Salton Sea Management Program
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Overview
The Salton Sea, California's largest lake by surface area, is located in the desert of Southern California and stretches from Imperial County to Riverside County. The Salton Sea watershed is part of the Colorado River basin, and encompasses roughly 8,000 square miles. The Sea is large in area but shallow, with an average depth of less than 30 feet and a surface lying 240 feet below sea level. Runoff and agricultural drainage flow into the Sea from farm-rich Imperial County, in addition to Riverside, San Bernadino, and San Diego Counties, as well as the northern portion of Mexico's Mexicali Valley.
Over the past millennia, the meandering Colorado River periodically filled the Salton Basin, creating ancestral freshwater lakes that eventually evaporated. Today’s Sea was formed in 1905 when massive flooding caused the Colorado River to break through an irrigation canal and flowed uncontrolled into the Salton Basin for 18 months. After the breach in the irrigation canal was fixed, the Salton Sea has been primarily sustained by agricultural drain water, approximately 80 percent of which flows from the farming-heavy Imperial Valley to the south. However, inflow into the Sea has declined over the past several decades, causing the water level to recede. This has led to increased salinity and concentrated nutrients from farm runoff, both of which create inhospitable conditions for animal life. The Sea is currently more than twice as salty as the ocean, and nutrient pollution has caused an overgrowth of algae which are depleting oxygen levels. Many species depend on the Salton Sea ecosystem: it is home to many species of fish and is a critical stop on the Pacific Flyway for migrating birds, including several threatened and endangered species.
Further, receding water levels create public health risks for nearby residents due to air pollution from dust particles released from the previously submerged lakebed. With no natural outlet, decades of agricultural and wastewater accumulation are embedded in the Sea’s now-exposed soils. As the Sea continues to shrink, more of this particulate matter that contains dangerous pollutants will be released into the air.
The Governor’s Salton Sea Task Force was established in 2015 with the goal of addressing and remediating these issues, and launched the Salton Sea Management Program (SSMP) in 2018. The SSMP is comprised of four state agencies: the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA), the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), the Department of Water Resources (DWR) and the State Water Board.
Resources:
- Salton Sea Management Program website
- Subscribe to the California Natural Resources Agency’s Salton Sea email updates
- Colorado River Regional Water Quality Control Board’s Salton Sea Website
- Subscribe to the Colorado River Water Boards' Salton Sea email updates
- State Water Board contact: Stephanie Holstege (stephanie.holstege@waterboards.ca.gov)
Quick Links
Announcements
- May 22, 2024 The State Water Board held its annual workshop on the status of Phase 1 of the Salton Sea Management Program on May 22, 2024, to receive oral and written comments on the status of the Salton Sea Management Program. The workshop was held in-person at the CalEPA building in Sacramento and virtually, with a remote viewing location at the Colorado River Basin Regional Water Quality Control Board office in Palm Desert, and two remote viewing locations hosted by local community groups: Imperial Valley Equity and Justice Coalition, and the Becoming Project. All formats offered live Spanish interpretation, and workshop materials were provided in English and Spanish.
- Workshop Recording (English | Spanish)
- Workshop Slides (English | Spanish)
- Notice of Public Workshop (English | Spanish)
- Workshop Flyer (English | Spanish)
- Workshop Agenda (English | Spanish)
- Board meeting agenda (English | Spanish)
- State Water Board's staff report (English | Spanish)
- Virtual speaker card form (Zoom registration information)
- California Natural Resources Agency’s Annual Report on the Salton Sea Management Program (English | Spanish)
- March 2024: The SSMP team has developed an online Project Tracker to provide a comprehensive public platform with updated information on Salton Sea Management Program (SSMP) projects. The Project Tracker shows progress under the SSMP Phase 1: 10-Year Plan in a single location. Projects are viewable and sortable by project phases, activity type, and category. The Explore Projects and Project Info sections display information on the activities, outcomes, and different SSMP metrics important to the Salton Sea Region. The Results Section has a Progress Dashboard that provides a snapshot of the accomplishments and advancements being made to improve conditions at the Salton Sea and displays information on the current progress towards meeting the requirements in State Water Resources Control Board Order 2017-0134
- March 2024: The SSMP prepared a Final Long-Range Plan (LRP) for managing the Sea beyond the conclusion of the Phase 1: 10-Year Plan in 2028. This Final LRP, including the comments submitted on the Draft LRP, is a focus of a Salton Sea restoration feasibility study that is being led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. A public draft of the LRP was released by the SSMP Team in December 2022 to comply with State Water Board Order WRO 2017-0134. Visit the SSMP webpage to view the LRP and all of the associated appendixes.
- March 2024: The SSMP Team released the first Annual Work Plan (Work Plan) for the Monitoring Implementation Plan (MIP). The MIP describes methods to monitor social and environmental conditions at the Sea and provides a framework for designing future monitoring plans and addressing data gaps. The Work Plan serves as a planning reference and index for monitoring and research projects occurring during the year at the Sea to help foster collaboration and information sharing.
- March 2024: In January 2024, CNRA released a draft Community Needs Report for a 60-day public comment period, which ended on March 26, 2024. The Community Needs Report identifies community needs related to the SSMP's Salton Sea restoration efforts and lists current activities and potential opportunities for the SSMP to address community needs while implementing restoration projects. The report will be updated based on the public comments received. Accompanying the release of the SSMP report is a public draft of the Salton Sea Community Needs and Recommended Actions Report by Better World Group Advisors. This report identifies community needs and recommends actions that can be taken by organizations and agencies around the Sea.
- Draft SSMP and Community Needs (English)
- Draft SSMP and Community Needs (Spanish)
- Salton Sea Community Needs and Recommended Actions (English)
Salton Sea Management Program Phase 1 Workshops
The State Water Board has held public workshops to receive oral and written comments on the status of the Salton Sea Management Program including a report from the California Natural Resources Agency identifying; (i) completed projects and milestones achieved in the prior year; (ii) amount of acreage of completed projects that provide dust suppression and habitat, broken down by habitat type; (iii) upcoming projects to be completed and milestones to be achieved prior to the next annual progress report; (iv) the status of financial resources and permits that have not been secured for future projects; (v) any anticipated departures from the dates and acreages identified in condition 24 of water right order WR 2017-0134; and progress toward development of the long-range plan described in condition 26 of water right order WR 2017-0134.
The State Water Board held its annual workshop on the status of Phase 1 of the Salton Sea Management Program on May 22, 2024, to receive oral and written comments on the status of the Salton Sea Management Program. The workshop was held in-person at the CalEPA building in Sacramento and virtually, with a remote viewing location at the Colorado River Basin Regional Water Quality Control Board office in Palm Desert, and two remote viewing locations hosted by local community groups: Imperial Valley Equity and Justice Coalition, and Becoming Project. All formats offered live Spanish interpretation, and workshop materials were provided in English and Spanish.
- Workshop Recording (English | Spanish)
- Workshop Slides (English | Spanish)
- Notice of Public Workshop (English | Spanish)
- Workshop Flyer (English | Spanish)
- Workshop Agenda (English | Spanish)
- Board meeting agenda (English | Spanish)
- State Water Board's staff report (English | Spanish)
- California Natural Resources Agency’s Annual Report on the Salton Sea Management Program (English | Spanish)
The State Water Board held 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 took place over two days with live interpretation in Spanish, and 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).
- Day 1 (May 16th) workshop recording (English | Spanish)
- Day 2 (May 17th) workshop recording (English | Spanish)
- Day 1 workshop slides (English)
- Day 2 workshop slides (English)
- Day 1 and 2 workshop slides (Spanish)
- Workshop Agenda (English | Spanish)
- Board Meeting Agenda for May 16-17, 2023 (English | Spanish)
- Notice of Public Workshop (English | Spanish)
- 2023 Workshop Flier (English | Spanish)
- 2023 Workshop Announcement (English | Spanish)
- California Natural Resources Agency's 2023 Annual Report on the Salton Sea Management Program (English)
- California Natural Resources Agency's 2023 Annual Report on the Salton Sea Management Program (Spanish)
- Comment letters received:
- Alianza Coachella Valley, Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability, Sierra Club California, Audubon California, Pacific Institute, Loma Linda University
- The EcoMedia Compass (Board of Directors)
- The EcoMedia Compass (Tom Sephton)
- General Public
- Jasmyn Phillips
- Jenny Ross
The State Water Board held a hybrid public workshop on April 20, 2022 on the Status of Phase 1 of the Salton Sea Management Program. The Workshop was held in-person at the Cal EPA building in Sacramento and virtually, to receive oral and written comments on the status of the Salton Sea Management Program including a report from the California Natural Resources Agency pursuant to Water Board Order WR 2017-0134.
- California Natural Resources Agency’s 2022 Annual Report on the Salton Sea Management Program (Spanish)
- Workshop Video (Spanish)
- Workshop Agenda
- Comment letters received:
- Alianza Coachella Valley, Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability, Sierra Club California, Audubon California, Pacific Institute
- San Diego County Water Authority
- Stout Research Center
- EcoMedia Compass (Kerry Morrison)
- EcoMedia Compass (Tom Sephton)
- General Public
- Jasmyn Phillips
- Rod Chamberlain
- Form letter received from ~1,372 individuals
- Board Meeting Agenda (April 19-20, 2022)
- Notice of Public Workshop
The State Water Board held a workshop on the Phase 1 of the SSMP on April 7, 2022, rescheduled from March 17th, 2021. The workshop was rescheduled to provide the public and stakeholders additional time to review and provide comments on the California Natural Resources Agency’s 2021 Salton Sea Management Program Annual Report. The Salton Sea workshop was held as agenda item number 8.
- Workshop Video l (Spanish)
- Workshop Agenda
- Comment letters received:
- Active Climate Rescue Initiative
- American Federation of Government Employees National Border Patrol Council
- Bureau of Land Management - El Centro Field Office,
- Citizens United for Resources and the Environment
- City of Cathedral City
- City of Desert Hot Springs
- City of Indian Wells
- City of Palm Desert
- City of Palm Springs
- City of Rancho Mirage
- Comite Civico del Valle
- EcoMedia Compass (Kerry Morrison)
- EcoMedia Compass (Tom Sephton)
- General Public:
- Christopher Cockroft
- Chuck Parker
- Daphne Ramirez
- Felicitas Nunez
- Jasmyn Phillips
- Linda Salas
- Susan (last name illegible)
- Vianey Holguin
- Geothermal Worldwide, Inc.
- Imperial County Air Pollution Control District
- Imperial County Farm Bureau
- Pacific Institute, Kounkuey Design Initiative, Environmental Defense Fund, Audubon, Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability, Sierra Club California, Defenders of Wildlife, Alianza Coachella Valley, Loma Linda University School of Public Health
- People Over Pollution
- Riverside County & Imperial County Residents
- Salton Sea Authority
- Salton Sea Coalition
- San Diego County Water Authority
- The New Water Group
- University of California, Irvine - Steele/Burnand Anza-Borrego Desert Research Center
- West Shores Resident
- Board Meeting Agenda (April 6-7th)
- REVISED Workshop Notice | Aviso de Taller Revisado
- Board Meeting Agenda (March 16-17th)
- California Natural Resources Agency’s 2021 Annual Report on the Salton Sea Management Program (Spanish Report)
- Board Meeting Agenda (March 16-17th)
- Notice of Public Workshop | (Spanish)
- The State Water Board held a virtual public workshop on August 19, 2020, which was originally planned to be held on March 18, 2020 but was cancelled due to the COVID-19 emergency.Workshop Video
- REVISED Workshop Agenda
- California Natural Resources Agency update letter
- Comment letters received:
- Agess, Inc.
- Assembly California Legislature, 56th Assembly District
- Alianza Coachella Valley, Audubon California, Coachella Valley Waterkeeper, Defenders of Wildlife, Environmental Defense Fund, Kounkuey Design Initiative, Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability, Pacific Institute, and Sierra Club California (Joint Letter)
- Campesinos Unidos, Inc., CNC, Coalicion de Buena Salud y Bienestar, Comite’ Civico deal Valle, Inc., Imperial Valley Community Health Coalition, Imperial Valley Equity and Justice Coalition, La Union Hace la Fuerza, Los Amigos De La Comunidad, Our Roots Multicultural Center, and Promotores Comunitarios Del Desierto (Joint Letter)
- Courageous Resistance of the Desert
- General Public:
- Christopher Cockroft
- Christopher Cockroft (second letter)
- Elaine Loreto
- Homer Lesihau
- Jasmyn Phillips
- Maria Pozar
- Nicole Saari
- Pam Eckert
- Samantha Reece
- Sandy Contreras
- Tom Sephton
- InterContinental IP
- Salton Sea Coalition
- Salton Sea Coalition (second letter)
- Salton Sea Landowners Association
- The EcoMedia Compass
- Workshop Agenda
- Board Meeting Agenda
- California Natural Resources Agency 2020 Annual Report on the Salton Sea Management Program (Spanish Report)
- Notice of Public Workshop (Spanish Notice)
The March 18, 2020 workshop on the status of Phase 1 of the Salton Sea Management Program was cancelled due to the COVID-19 emergency and was rescheduled and held on August 19, 2020.
- Comment Letters Received:
- Assembly member Eduardo Garcia
- Concerned Citizens of the Coachella Valley
- Chuck Parker
- Felicitas Nunez
- Jasmyn Phillips
- Nikola Lakic
- Robert Terry
- Tom Sephton
- Leadership Council for Justice and Accountability and the Eastern Coachella Valley residents
- Joint letter by Pacific Institute, Kounkuey Design Initiative, Environmental Defense Fund, Audubon California, Leadership Council for Justice and Accountability, Sierra Club California, Defenders of Wildlife, Alianza Coachella Valley, and Loma Linda University School of Public Health
- Board Meeting Agenda
- California Natural Resources Agency 2020 Annual Report on the Salton Sea Management Program
- REVISED Notice of Public Workshop
- Notice of Public Workshop
At its regularly scheduled meeting on June 18, 2019, the State Water Board heard an informational item consisting of a status update on Phase 1 of the Salton Sea Management Program from the California Natural Resources Agency pursuant to Water Board Order WR 2017-0134.
- Agenda for June 18, 2019 Board Meeting
At its regularly scheduled meeting on March 19, 2019, the State Water Board held a public workshop to receive oral and written comments on the status of Salton Sea Restoration The workshop was held at the North Shore Beach and Yacht Club in North Shore, CA.
- Comment Letters Submitted After Workshop
- Imperial County Air Pollution Control District
- Alianza Coachella Valley, Audubon California, Defenders of Wildlife, Environmental Defense Fund, KDI, the Pacific Institute, and the Sierra Club
- Board Meeting/Workshop Video
- Public Comments
- California Natural Resources Agency 2019 Annual Report on the Salton Sea Management Program
- Board Meeting Agenda
- REVISED Notice of Public Workshop
- Notice of Public Workshop
At its regularly scheduled meeting on October 16, 2018, the State Water Board heard an informational item consisting of a status update on Phase 1 of the Salton Sea Management Program from Bruce Wilcox, Assistant Secretary for Salton Sea Policy, California Natural Resources Agency pursuant to Water Board Order WR 2017-0134.
- California Natural Resources Agency's Presentation
- Department of Water Resources Proposed Staff Organizational Chart
- Public Comments
- Agenda for October 16, 2018 Board Meeting
- Letter to Bruce Wilcox, Assistant Secretary for Salton Sea Policy, California Natural Resources Agency, regarding information to present before the State Water Board for future updates on the status of the Salton Sea Management Program (Dated May 22, 2018)
At its regularly scheduled meeting on March 20, 2018, the State Water Board heard an informational item consisting of a status update on Phase 1 of the Salton Sea Management Program from Bruce Wilcox, Assistant Secretary for Salton Sea Policy, California Natural Resources Agency pursuant to Water Board Order WR 2017-0134.
- Follow-up letter submitted by the Pacific Institute, Audubon California, Defenders of Wildlife, and Sierra Club California (Dated April 2, 2018)
- Meeting Video
- California Natural Resources Agency's Presentation
- Public Comments
- Agenda for March 20, 2018 Board Meeting
Salton Sea Management Program Documents
In December 2022, the California Natural Resources Agency released a public draft for the Salton Sea Management Program’s Long-Range Plan, which details plans for managing the Sea beyond the conclusion of Phase I in 2028. The SSMP prepared a Final Long-Range Plan (LRP) for managing the Sea beyond the conclusion of the Phase 1: 10-Year Plan in 2028. This Final LRP, including the comments submitted on the Draft LRP, is a focus of a Salton Sea restoration feasibility study that is being led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Visit the SSMP webpage to view the LRP and all of the associated appendixes.
- Long-Range Plan (English)
- Long-Range Plan (Spanish)
- Final Long-Range Plan (English)
- Final Long-Range Plan (Spanish)
For more information or other relevant documents, visit the California Natural Resources Agency's Salton Sea webpage.
In December 2022, the California Natural Resources Agency released the final draft of the Monitoring Implementation Plan (MIP), which describes methods to monitor social and environmental conditions at the Sea and provides a framework for designing future monitoring plans and addressing data gaps. The SSMP Team released the first Annual Work Plan (Work Plan) for the Monitoring Implementation Plan (MIP). The Work Plan serves as a planning reference and index for monitoring and research projects occurring during the year at the Sea to help foster collaboration and information sharing.
- Monitoring Implementation Plan (English)
- Monitoring Implementation Plan (Spanish)
- MIP Workplan (English)
- MIP Workplan (Spanish)
For more information or other relevant documents, visit California Natural Resources Agency's Salton Sea webpage.
In January 2024, the Salton Sea Management Program (SSMP) team released a draft Community Needs Report for a 60-day public comment period, which ended on March 26, 2024. The Community Needs Report identifies community needs related to the SSMP's Salton Sea restoration efforts and lists current activities and potential opportunities for the SSMP to address community needs while implementing restoration projects. The report will be updated based on the public comments received. Accompanying the release of the SSMP report is a public draft of the Salton Sea Community Needs and Recommended Actions Report by Better World Group Advisors. This report identifies community needs and recommends actions that can be taken by organizations and agencies around the Sea.
For more information or other relevant documents, visit California Natural Resources Agency's Salton Sea webpage.
Development of Order WR 2017-0134
On November 7, 2017, the State Water Board adopted the proposed Order Revising State Water Board Order WRO 2002-0013 after holding a public hearing at its regularly scheduled meeting.
- Press Release: State Water Board Adopts Order on Long-Term Management of Salton Sea
- Order WR 2017-0134 - (Spanish Version) - In the Matter of the Petition of Imperial Irrigation District regarding State Water Board Revised Order WRO 2002-0013 - Order Accepting Stipulation and Revising State Water Board Revised Order WRO 2002-0013
- Workshop Video
- Public Comments
- Revised Notice of Public Hearing, Opportunity for Public Comment and Adoption Meeting
- Notice of Public Hearing, Opportunity for Public Comment and Adoption Meeting
- Proposed Draft Order with Exhibit A
- Version showing changes from August 11, 2017 draft
- March 15, 2017 Motion of Imperial Irrigation District for Evidentiary Hearing
The State Water Board held a public workshop to receive information and solicit public input regarding the Salton Sea Management Program and Draft Stipulated Order for Future Action by the Board at its regularly scheduled meeting.
- Workshop Video
- Public Comments
- Agenda for the September 6-7, 2017 Meeting and Workshop
- Notice of Public Workshop
- August 11, 2017 Draft Stipulated Order
- March 15, 2017 Motion of Imperial Irrigation District for Evidentiary Hearing
The State Water Board held a public workshop during a regularly scheduled State Water Board meeting on November 15, 2016 to receive information and solicit public input regarding the status of the Salton Sea Management Program.
- Workshop Video
- Public Comments
- Agenda for the November 15, 2016 Meeting and Workshop
- Notice of Public Workshop
At its regularly scheduled meeting on August 16, 2016, the State Water Board heard an informational item consisting of an update on the Salton Sea Management Program from Bruce Wilcox, Assistant Secretary for Salton Sea Policy, California Natural Resources Agency.
- Meeting Video
- Public Comments
- Agenda for the August 16, 2016 Board Meeting
The State Water Board held a public workshop at their regularly scheduled Board Meeting on April 19, 2016 to receive information and solicit public input regarding the status of the Salton Sea Management Program.
- Workshop Video
- Public Comments
- Agenda for the April 19-20, 2016 Meeting and Workshop
- Notice of Public Workshop
The State Water Board held a public workshop at their regularly scheduled Board Meeting on January 5, 2016 to receive an update from four agencies and received input from the public regarding the status of agency actions identified by the Salton Sea Task Force.
- Workshop Video
- Public Comments
- Agenda for the January 5-6, 2016 Meeting and Workshop
- Notice of Public Workshop
March 18, 2015 Workshop (dropdown)
The State Water Board held a public workshop on March 18, 2015 to receive information and solicit public input regarding the provisions of the State Water Board's decision relating to the Salton Sea and revised order WRO 2002-0013, and whether the State Water Board should take further actions to address the Salton Sea's future.
On November 18, 2014, Imperial Irrigation District submitted a petition for modification of Revised Order WRO 2002-0013.
- Petition of Imperial Irrigation District for Modification of Revised Order WRO 2002-0013
- Petition
- Cover Letter
- Appendix Volume 1
- Appendix Volume 2
The State Water Board has received the following letters concerning the Petition of the Imperial Irrigation District:
- Audubon California, Defenders of Wildlife, Pacific Institute, and Sierra Club California
- Salton Sea Authority
- The Coalition of Labor, Agriculture and Business
- Imperial Valley Vegetable Growers Association
- Imperial County Building and Construction Trades Council
- Regional Governmental Affairs Committee of the Brawley and El Centro Chambers of Commerce
- Imperial County Board of Supervisors
- Eduardo Garcia, State Assemblymember, 56th District
- Raul Ruiz, M.D., Member of Congress, 36th District, California
- Juan Vargas, Member of Congress, 51st District, California
- Ben Hueso, State Senator, 40th District
- Imperial Irrigation District
On October 28, 2002, the State Water Board issued Water Rights Order (WRO) 2002 - 0013 which approved the long-term transfer of water from the Imperial Irrigation District (IID) to the San Diego County Water Authority, the Coachella Valley Water District, and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. On December 20, 2002, the State Water Board issued Order WRO 2002-0016, which revised Order WRO 2002-0013.
On November 18, 2014, IID filed a Petition for Change seeking modification of Revised Order WRO 2002-0013. In May 2015, Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. established the Salton Sea Task Force to identify realistic short- and medium-term goals to respond to potential air quality and ecological impacts resulting from reduced flows of fresh water to the Salton Sea. As a part of the Salton Sea Task Force, the State Water Board regularly monitored and assessed progress on the implementation of the Salton Sea Task Force’s SSMP. On November 7, 2017, the State Water Board adopted Order WRO 2017-0134 amending revised Order WRO 2002-0013 to incorporate additional conditions that set forth specific restoration milestones to address public health and environmental concerns within Phase 1 of the SSMP.
WRO 2017-0134 requires that the State Water Board hold a public meeting during each year of Phase 1 of the SSMP to receive oral and written comment on the status of Salton Sea restoration. The order also requires a report from the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA), due annually by March 31, to identify:
- completed projects and milestones achieved in the prior year;
- amount of acreage of completed projects that provide dust suppression and habitat restoration, broken down by habitat type;
- upcoming projects to be completed and milestones to be achieved prior to the next annual progress report;
- the status of financial resources and permits that have not been secured for future projects;
- Any anticipated departures from the dates and acreages identified in condition 24 of the order (see table 1);
- progress toward development of the long‐range plan described in condition 26 of the order, and;
- in the event an annual milestone shortfall exceeds 20 percent of a year’s annual obligation, a plan that will cure the deficiency within 12 months.
Specific restoration milestones to address public health and environmental concerns within Phase 1 of the SSMP.
Year | Total acreage of habitat and dust-suppression projects that shall be completed each year (annual milestones). | Cumulative acreage to be completed by the end of each year. |
---|---|---|
2018 | 500 | 500 |
2019 | 1,300 | 1,800 |
2020 | 1,700 | 3,500 |
2021 | 3,500 | 7,000 |
2022 | 1,750 | 8,750 |
2023 | 2,750 | 11,500 |
2024 | 2,700 | 14,200 |
2025 | 3,400 | 17,600 |
2026 | 4,000 | 21,600 |
2027 | 4,000 | 25,600 |
2028 | 4,200 | 29,800 |
Orders Approving the Long-Term Transfer of Water from Imperial Irrigation District
On October 28, 2002, the State Water Board issued Order WRO 2002-0013. On December 20, 2002, the State Water Board revised Order WRO 2002-0013 with the issuance of Order WRO 2002-0016. Revised Order WRO 2002-0013 approved the long-term transfer of up to 300,000 acre-feet of water per year authorized for diversion and use from the Colorado River under Imperial Irrigation District's water right permit 7643 as follows: (1) 200,000 acre-feet of water per year from Imperial Irrigation District to San Diego County Water Authority; and (2) 100,000 acre-feet of water per year from Imperial Irrigation District to Coachella Valley Water District and Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. The approved transfer was for a term of 45 years with an optional 30-year renewal period, for a total of 75 years.
- Order WRO 2002-0016
Order Denying Reconsideration of and Modifying Water Rights Order 2002-0013 - Order WRO 2002-0013 (revised)
In the Matter Imperial Irrigation District's (IID) and San Diego County Water Authority's (SDWCA) Amended Joint Petition for Approval of a Long-term Transfer of Conserved Water From IID and SDCWA, and to Change the Point of Diversion, Place of Use, and Purpose of Use under Permit 7643 issued on Application 7482 of Imperial Irrigation District. - Order WRO 2002-0013 (superceded)
For background information concerning the proceedings related to these orders, please visit the Imperial Irrigation District - Long Term Transfer web page, and the webpages below. - Salton Sea Management Program
- Imperial Irrigation District - QSA Water Transfer
- Salton Sea Authority
- Salton Sea Ecosystem Restoration Program
- U.S. Bureau of Reclamation - Salton Sea
- Colorado River Basin Regional Water Board - Salton Sea
In addition to the State Water Board, many other state, federal, and local organizations are interested and involved in planning and implementation of actions and projects occurring at the Salton Sea. The State Water Board maintains a list of these organizations with information about their role, responsibility, or focus within the Salton Sea:
- Organizations involved in the Salton Sea (English)
- Organizations involved in the Salton Sea (Spanish)
Contact List by Organization:
Organizations | Contact Name | Contact information |
---|---|---|
Imperial Irrigation District | info@iid.com | |
Coachella Valley Water District | ||
San Diego County Water Authority | Darren Simon | dsimon@sdcwa.org |
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California | ||
Salton Sea Authority | saltonsea.com | |
Imperial County | ||
Riverside County | Linsey Dale | Linseydale@co.imperial.ca.us |
Imperial County Air Pollution Control District | ||
South Coast Air Quality Management District | ||
California Natural Resources Agency | cnra-saltonsea@resources.ca.gov | |
California Department of Water Resources | cnra-saltonsea@resources.ca.gov | |
California Department of Fish and Wildlife | cnra-saltonsea@resources.ca.gov | |
California State Parks, Salton Sea State Recreation Area | ||
California Air Resources Board | ||
State Water Resources Control Board | Stephanie Holstege | Stephanie.holstege@waterboards.ca.gov |
Colorado River Regional Water Quality Control Board | ||
Colorado River Board | ||
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation | Genevieve Johnson | gjohnson@usbr.gov |
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers | ||
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | ||
U.S. Bureau of Land Management | ||
Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians | ||
Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians | admin@29palmsbomi-nsn.gov | |
Cabazon Band of Mission Indians | ||
Alianza Coachella Valley | ||
Audubon California | Frank Ruiz | Frank.Ruiz@audubon.org |
Comite Civivo del Valle | contact@ccvhealth.org | |
Defenders of Wildlife | Pamela Flick | pflick@defenders.org |
Environmental Defense Fund | ||
Kounkuey Design Initiative | mail@kounkuey.org | |
Leadership Council for Justice and Accountability | Rebecca Zaragoza | rzaragoza@leadershipcounsel.org |
Pacific Institute | Michael Cohen | mcohen@pacinst.org |
Sierra Club | Brandon.dawson@sierraclub.org, Jenny.binstock@sierraclub.org, or palmcanyon@mac.com | |
United for Justice, Inc. | Lillian Garcia | lgarcia@ufjinc.com |
* Blank spaces indicate that no contact information is currently available. The list will be updated as information changes or becomes available.
Other Relevant Water Board Programs
Additional relevant Water Board webpages are linked below:
Government Agencies
Links to federal, state, local and tribal programs related to Salton Sea conservation and management:
- US Bureau of Reclamation
- US Fish & Wildlife Service: Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge
- US Geological Survey: Salton Sea Science Office
- Bureau of Land Management
- Colorado River Basin Regional Water Quality Control Board Salton Sea Program
- California Natural Resources Agency: Salton Sea Management Program
- Department of Water Resources: Salton Sea Ecosystem Restoration Program
- California Department of Parks & Recreation: Salton Sea State Recreation Area
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife Region 6
- Salton Sea Authority
- Imperial Irrigation District: Salton Sea Restoration and Renewable Energy Initiative
- San Diego County Water Authority
- Coachella Valley Water District
- Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians: Wetlands Program
Education and Research
Salton Sea research and education resources:
- Pacific Institute
- Pacific Institute's Salton Sea Library
- San Diego State University: Salton Sea Home Page
- California State University San Bernardino: Water Resources Institute
- University of California Irvine: Salton Sea Initiative
- Salton Sea History Museum
- Water Education Foundation
Nonprofits
Salton Sea resources from nonprofit organizations:
Stay informed
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Contact Us
Questions about Salton Sea activities can be directed to:
Stephanie Holstege
Senior Environmental Scientist, Specialist
Stephanie.holstege@waterboards.ca.gov
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