Imperial County mining company offers a solution to Salton Sea crisis

Imperial Gold says mining can help restore shoreline - 13 On Your Side's Vince Ybarra reports

IMPERIAL, Calif. (KECY, KYMA) - Imperial Gold in Imperial says it has a solution for the Salton Sea crisis. 

The company is mining east of Imperial County. It says it will use the natural sand and gravel from mining to restore the declining shoreline at the Salton Sea. 

According to its website, the sand and gravel will help with Salton Sea’s contaminated dust that has been exposed, creating hazardous pollution in the air for Imperial County residents. 

The Salton Sea’s exposed shoreline has local officials in a panic. Imperial County Supervisor, Ryan Kelly, said in 2015, both Imperial Irrigation District (IID) and the county agreed that a solution to fix the crisis was needed. 

Kelly says IID did not follow through. IID Vice President of Board of Directors JB Hamby says there was no follow through with IID’s commitment to fix the shrinking shoreline.

Currently, IID and Imperial County are in a legal battle and the Salton Sea crisis is on the back burner for both parties. 13 On Your Side's Vince Ybarra reached out to IID for an update and it said they are waiting for a court date. 

Tuesday on 13 On Your Side at 6 p.m., Vince speaks to a geologist about why it's taken long to find these natural resources.