California and federal officials have initiated the expansion of restoration efforts at the Salton Sea, one of the largest lakes in the state, according to the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI). The project will cover an additional 750 acres, bringing the total to nearly 5,000 acres.
The Salton Sea, located in Imperial County in southern California, has been shrinking due to declining water levels, exposing the lakebed and impacting air quality and wildlife habitats. The expansion of the Salton Sea Species Conservation Habitat project is part of a $250 million grant from the Inflation Reduction Act, with California also allocating over $500 million for restoration efforts.
The project aims to create ponds and wetlands to provide habitats for fish and birds while reducing dust to improve air quality in the region. Governor Gavin Newsom stated, “California is making major strides on restoration efforts at the Salton Sea, and we’re expanding this critical work to create habitat on hundreds more acres and help improve air quality in neighboring communities.”
Senator Alex Padilla mentioned that federal funding could potentially expand the restoration work to around 8,000 acres in the future. The Imperial Irrigation District explained that the formation of the Salton Sea in 1905 resulted from a breach in an irrigation inlet in the Colorado River, leading to the flooding of a saline area.
With drought conditions and agricultural runoff affecting the lake, California secured a $70 million grant in December last year to support restoration efforts. An agreement with the Bureau of Reclamation has facilitated land access for project implementation and provided an additional $175 million in federal funding to accelerate restoration work.
This comprehensive effort aims to address environmental challenges and restore the ecological balance of the Salton Sea, benefiting both wildlife and local communities.
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