Salton Sea Management Program receives investment of $250M
Senators Padilla and Feinstein, including Rep. Ruiz and Vargas applaud investment in the Salton Sea
WASHINGTON (KYMA, KECY) - The Department of the Interior announced its investment of $250 million over several years in California's Salton Sea Management Program (SSMP).
The investment come from the funds in the Inflation Reduction Act for drought resiliency says the press release.
U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Dianne Feinstein, including Representatives Raul Ruiz and Juan Vargas (all D-Calif.) are advocates for drought resiliency and applauded the announcement today.
The SSMP has a 10-year plan to protect public health and improve ecosystem conditions by building 30,000 acres of habitat and dust suppression projects around the Sea, as mentioned in the press release.
“This announcement marks the most meaningful federal investment at the Salton Sea in history, allowing us to more effectively address the public health and environmental disasters at the Salton Sea,” said Senator Padilla. “As part of California’s commitment to stabilize the Colorado River Basin, I was proud to advocate for the inclusion of $4 billion for drought resiliency in the Inflation Reduction Act. As California continues to lead the way on conservation efforts in the Colorado River Basin, we are grateful to the Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Reclamation for stepping up in partnership with California to carry out additional conservation projects.”
“The receding Salton Sea continues to threaten the health of neighboring communities as toxic elements like arsenic and selenium are exposed and spread by strong desert winds,” said Senator Feinstein. “The $250 million provided by the Biden administration will help reduce the toxic dust that threaten public health and restore vital habit for migratory birds.”
“The Bureau of Reclamation's $250 million investment in California's Salton Sea Management Plan will bring crucial resources to our communities and help protect our region's health, environment, and economy,” said Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36). “I'm glad to see Reclamation heed my calls to use drought mitigation funding under the Inflation Reduction Act to address the environmental and public health crisis at the Sea. This investment is welcome news for our communities and an acknowledgment of the crucial role the federal government should and must take to clean up the Sea.”
“I'm extremely pleased that $250 million from the Inflation Reduction Act will go toward restoration and conservation efforts in the Salton Sea,” said Rep. Juan Vargas. “This funding will make a crucial difference for the environment and communities in my district. I thank the Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, California Department of Natural Resources, Imperial Irrigation District, and Coachella Valley Water District for their continued efforts to address Salton Sea restoration. I'm proud to have voted for the Inflation Reduction Act to make historic funding like this possible, and I'm dedicated to continuing working for my district in Congress.”
