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State and federal funding, new conservancy and feasibility study give Salton Sea work new momentum
Summary
At a May 21 Salton Sea workshop in Thermal, state and Natural Resources Agency leaders described new funding, project milestones and institutional changes that program managers say will let restoration and dust‑suppression work accelerate over the next decade. The workshop was informational; the board did not take formal action.
The State Water Resources Control Board convened a Salton Sea workshop on May 21 in Thermal to receive progress reports on the Salton Sea Management Program and to hear public comment. California Natural Resources Agency Secretary Wade Crowfoot and assistant secretary Joe Shea told the board the program saw "historic firsts" in 2024, including major federal funding, state bond money and the start of large‑scale habitat projects.
Why it matters: The Salton Sea has lost shoreline and water over decades, exposing dusty lakebed that harms public health and removing habitat for migratory birds. Workshop presenters said recent funding and institutional changes make it possible to scale projects faster, but they emphasized the need for continued funding, permitting improvements and coordination to meet goals through 2028 and beyond.
State and federal money. Secretary Wade Crowfoot said the Salton Sea Management Program secured unprecedented funding in 2024: roughly $175 million in federal commitments and about $160 million from last year’s state climate bond (Proposition 4). Joe Shea, assistant secretary for Salton Sea policy at the Natural Resources Agency, called 2024 "1 of historic firsts," noting the money enabled expansion of the Species Conservation Habitat project and other efforts.
A conservancy and a feasibility study. Workshop speakers highlighted formation of a new Salton Sea Conservancy created by state legislation to manage, operate and maintain restoration projects. Separately, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is leading a basin‑wide feasibility study (a state‑federal cost‑share effort begun in 2022) to evaluate long‑range restoration concepts; Corps leaders approved an expanded scope in 2024 and added an "early implementation increment" to identify projects that could be implemented sooner.
Permitting and programmatic work. The Natural Resources Agency and partner agencies described completing a first programmatic NEPA compliance package and related federal documents intended to streamline future permitting. State reforms cited include the Restoration Management Permit (RMP) pathway and the State Water Board’s Restoration General Order; presenters said those tools reduce schedule risk for multi‑acre projects. Megan Gellini (DWR) said establishing consistent, early coordination with federal and state agencies and using programmatic pathways has shortened review times for many projects, though some authorizations still follow standard statutory timelines.
Board role and next steps. Chair Joaquin Esquivel and board members emphasized the board’s oversight role under the stipulated order adopted in 2017 and pressed staff and CNRA for annual, transparent accounting of acreage, funding and water needs. Presenters said 2025 will be a key year for the Army Corps study, and they urged continued federal support and interagency coordination to translate planning progress into more acres on the ground.
Workshop status. As a workshop, the board did not adopt any new policy or regulatory change during the session. The board did adopt minutes from a prior meeting by roll call vote early in the session.
What to watch next: CNRA and partner agencies said they will continue to brief the board at annual workshops, release updated project trackers and publish data from monitoring efforts and the Army Corps feasibility process as they become available.
