Federal Gov Agrees To Funding For Disappearing Salton Sea; CO River Drought Plan May Move Forward

[hatrack]

here may be hope for finalizing a sweeping Colorado River drought contingency plan after all. Imperial Irrigation District officials announced at a special board meeting late Friday that the federal Bureau of Reclamation has agreed to their condition that the drought package include restoration of the Salton Sea.

They said federal officials will write a strong letter of support backing IID’s requests for $200 million in Farm Bill funding for wetlands projects around the shrinking sea, which is California's largest inland water body. The projects are aimed at keeping down dust along the shorelines and salvaging deteriorating habitat for fish and birds.

Reclamation Commissioner Brenda Burman, the U.S. solicitor and staff are finalizing a letter stating that “they consider the restoration of the Salton Sea is a critical ingredient of the drought contingency plans and cannot be ignored, and they stand prepared to help the IID with the Department of Agriculture to try to get funding in whatever way possible,” said IID attorney Charles Dumars.

He cautioned that it was “a building block, nothing more” but said it was a big one that could be used to persuade Agriculture Department officials to allocate funds for the receding lake. “The refreshing part is it’s a new change in direction. They are being supportive rather than in any way obstructive or neutral, so that change coming from them is going to be very significant,” he added.

EDIT

https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/2019/03/01/feds-offer-states-few-more-weeks-colorado-river-drought-plan/3029883002/

[wasupaloopa]

1. The Salton Sea is one of the ugliest parts of CA. There were remnants of what use to be a club along

the shoreline.

I remember seeing dead birds laying around. Some people in campers use to live there. It's been a while since I've been there.