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State begins filling expanded eastern pond of major Salton Sea habitat project; managers say more ponds to follow
Summary
Officials said they will begin inundating the East Pond expansion of the Species Conservation Habitat (SCH) project the day after the May 21 workshop. The SCH effort is designed to create shallow, mid and deep water habitat and suppress dust; the full SCH buildout will exceed 9,000 acres when complete.
State and partner agency staff told the State Water Resources Control Board May 21 in Thermal that construction of the Species Conservation Habitat (SCH) project at the Salton Sea has moved from planning into operations and that water will begin filling an expansion pond immediately following the workshop. The workshop was informational; the board took no formal action.
Why it matters: The SCH project is the largest single habitat restoration effort now under way at the Salton Sea. Filling ponds provides immediate dust suppression where the playa has dried and creates aquatic habitat for migratory birds and other species; it also restores boat access for monitoring work.
What officials described. Yvonne Wilhoft of the Department of Water Resources described the SCH layout: a causeway and saline pump station feed sedimentation basins and multiple pond cells designed to provide shallow, mid and deep water habitat and loafing/nesting islands for fish‑eating birds. Wilhoft said the initial SCH components were completed in 2023 and that the program began filling part of the East Pond in April; she told the board another portion of the East Pond expansion would begin filling the day after the workshop.
Scale and schedule. Wilhoft and other presenters said the full SCH project, including the original ponds and two major expansions, will exceed 9,000 acres when constructed. She said construction for remaining SCH expansions (center and west ponds) was in design and expected to be built beginning later in the year and to continue through 2027, subject to funding, permitting and contractor scheduling.
Practical takeaways. Presenters noted the project required specialized construction techniques because soils are saline and often wet: dredging, multiple handling and drying of material and selection of corrosion‑resistant infrastructure for pumps and pipes. The SCH design‑build delivery method was cited as a factor that let the state manage budget and schedule risks and adopt construction innovations such as a labyrinth weir that reduced concrete and energy needs.
Community access and monitoring. Project managers said the SCH boat ramp restored safe lake access for monitoring; boat access has also enabled fish and wildlife surveys and will support future adaptive management and introductions of forage fish. The program expects to use the expanded SCH ponds for initial fish introductions once water salinity and food‑web conditions are suitable.
What the board did. The workshop provided an informational update; no board action was taken. Presenters said they will continue reporting progress to the board and posting materials to the SSMP project tracker and the CNRA website.
