State and local officials make progress on Salton Sea restoration project

Efforts made by state officials paid off as Prop 68 passed, bringing in more than $200 million to fund the restoration project of the Salton Sea. Today’s press conference was a message to the public that progress is being made.

“We’ve created a working group. We’re providing funding. We have a management plan in place. We want people in the public to know that not only are we working on this but that we’re already making gains. We’re gonna see the first phase of improvements coming soon,” said Senator Ben Hueso.

While $200 million in water bonds won’t fully fund the project, it was crucial to saving the Salton Sea. Phillip Johnson,Assistant Executive Director of the Salton Sea Authority said, “I think that the $200 million really pushes everything forward to where it’s 3/4 the funding we need for the ten year plan. Which gives us a lot of lee way to start getting things on the ground. While at the same time getting the federal government involved and getting more funding from them.”

One concerned official says the sea has become a health issue and hopes the funds will be used wisely.
Mark Gertz, Vice-Mayor of Westshores said, “The local high school in Salton Sea has four times the state level of asthma. The school children in Mecca are getting nosebleeds and asthma much higher than the state levels. So it is critical that we spend these monies in the right directions.”

There’s another $400 million that could flood into the Salton Sea. If other projects in the state budget don’t meet their deadlines, the Salton sea restoration project would be eligible for another 200 million dollars. A a new water bond in the general election would also add an additional $200 million if it passes.