Proposal Would Commit State To Slow Down Shrinking of Salton Sea
Last updated 8/23/2017 at 11:56am
The Desert Sun has provided an update for what may be done to the Salton Sea in the next 10 years, if proposed deal follows through.
Five months ago, California outlined a $383 million plan to control dust and build thousands of acres of wetlands around the shrinking Salton Sea.
But that plan left agencies in the Imperial Valley unsatisfied because only $80.5 million has been approved so far – and they questioned whether the state would follow through and live up to its commitments over the next 10 years.
Now the Imperial Irrigation District and other agencies have negotiated an agreement with state officials that would ease those concerns by holding California accountable for its pledges under the 10-year plan.
The State Water Resources Control Board announced Friday that it will discuss the tentative agreement – which is formally called a “draft stipulated order” – and hear public comments at a Sept. 7 meeting in Sacramento.
If the deal holds, it would represent a consensus on what California agencies will be responsible for doing around the lake years after Gov. Jerry Brown leaves office when his term ends following the 2018 election.
“It’s a very big deal,” said Bruce Wilcox, the assistant secretary for Salton Sea policy at California’s Natural Resources Agency. “It means that we’re all agreeing – at least for 10 years – we’re all agreeing on what’s going to happen at the Salton Sea.”
To read more of Ian James' article, go to http://www.desertsun.com/story/salton-sea/2017/08/19/salton-sea-deal-would-require-california-follow-through-plans/583234001/
