Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Monitoring Data Water Quality topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Regional water board, state agencies say more sampling, better data hub and wider monitoring needed as Salton Sea salinity, algal blooms rise
Summary
Regional Water Board and state monitoring leads told the State Water Resources Control Board that resumed boat access enabled renewed water sampling and that salinity is now roughly 75–82 parts per thousand at sampled locations.
State and regional monitoring leads told the State Water Resources Control Board on May 21 that resumed boat access has allowed renewed water‑quality sampling at the Salton Sea but that monitoring coverage must increase to track harmful algal blooms (HABs), nutrient loads and public‑health risks. The workshop was informational; no board action was adopted.
Lede: The Colorado River Basin Regional Water Quality Control Board said surface‑water sampling resumed in late 2023 after agencies obtained boat access through the Species Conservation Habitat project. Early results show total dissolved solids in surface water between about 75 and 82 parts per thousand — more than twice ocean salinity — and confirm the sea’s salinity is rising.
Why it matters: High salinity, nutrient loading from agricultural drains and recurring algal blooms are linked to air‑quality problems, episodic hydrogen sulfide emissions and public health concerns in shoreline communities. Monitoring is needed to quantify trends, evaluate project performance and guide regulatory action.
What the agencies reported. Emma McCorkle (Regional Water Board) said the board secured EPA 205(j) funding to support lab analyses and is cooperating with CDFW and DWR for boat access and field sampling. The team has been able to sample southern sites regularly and reached northern sites in November 2024, but she said limited Northern access and lab funding constrain frequency and spatial coverage. She reported total dissolved solids of roughly 75–82 ppt in sampled sites.
Harmful algal blooms and the data gap. Regional staff said HAB monitoring has been done during high recreational use periods, but more sustained sampling is needed to understand bloom dynamics and the potential for aerosolized toxins. Presenters asked the board and partners to prioritize funds for additional sampling beyond the current grant that ends in 2026.
Data hub and community access. The Natural Resources Agency and CDFW previewed a Salton Sea ArcGIS data hub with downloadable datasets, story maps and dashboards to centralize air, water and biological monitoring. Program staff said the hub will standardize survey templates, allow partners to upload field data and help produce public dashboards that are more accessible to residents.
Boat access and monitoring. Presenters said the SCH boat ramp restored monitoring access; they urged identifying safe, additional launch points on the north shoreline to make consistent sampling feasible.
What the board did. The session was a workshop; the Water Board will continue oversight and review monitoring and MIP (Monitoring and Implementation Plan) annual work plans. Presenters asked for continued interagency funding and technical support to expand HAB, nutrient and depth‑profile sampling.
