State agencies report milestone progress and new funding for Salton Sea restoration; East Pond filling to begin

State and partner agencies reported new funding and construction milestones for work to stabilize and restore the Salton Sea, and said they will begin filling an expansion of the Species Conservation Habitat project the day after the board’s May 21 workshop in Thermal.

The California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) and partner departments described federal and state funding advances and early habitat work that agency leaders said will help curb exposed playa, suppress dust and provide habitat for birds and other wildlife. “For the first time, ever, we are actually turning on those projects, filling up this project with water, which is really exciting,” California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot told the State Water Board.

The agency said 2024 was the largest year of funding in the program’s history, including a reported federal commitment in the range of $175 million (part of a broader federal package discussed publicly as about $245 million) and $160 million appropriated from Proposition 4, the 2024 climate bond approved by voters. CNRA staff also said the budget proposals they were developing include startup funding to stand up the new Salton Sea Conservancy, created by state legislation described at the workshop; CNRA staff reported a $10 million proposal to support that conservancy.

Why it matters: the Salton Sea has lost shoreline and now exposes tens of thousands of acres of lakebed that can produce dust that affects air quality and public health. The stated 10-year goal for Phase 1 of the Salton Sea Management Program is to complete 29,800 acres of habitat and dust-suppression projects by 2028 under conditions set in a 2017 stipulated order the board enforces.

Key program numbers and near-term actions - CNRA’s annual report, submitted in March and discussed at the workshop, lists project delivery, planning and community engagement from 2024. CNRA indicated a cumulative 3,225 acres reported as complete to date in the 2024 annual report table presented to the board. - The stipulated order adopted in 2017 sets phase-1 acreage milestones; condition 24 called for 2,700 acres in 2024 and a cumulative target of 29,800 acres at the end of 2028. - The program reported about 22,400 acres of exposed playa (about 35 square miles) and a present lake elevation of roughly 241 feet below mean sea level, down about 13 feet since February 2003; those physical statistics guide where projects are prioritized. - Agencies said they will begin filling the East Pond expansion of the Species Conservation Habitat (SCH) project “tomorrow,” in the words of Mario Llanos, deputy assistant secretary for CNRA’s Salton Sea program.

Projects and permitting The largest project in the portfolio, the Species Conservation Habitat project at the southern end of the lake, was described as the immediate priority because topography there is causing more rapid shoreline recession. The SCH project includes shallow, mid- and deep-water ponds and features to support nesting islands and fish-eating birds. California Department of Water Resources staff described construction techniques and materials used to withstand saline conditions and sediment-handling methods necessary to build in the lakebed.

CNRA and federal partners also reported completion of the first programmatic environmental planning and regulatory compliance documents intended to streamline federal approvals over multiple projects (a programmatic NEPA approach and associated agreements with federal agencies). At the workshop the agencies emphasized these programmatic tools are intended to speed review and lower per-project permitting time and cost.

Long-range planning and feasibility study CNRA staff and panelists described ongoing coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on a basin-wide feasibility study. The Corps approved enlarging the study’s scope and budget in 2024; CNRA said the Corps-led feasibility study is now a multi-year effort with a projected completion in 2029 and with an added “early implementation increment” to identify targeted, smaller-scale actions that could be implemented more rapidly than the basin-wide alternatives.

What the board did at the meeting The State Water Resources Control Board held the annual workshop required by the stipulated order; the board did not take new enforcement action at the session. At the meeting’s opening the board adopted minutes of a prior meeting by roll-call vote.

What to watch next - Schedule for filling remaining SCH expansion ponds and timelines for operation and maintenance under the new Salton Sea Conservancy. - Army Corps feasibility study milestones in 2025–2029 and any early-implementation recommendations. - How the state and federal funding streams are appropriated and used to move projects from planning to construction.

Speakers (at this workshop) - Joaquin Esquivel — Chair, State Water Resources Control Board (government) - Doreen D’Adamo — Vice Chair, State Water Resources Control Board (government) - Wade Crowfoot — Secretary, California Natural Resources Agency (government) - Joe Shea — Assistant Secretary for Salton Sea Policy, California Natural Resources Agency (government) - Mario Llanos — Deputy Assistant Secretary, Salton Sea Management Program, California Natural Resources Agency (government) - Miguel Hernandez — Salton Sea Management Program, California Natural Resources Agency (staff) - Yvonne Wilhoft — Assistant Deputy Director for Salton Sea Restoration, California Department of Water Resources (government) - Tanya Marshall — Salton Sea Program Manager, California Department of Fish and Wildlife (government) - Stephanie Holstage — Senior Environmental Scientist, State Water Resources Control Board (staff) - Other staff and presenters from CNRA, DWR and CDFW who presented project detail and the annual report (see transcript for full list)

Authorities - type:other name:"Stipulated Order (State Water Board, 2017) amending long-term transfer order" referenced_by:["salton-sea-restoration-milestones-and-funding"] - type:other name:"Salton Sea Management Program 10-year plan (phase 1: 2018–2028)" referenced_by:["salton-sea-restoration-milestones-and-funding"] - type:statute name:"Clean Water Act, Section 404" referenced_by:["salton-sea-restoration-milestones-and-funding"] - type:other name:"Programmatic NEPA document and associated programmatic agreements (Army Corps and federal partners, 2024)" referenced_by:["salton-sea-restoration-milestones-and-funding"] - type:other name:"Proposition 4 (2024 Climate Bond) funding" referenced_by:["salton-sea-restoration-milestones-and-funding"] - type:grant name:"Federal commitment to Salton Sea restoration (noted $175,000,000 in 2024 funding round)" referenced_by:["salton-sea-restoration-milestones-and-funding"]

Discussion vs. decision - Discussion points: progress report on 2024 projects; updated acreage accounting; community engagement activities; federal and state funding status; feasibility study scope. - Direction/assignment: agencies to continue moving projects into construction, stand up Salton Sea Conservancy and prepare budgets; coordinate feasibility-study inputs with Army Corps; continue community engagement per community needs report. - Formal action at meeting: adoption of May 6 board meeting minutes (roll-call vote, approved).

Clarifying details - Category:"annual milestone" detail:"2024 annual acreage milestone in the stipulated order = 2,700 acres" source_speaker:"Stephanie Holstage" - Category:"cumulative_target" detail:"Phase 1 cumulative target by end of 2028 = 29,800 acres" source_speaker:"Stephanie Holstage" - Category:"reported_cumulative" detail:"CNRA reported cumulative completed acres as 3,225 in the 2024 annual report (as presented to the water board)" source_speaker:"Stephanie Holstage" - Category:"exposed_playa" detail:"Estimated exposed playa ~22,400 acres (about 35 square miles)" source_speaker:"Stephanie Holstage" - Category:"elevation" detail:"Current lake elevation ~241 feet below mean sea level; drop ~13 feet since Feb 2003" source_speaker:"Stephanie Holstage"

Proper_names:[{"name":"Salton Sea Management Program","type":"program"},{"name":"Species Conservation Habitat","type":"project"},{"name":"Salton Sea Conservancy","type":"organization"},{"name":"California Natural Resources Agency","type":"agency"},{"name":"California Department of Water Resources","type":"agency"},{"name":"California Department of Fish and Wildlife","type":"agency"},{"name":"State Water Resources Control Board","type":"agency"},{"name":"Army Corps of Engineers","type":"agency"},{"name":"Imperial Irrigation District","type":"agency"},{"name":"Quantification Settlement Agreement","type":"other"},{"name":"Proposition 4","type":"other"}]

Community_relevance:{"geographies":["Coachella Valley","Imperial Valley","Bombay Beach","North Shore"],"funding_sources":["Federal appropriations","Proposition 4 (state climate bond)","Wildlife Conservation Board grants"],"impact_groups":["nearby residents","migratory birds (Pacific Flyway)","local workforce"]}

Meeting_context:{"engagement_level":{"speakers_count":40,"duration_minutes":540,"items_count":10},"implementation_risk":"medium","history":[{"date":"2017-01-01","note":"Stipulated order adopted; annual workshops required"},{"date":"2024-03-01","note":"CNRA final long range plan released"}]}

Searchable_tags:["Salton Sea","SCH","Species Conservation Habitat","Salton Sea Conservancy","Proposition 4","federal funding","Army Corps feasibility study"],"provenance":{"transcript_segments":[{"block_id":"s481.645-e504.735","local_start":0,"local_end":336,"evidence_excerpt":"I'm actually flying down tonight to help mark a a milestone I'll mention in just a little bit. But I'll just first of all say I really appreciate the partnership that the Water Board and the Natural Natural Resources Agency that I lead have had.","reason_code":"topicintro"},{"block_id":"s668.65497-e729.445","local_start":0,"local_end":717,"evidence_excerpt":"So for the first time, ever, we are actually turning on those projects, filling up this project with water, which is really exciting.","reason_code":"topicfinish"}]},"salience":{"overall":0.92,"overall_justification":"This workshop focused on the Salton Sea Management Program's annual report, major project milestones, and new state and federal funding, which have high policy and public-health significance.","impact_scope":"regional","impact_scope_justification":"Projects and funding affect Imperial and Coachella valleys and federal partners; Army Corps study has wider regional implications.","attention_level":"high","attention_level_justification":"Recent funding commitments and the first major project fill draw immediate public and interagency attention.","novelty":0.78,"novelty_justification":"Filling of an SCH expansion and first finalized programmatic NEPA/permit documents are new program milestones.","timeliness_urgency":0.86,"timeliness_urgency_justification":"Work and funding are active now; stipulated-order milestones run through 2028.","legal_significance":0.56,"legal_significance_justification":"Stipulated order oversight and federal NEPA/CWA permitting influence implementation timelines.","budgetary_significance":0.88,"budgetary_significance_justification":"Reported federal and state commitments total several hundred million dollars.","public_safety_risk":0.65,"public_safety_risk_justification":"Exposed playa and dust have documented public-health implications; work aims to reduce risk.","environmental_impact":0.82,"environmental_impact_justification":"Large habitat projects affect migratory birds and wetland ecology.","affected_population_estimate":50000,"affected_population_estimate_justification":"Residents of adjacent communities in Imperial and Coachella valleys, plus downstream migrants; rough local estimate based on county populations.","affected_population_confidence":0.6,"affected_population_confidence_justification":"Estimate is coarse; workshop did not give an explicit affected-population number.","budget_total_usd":435000000.0,"budget_total_usd_justification":"Combined cited federal commitment (~$175M) plus $160M climate bond and reported other state/federal funds referenced at the workshop.","decision_deadline":"2028-12-31","decision_deadline_justification":"Stipulated order sets Phase 1 completion date at end of 2028.","policy_stage":"implementation","policy_stage_justification":"Projects are moving from planning into construction and operation.","follow_up_priority":1,"follow_up_priority_justification":"High priority for board oversight given milestones, funding, and public health stakes.","fact_check_risk":0.20,"fact_check_risk_justification":"Most facts were stated at the workshop; financial figures and future timelines should be verified against agency documents.","uncertainty":0.46,"uncertainty_justification":"Future inflows and feasibility-study outcomes are uncertain, and funding/program timelines may shift.","source_diversity":0.75,"source_diversity_justification":"Presentation included CNRA, DWR and CDFW staff and federal partners; community groups also commented.","stakeholder_balance":0.62,"stakeholder_balance_justification":"State and federal agencies and community organizations participated; more tribal officials were expected but none spoke at this session.","alert_flags":["deadline_soon","large_budget"]}},{