A photo of an under-construction berm on the southeast shore of the Salton Sea. The berm is being built as part of a Federal project to create shallow-water habitat near Red Hill Marina.
Photo by the Sonny Bono National Wildlife Refuge

The San Diego County Water Authority is joining with other stakeholders in sending a message to the Legislature that while the $80.5 million proposed in the Governor’s budget is a good start, we are urging for a greater share of Proposition 1 funding for the Salton Sea. You will recall that Prop. 1 included $475 million for State environmental settlement projects of which the Sea was identified as one project among others that would qualify for funding. The governor’s proposed $80.5 million in funding for the Sea was a welcome step. However, that amount fell short of the amount stakeholders had hoped for—an amount more in the range

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A 2015 file photo from the shores of the Salton Sea.

The Feb. 18 Salton Sea Authority (SSA) meeting revealed ongoing momentum at the Salton Sea as projects begin construction and new grant funding becomes available. For those unfamiliar with the SSA, it is a joint powers authority made up of representatives from the Imperial Irrigation District Board of Directors, Imperial County Board of Supervisors, Riverside County Board of Supervisors, the Coachella Valley Water District Board of Directors and members of the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Tribe. The SSA meets monthly to address Salton Sea issues.

During the Feb. 18 meeting, Bruce Wilcox, Assistant Secretary for Salton Sea Policy under California Natural Resources, reported that construction is underway on the 420-acre shallow habitat project at Red Hill Marina on the southeast section of the Salton Sea. That project, most of which is expected to be completed in 2016, will cover

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Lake Mead pictured in 2010.

As of this week, Lake Mead’s levels are hovering at 1084 feet above sea level, which is the lowest level for this time of year since the lake filled in the 1930s. While current conditions are good enough to prevent a shortage declaration on the Colorado River this year, such a declaration looms in 2017 and beyond. According to guidelines established in 2007 for river operations, a shortage declaration is triggered when Lake Mead, the reservoir that supplies the Lower Colorado River basin, including California, has a projected elevation below 1075 feet on January 1. Resulting cutbacks, should they occur, would first impact Arizona and Nevada, but nevertheless the need for California water agencies to be vigilant – and united – is critical and points to the importance of the partnerships established by the Quantification Settlement Agreement (QSA).

The QSA is the framework

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