potentially lead to significant additional investments for the long-term restoration of the Salton Sea.
Salton Sea Monitoring Implementation Plan Completed
Developed in collaboration with the SSMP Science Committee, the Monitoring Implementation Plan (MIP) is a regional-scale monitoring plan for the Salton Sea ecosystem. It describes monitoring activities to measure conditions of water, air quality, land cover, biological resources, and socioeconomics. The MIP provides a framework for future project-scale monitoring plans and identifies and prioritizes filling of existing data gaps. It also promotes practices to best store, manage, and make monitoring data publicly available in a timely manner.
Working groups were formed to provide input and review of early drafts of the MIP in July-August 2021. Invited members to these working groups included key Salton Sea experts and stakeholders in several resource areas: hydrology and water quality; air quality and geography (land cover); biological resources; socioeconomics; and data management. The Draft MIP was released at a public workshop in February 2022 to solicit input and comments from the public and the SSMP Science Committee. The Science Committee’s comments were reviewed by the working groups in July-August 2022 and considered in preparation of the 2022 final MIP. The MIP is a living document that can be updated in future to respond to the changing ecosystem and management needs of the Salton Sea.
A copy of the MIP can be found here. La version es español del MIP se encuentra aquí.
Upcoming SSMP Engagement Opportunities and Salton Sea Events
Respond to the Salton Sea
Community Amenities Survey Today!
In recognition of the need for greater investments in communities in the Salton Sea region, CNRA is supporting the development of a Community Amenities Strategy document. The goal of the document is to identify community amenities that can be undertaken within SSMP projects, as well as to identify additional broader regional needs that fall outside the scope of the SSMP. The Community Amenities Strategy will focus on core strategies related to recreation and equitable access, climate resilience, education and programming, transportation, broadband access, public health, and workforce.
Community feedback is integral to the formation of the Salton Sea Community Amenities Strategy to ensure the document reflects the needs of communities at and around the Sea. This month and through January, Kounkuey Design Initiative (KDI) and Better World Group (BWG) are conducting a survey to collect responses from residents around the Salton Sea. Results from this survey will help inform a strategy that includes recommendations for how to incorporate community needs into restoration efforts at the Sea and identify opportunities for meaningful investments and policies change outside of the scope of the SSMP. The English survey is linked here. La encuesta en español se encuentra aquí. Survey respondents will receive $10 for completing this 5-minute survey. Feel free to share the survey with your respective organizations, community partners, and community residents.
In the coming weeks, KDI and BWG will also be hosting workshops and engagement activities at local community events to collect input, advice, and ideas from residents, in both Riverside and Imperial Counties. Community members with ideas on events to attend, community residents that should be part of focus group work, or who want to be involved are encouraged to contact Daniel Garcia at daniel@kounkuey.org.
Thank you and Happy New Year!
SSMP Deputy Assistant Secretary, Mario Llanos presenting at Calipatria High School library on December 7.
The Salton Sea Management Program team thanks each of you for your continued participation, support, and engagement on the Salton Sea. We thank all of those who are actively engaged in the multiple spaces that the SSMP has created for partners and community members to help contribute to achieving substantial progress for restoration of the Salton Sea ecosystem.
With over 30 engagement opportunities throughout 2022, we acknowledge and appreciate the active interest and participation from tribal representatives, members of the SSMP Committees, and community members of the Salton Sea region. Online public meetings included the Community Engagement Committee, the Science Committee, the Long -Range Plan Committee, public meetings from our partners for the Environmental Assessment of the 10-Year Plan Projects, and most recently, the first in-person SSMP Community Meeting on December 7, 2022 at the Calipatria High School library.
The SSMP team is looking forward to a productive 2023 to continue to enhance the presence in the community as well as creating spaces for continued collaboration and community participation.
Local, State and Federal Agencies to Partner in Feasibility Study for Long-Term Restoration of the Salton Sea
Cost-Share Agreement Signed at Event at the Sea
SALTON SEA, Calif. – The Salton Sea Management Program, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Los Angeles District, and the Salton Sea Authority today signed an agreement launching a study aimed at identifying projects and actions for the long-term restoration of the Salton Sea.
The Corps has received funding to initiate and complete the Imperial Streams Salton Sea and Tributaries Feasibility Study, which will investigate and recommend projects and/or actions to contribute to improved public health and potential environmental restoration opportunities for communities around the Salton Sea.
The study will build on the Salton Sea Management Program’s Long-Range Plan document, released as a draft for public comment on December 15. The cost-share agreement brings together a diverse set of skills and experience from the three agencies and creates a framework for working collaboratively. Additionally, the agreement could potentially lead to significant additional investments for the long-term restoration of the Salton Sea.
The Draft Salton Sea Long-Range Plan was developed with support from Tribal leadership, community-based organizations, and local, state, and federal agencies. The draft long-range plan organizes public input into a framework that provides a foundation for the feasibility study and associated environmental review process.
“This study will help chart a path forward toward the long-term restoration of the Salton Sea,” said Wade Crowfoot, California Natural Resources Secretary. “It will identify projects to improve conditions at the Sea and opens the possibility of new federal funding to deliver these projects. We’re grateful to the Army Corps of Engineers and the Salton Sea Authority for their partnership and look forward to more community engagement to help inform this effort.”
“This is an opportunity to develop viable and innovative solutions, in collaboration with our partners, for the Salton Sea community and its surrounding area,” said Col. Julie Balten, commander of the Corps’ Los Angeles District. “We are excited to sign the agreement as it solidifies our commitment to this community and its people to gather information, define problems and opportunities, and potentially recommend federal restoration projects at the Salton Sea.”
“DWR and CNRA are excited about this opportunity to collaborate with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Salton Sea Authority, Tribal groups, and other partners on long-term solutions for the Salton Sea in ways that benefit ecosystems and local communities,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth.
The Salton Sea, California’s largest lake, is facing multiple challenges. With decreased inflow, the lake is shrinking and rising in salinity. As a result, thousands of acres of lakebed are being exposed and habitat has become greatly diminished. In recent years, water transfers have been the primary cause for reduced inflow. With historic drought in the seven states that are part of the Colorado River Basin and increasing demand on the Colorado River, which also feeds the Salton Sea, an acceleration of adverse conditions is expected in the future. Local, state, federal and Tribal agencies are committed to addressing the challenges in the near- and long-term future, in ways that benefit the environment, wildlife and local communities.
A resolution of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, 114th Congress, authorized the Secretary of the Army to investigate and recommend improvements for flood-risk management, ecosystem restoration and other water- and land-related resources, with a view toward restoration and protection of the environment, and improvements to public health and safety for the Salton Sea and its tributaries in Riverside, Imperial, and San Diego counties.
Pictures and video from the signing ceremony can be found here.
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SSMP Project Spotlight – November 2022
Bringing you timely and concise updates on the Salton Sea Management Program
New River Diversion Structure Under Construction as Part of the Species Conservation Habitat Project
The New River diversion structure (star icon) is a major component of the Species Conservation Habitat Project. Completion of this feature signifies a major milestone for the project.
The Species Conservation Habitat (SCH) Project, spanning the New River at the southern end of the Salton Sea, will create a network of ponds and wetlands to provide important fish and bird habitat while suppressing dust emissions to improve regional air quality as the Salton Sea continues to recede. On schedule for completion in 2023, the 4,100-acre SCH is the first of many projects the Salton Sea Management Program (SSMP) team will implement as part of the SSMP Phase 1: 10-Year Plan.
The New River diversion structure is a major component of the overall SCH Project. It will allow water diversion into the habitat ponds. The East and West Sluiceways will allow the water coming from the New River to flow north into the Salton Sea. The Labyrinth weir will allow the New River water to rise and a portion of it will flow by gravity to the New River West and East Intake Structures. The mixing occurs between the weir and the sedimentation basins at the mixing basins. Saline water from the Salton Sea is pumped in from the Saline Pump Station located at the north end of the Causeway into the mixing basins. The mixed water (from the New River and from the Salton Sea) will then flow by gravity to the sedimentation basins and then to the habitat ponds. The New River diversion structure is also a flood control structure that will allow for water to go through without compromising the integrity of the project.
During the first phase of construction of the diversion structure, material placement and removal was completed for ground improvement. Then followed by excavation and embankment, installation of sheet piles, and the concrete and rebar installation for the weir structure. The New River Diversion Structure is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2022.
Construction of the SCH Project is expected to continue through the end of 2023.
A few weeks ago, SSMP partners from Audubon California published a blog post that narrates their recent experience at the SCH Project site. “We were pleasantly surprised to find ourselves counting thousands upon thousands of Black-necked Stilts, Long-billed Curlews, Least and Western Sandpipers…”
The California Natural Resources Agency, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife are implementing the Salton Sea Management Program to address air quality and ecological threats at the Salton Sea. These agencies are collectively known as the SSMP team.
In this edition, we are putting Miguel Hernández in the spotlight to share more about his important work, as part of the SSMP Team.
Hernández is the Public Affairs Officer at the California Natural Resources Agency for the for the Salton Sea Management Program. He has been serving in this role since September of 2021.
Hi Miguel, can you tell us a bit more about your role at the SSMP?
Hola, my role is to provide effective public communications for the SSMP program. Leading the Outreach and Communications office to communicate activities, priorities, and progress happening for the SSMP, including its restoration projects. As part of the SSMP leadership, continue prioritizing community involvement so local input can better shape the work of the SSMP. Part of my role is to support the work of the SSMP Community Engagement Committee, in collaboration with the Committee co-chairs to achieve meaningful community engagement and utilize effective outreach strategies to connect with communities. I’ve had the fortune of been a part of the Community Engagement Committee years before joining the SSMP team.
What part of your job do you enjoy the most?
I enjoy engaging with SSMP partners, community-based organization, non-governmental organizations, community members. My job requires that I work in close collaboration with others to advance environmental justice priorities, bringing people together to achieve collective goals and identify effective ways to meet our objectives.
What inspired you to seek a career in communications and public outreach?
I was always part of school extracurricular activities that required significant public interaction. I also served in church programs that allowed me to learn from my community. I believe this is the baseline for my interest in communicating and interacting with folks around me.
Years after graduating, I found an opportunity to work with a grassroots organization in Imperial County. My work here required me to coordinate communications and media relations for the organization, including conducting community outreach for multiple programs. I led the Salton Sea Community Outreach, Education, and Engagement program intending to inform the hard-to-reach communities of the Salton Sea region. This opportunity allowed me to have close conversations with community members, learning that there is a ton of information that is not reaching these communities and that the Salton Sea is another item in a list of the multiple concerns in the area. I joined the State SSMP team inspired to communicate accurately and transparently with the people of my community.
What is your vision for the future of the Salton Sea?
I’m confident that if we continue to work in collaboration, not only the SSMP will achieve its commitments, but we will be able to achieve those collective goals that better serve the communities of the Salton Sea region. There are still significant challenges ahead of us, perhaps uncertainties too, but my vision for the Salton Sea is one with a positive outcome that prioritizes community concerns and preserves habitat value for the Sea.
Thanks Miguel!
The State is Recruiting Two Candidates to Join the SSMP Team
The Department of Water Resources is seeking applicants for a Budget Analyst to work with the SSMP.
The Budget Analyst works independently performing a wide variety of challenging and complex analytical and administrative tasks, as well as working closely with program managers on budget planning and tracking and grant contract development and invoicing for the Salton Sea Program.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking applicants for Senior Environmental Scientist with the SSMP.
Under the general supervision, the Senior Environmental Scientist serves as scientific and regulatory lead for the CDFW Salton Sea Program and independently identifies problems, develops courses of action, conducts critical scientific investigations, prepares guidance, policy, planning, and regulatory documents, and legislative proposals and analysis. The incumbent requires a broad understanding of natural resources, conservation, and environmental laws, including aquatic ecology, fisheries, and water quality, and habitat structure affecting fish and bird health and abundance. This position is seeking applicants from any of the following counties: Riverside, Imperial, San Bernardino, San Diego, Los Angeles, San Joaquin, or Orange County.
Upcoming SSMP Engagement Opportunities and Salton Sea Events
UPDATE: SSMP Science Committee Meeting Set for December 1
The SSMP Science Committee will meet on December 1 for a virtual meeting on Zoom. The Committee will present a public update on the Monitoring Implementation Plan and provide informational background on the Monitoring and Adaptive Management Plan (MAMP) for the SSMP’s SCH Project.
This meeting will be recorded and uploaded to the SSMP website. Spanish Interpretation will be available. Habrá interpretación en español.
The Science Committee provides 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.
SSMP Update Community Meeting set for December 7
The SSMP team will provide an informational program update on a hybrid meeting on December 7 at 5:30 p.m. Attendees may participate in person at Calipatria High School Library located at 601 W Main St, Calipatria, CA 92233, or join virtually using the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81967335579
SSMP Update Community Meeting
When: Dec 7, 2022, 05:30 p.m. -7:30 p.m.
In person location: Calipatria High School Library, 601 W Main St, Calipatria, CA 92233
This meeting will be recorded and uploaded to the SSMP website. Spanish Interpretation will be available. Habrá interpretación en español.
Meeting materials and other documents will be uploaded to the SSMP website. For questions or comments, please contact: Cnra-saltonsea@resources.ca.gov.
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@CalNatResources Join us for the next Secretary Speaker Series: Strengthening Tribal Partnerships in Our Nature-Based Solutions Work. Secretary @WadeCrowfoot and panelists will discuss recent tribal-state collaborations and projections for future initiatives.
The Salton Sea e-Newsletter Update is issued the second week of each month to deliver up-to-date information on the Salton Sea Management Program. For questions or comments, please contact: Cnra-saltonsea@resources.ca.gov.
To sign up to receive Salton Sea Community Updates, please click here.
California Natural Resources Agency
715 P Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
SSMP Project Spotlight North Lake Pilot Demonstration Project
October 2022 – Bringing you timely and concise updates on the Salton Sea Management Program
The Project will be located at the north end of the Salton Sea, in Riverside County near the unincorporated community of North Shore.
The Salton Sea Authority (SSA) and Riverside County are working to implement the North Lake Pilot Demonstration Project. When complete, the North Lake Pilot Demonstration Project will construct an approximately 156-acre lake to provide both shallow and deep-water habitat near the North Shore Beach & Yacht Club Community Center in North Shore. The lake is planned to restore and manage habitat for fish and birds, control dust, and provide recreational opportunities.
In April 2021, the project received a $19.25 million Proposition 68 grant from the California Department of Water Resources on behalf of the Salton Sea Management Program. Over the summer, Riverside County approved a two-year agreement with Dudek Consulting for design and engineering services for the Project.
The next community meeting for this project will be on Saturday, October 15 at 1:00 p.m. on Zoom. More information on this meeting can be found here below in the events section.
The California Natural Resources Agency, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife are implementing the Salton Sea Management Program to address air quality and ecological threats at the Salton Sea. These agencies are collectively known as the SSMP team.
In this edition, we are putting Evon Willhoff in the spotlight to share more about her important work, as part of the SSMP Team.
Willhoff is a Program Manager DWR, where she has worked for the past 10 years, including three years of that time with the Salton Sea Management Program.
Hi Evon, can you tell us a bit more about your role at the SSMP?
Currently, my role is to work with Tribal and Federal governments, local agencies, non-profits, community-based organizations, and the public to plan and implement SSMP projects. Nearly my entire time with DWR, I’ve worked on projects based in the Coachella Valley region. Before working at DWR, I worked for over five years with the Planning and Conservation League in their Water Program to advocate for policies and legislation on behalf of the environment and marginalized communities.
What part of your job do you enjoy the most?
I enjoy working with people…especially in the context of protecting an environmental resource or a unique place (Like the Salton Sea) for future generations. I like hearing what the community cares about and what concerns them. I enjoy bringing people and resources together to figure out how we can best reach collective goals and objectives.
What inspired you to seek a career in implementing and managing ecological restoration projects?
Honestly, I fell into this path, but what brought me here was a course I took in college on California water and policy, followed by an advanced field course that required hiking and backpacking out into watersheds and environmental restoration projects. These experiences allowed me to view other opportunities and changed the expectation of what my life could be. I had found something I wanted to spend my time doing. Shortly after graduating, I began working for an environmental non-profit on water. This work focused on protecting our coast, lakes, rivers, and streams, including safe and affordable drinking water. After working with this non-profit, I came to work for the state. I wanted to work within government to progress my same values, but in a different way.
What is your vision for the future of the Salton Sea?
My vision for the Sea includes improving the quality of life for adjacent communities and businesses while also preserving the habitat value and the uniqueness of the region. It’s going to be challenging, but I think many have similar goals, and we will have to be creative and innovative in how we can bring the vision to reality.
Thank you Evon!
The State is Recruiting Candidates for Four Positions to Join the SSMP Team
The Department of Water Resources is seeking applicants for a supervising engineer, two senior engineer positions, and a Budget Analyst with the Salton Sea Management Program.
The Supervising Engineer is responsible for directing staff and consultants within the Salton Sea Management Program forthe administration and inspection of construction work for the Department at the Salton Sea. The Supervising Engineer will also be responsible for coordination with and oversight of Operations and Maintenance Activities by project partners as portions of the project construction are completed.
The Senior Contract Engineer performs field inspections and contract administration to ensure that construction contracts and other assigned facilities under the SSMP are completed on schedule and in accordance with plans and specifications.
The Senior Field Engineer performs engineering design, drafting, and field inspection to ensure that construction contracts managed by the Salton Sea Project Headquarters for the Department and other assigned facilities under the SSMP are completed on schedule and per specifications.
The Budget Analyst works independently performing a wide variety of challenging and complex analytical and administrative tasks, as well as working closely with program managers on budget planning and tracking and grant contract development and invoicing for the Salton Sea Program.
If you are a self-motivated, service-minded, and a hardworking professional interested in joining a dynamic team that is dedicated to helping the Salton Sea Program apply today!
Exams and Job opportunities to join the SSMP team are updated regularly on CalCareers.
Upcoming SSMP Engagement Opportunities and Salton Sea Events
Partner Event: Next Community Meeting on the North Lake Pilot Demonstration Project on October 15
On October 15, Riverside County and the Salton Sea Authority will hold a community meeting on the North Lake Pilot Demonstration Project from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. Participants will hear updates on the status of the project and will have an opportunity to share feedback and ask questions. The meeting will be held in person at Desert Mirage High School in Thermal, as well as virtually via Zoom. Spanish interpretation will be available. Habrá interpretación al español.
Partner Event: Salton Sea Action Committee will host a Stakeholder meeting on October 21
The Salton Sea Action Committee invites members of the public to participate at their next Salton Sea Stakeholder meeting in person at the Fantasy Springs Casino Boardroom on October 21, at 9:00 am.
SSMP Long-Range Plan Committee to Meet on November 2
The Long-Range Plan Committee will meet on Wednesday, November 2, at 9:30 a.m. for a virtual meeting on Zoom to discuss updates and receive feedback on the development of the Long-Range Plan. Spanish interpretation will be available. Habrá interpretación al español.
SSMP Community Engagement Committee to Meet on November 3
The SSMP Community Engagement Committee will meet on November 3 at 10:00 a.m. for a virtual meeting on Zoom. Spanish Interpretation will be available. Habrá interpretación en español.
SAVE THE DATE: SSMP Science Committee Meeting Tentatively set for November 16
The SSMP Science Committee is tentatively planned to meet on November 16 for a virtual meeting on Zoom. More details for this meeting are forthcoming.
SSMP Meetings materials and other documents will be uploaded to the SSMP website. For questions or comments, please contact: Cnra-saltonsea@resources.ca.gov.
Join us Monday, 10/17 for the “Drought to Flood Symposium” – A panel discussion on how to build climate change resiliency in flood & water resources management & how to prepare for weather extremes. In-person & live stream option. Info on registration https://water.ca.gov/News/Events/2022/Oct-2022/Drought-to-Flood-Symposium
The Salton Sea e-Newsletter Update is issued the second week of each month to deliver up-to-date information on the Salton Sea Management Program. For questions or comments, please contact: Cnra-saltonsea@resources.ca.gov.
To sign up to receive Salton Sea Community Updates, please click here.
California Natural Resources Agency
715 P Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
Bringing you timely and concise updates on the Salton Sea Management Program
A series of rain events, including the remnants of Hurricane Kay, sent water into three vegetation enhancement project sites along the shoreline of the Salton Sea. Design features aimed at spreading stormwater over the project sites worked effectively, and damage was minimal.
Stormwater spreading features embedded in the projects help naturally irrigate the vegetation and are designed to contribute to the success of the projects.The SSMP is implementing the vegetation enhancement projects in partnership with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation near communities around the Salton Sea. The projects cover approximately 1,700 acres and are located near the communities of Salton City and Bombay Beach. The projects aim to establish and enhance native vegetation on the exposed lakebed to reduce wind-blown dust and improve habitat value for desert wildlife. Planting and seeding are scheduled to restart this fall as the weather cools and will continue until vegetation communities are established across all three sites.
SSMP Team
Assistant Secretary for Salton Sea Policy Arturo Delgado Retires from State Service
Arturo Delgado, Assistant Secretary for Salton Sea Policy at the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA), has retired from state service as of August 31. Since his appointment by Governor Gavin Newsom nearly three years ago, Delgado led the SSMP team to achieve significant progress at the Salton Sea including: breaking ground on the largest restoration project in the Sea’s history; starting important vegetation management work on exposed lakebed; and increasing organizational capacity to meet the growing demands for restoration projects at the Salton Sea.
Delgado served as a key advisor to the Secretary of Natural Resources on Salton Sea policy and led the team charged with ecosystem restoration and addressing air quality and ecological threats at the Salton Sea. Before his role as the Assistant Secretary for Salton Sea policy at CNRA, he served as Salton Sea program manager at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). From 2010 to 2018, he held several leadership positions at the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), including a district ranger at the San Bernardino National Forest. Before working at the USFS, Delgado held several positions at CDFW.
“Arturo has been integral to advancing the state’s commitments at the Salton Sea,” California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot said. “His knowledge, leadership, and deep commitment to making progress helped us break through delays and begin the important work of delivering projects on the ground. We owe Arturo a debt of gratitude for his hard work and vision, and wish him the best as he transitions into retirement.”
The SSMP team remains focused on continued progress while Delgado’s successor is selected. The SSMP team can be reached on the CNRA Salton Sea contact email:
The California Natural Resources Agency, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife are implementing the Salton Sea Management Program to address air quality and ecological threats at the Salton Sea. These agencies are collectively known as the SSMP team.
In this edition, we are putting Charley Land in the spotlight to share more about his important work as part of the SSMP Team.
Land is a supervising Senior Environmental Scientist with the SSMP at CDFW, where he has worked out of the Bermuda Dunes office in Riverside County for the past 10 years. Prior to being promoted to his current role, Land served as regulatory and scientific lead with the Salton Sea Management Program.
Hi Charley, can you tell us a bit more about your role at the SSMP?
I supervise the CDFW Salton Sea Program Team. Our team collaborates with DWR and CNRA in the implementation of the Salton Sea Management Program through permitting, contributing to project design, performing biological surveys, and providing expertise within our field. My role includes consultation, coordination, scheduling, and logistics, and I am both honored and pleased to be part of such an excellent multidisciplinary SSMP team.
What part of your job do you enjoy the most?
Project design. To be able to put over three decades of field experience into the design of new habitat restoration projects is a very rewarding experience.
What inspired you to learn more about geology and wildlife?
I was always scientifically inclined and motivated to work with natural resources. I fell in love with the desert about a quarter century ago. The desert provides clarity about the importance of water. Here in the desert, where water is a very limited resource, you can truly see how life revolves around the availability of water.
What is your vision for the future of the Salton Sea?
I would be lying if I said there will not be challenges ahead. However, I do believe we can optimize our use of the available resources by working collaboratively with our partner entities, the communities of the Salton Sea, and academia. Togetherwe can make a difference, but the Salton Sea of the future may not look the same as the Salton Sea of the past. We need to be innovative and expand our understanding of this changing ecosystem to let the nature itself show us a path forward.
Thank you Charley!
Join the SSMP Team!
The Department of Water Resources is seeking applicants for an Associate Governmental Program Analyst position with the Salton Sea Management Program.
DWR’s Salton Sea Program is looking for a forward thinking, energetic, collaborative, dedicated, self-initiating and friendly person to work with the Salton Sea Management Program to track, report, process and control expenditures, encumbrances and budgets within the Department’s Software and Tracking Systems. The position will be working closely with program managers on budget planning and tracking and grant contract development and invoicing for the Salton Sea Program. The position requires collaboration with other administrative staff in the Division or Department.
If you are a self-motivated, service-minded, and a hardworking professional interested in joining a dynamic team that is dedicated to helping the Salton Sea Program apply today!
SSMP Jobs & Exams are updated regularly on CalCareers.
Upcoming SSMP Engagement Opportunities and Events
Independent Review Panel to Release Feasibility Analysis and Summary Report Later this Month
The Independent Review Panel assessing the feasibility of water importation into the Salton Sea will present its feasibility analysis and summary report at a meeting on September 30.
The feasibility report provides a detailed analysis of the technical and economic feasibility of importation concepts. The summary report describes the overall review process, including the Panel’s major findings, and recommendations. The meeting will be facilitated by the Panel’s Support team and attended by Panel members. Spanish interpretation will be available. Habrá interpretación al español.
Salton Sea Independent Review Panel Public Meeting
SSMP Long-Range Plan Committee to Meet on October 12
The Long-Range Plan Committee will meet on Wednesday, October 12, at 9:30 a.m. for a virtual meeting on Zoom to discuss updates and receive feedback on the development of the Long-Range Plan. Spanish interpretation will be available. Habrá interpretación al español.
#LatinoHeritageMonth is from Sept. 15 – Oct. 15. Join us for a Speaker Series event on October 3 to connect with and learn from Latinos in Environmental Stewardship.
The Salton Sea e-Newsletter Update is issued the second week of each month to deliver up-to-date information on the Salton Sea Management Program. For questions or comments, please contact: Cnra-saltonsea@resources.ca.gov.
To sign up to receive Salton Sea Community Updates, please click here.
California Natural Resources Agency
715 P Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
Click here to receive Salton Sea Community Updates.
Arthur is expected to officially join the team in late April.
AnaLisa Saldaña is a new Staff Services Analyst in the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, as part of the SSMP team. She is filling a position that became vacant last year and is based out of the Bermuda Dunes office. She is supporting with administrative tasks needed to make the program run smoothly.
The Salton Sea Management Program has released the 
Developed in collaboration with the SSMP Science Committee, the Monitoring Implementation Plan (MIP) is a regional-scale monitoring plan for the Salton Sea ecosystem. It describes monitoring activities to measure conditions of water, air quality, land cover, biological resources, and socioeconomics. The MIP provides a framework for future project-scale monitoring plans and identifies and prioritizes filling of existing data gaps. It also promotes practices to best store, manage, and make monitoring data publicly available in a timely manner.
The California Natural Resources Agency, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife are implementing the Salton Sea Management Program to address air quality and ecological threats at the Salton Sea. These agencies are collectively known as the SSMP team.
The California Natural Resources Agency, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife are implementing the Salton Sea Management Program to address air quality and ecological threats at the Salton Sea. These agencies are collectively known as the SSMP team.
In this edition, we are putting Charley Land in the spotlight to share more about his important work as part of the SSMP Team.