Wednesday
April 25, 2007
Grant For Salton Sea Fish
Cleanup, Wetlands
Source: Salton Sea Authority
“These funds will allow us to continue our wetlands construction as well as coordinate an immediate response to future fish and bird fatalities,” said Imperial County Supervisor Gary Wyatt, Salton Sea Authority Board Chairman. “We are very grateful for this financial assistance,” he said.
Annual Salton Sea fish fatalities, sometimes numbering in the millions, have long presented a challenge for the Salton Sea Authority. With no source of ongoing revenue to fund fish clean up efforts, the Authority recently turned to state and federal agencies for help.
Rick Daniels, SSA Executive Director, credited Assemblywoman Bonnie Garcia with being especially helpful in identifying the potential for use of the Water Board environmental compliance funds for one time, stop gap emergency funds.
The regional board’s environmental compliance program gives oversight and insures compliance with a variety of industrial water quality regulations. The funds come from fines levied by the Regional Board. They can be directed to local environmental programs such as wetlands projects at the Salton Sea and the annual fish clean up effort.
The Regional Board recently notified the Salton Sea Authority that the Salton Sea programs qualified to receive locally directed funds, said Daniels.
“Resolution of the Salton Sea’s many problems will come from a combination of local, state and federal agencies,” said Daniels. “The regional board’s involvement is very appreciated and this locally-directed water quality funding is a real lifesaver,” he said.
He added “But what we really need is to build up a fund that will always be there when we need it.”
Daniels is optimistic that some combination of federal, state and additional local funds can be tapped to fully fund the program in the future. He said the Salton Sea Authority will continue its efforts to identify ongoing sources of funding for the clean up programs.
Approximately $50,121 of the total from the Regional Water Board program will fund half of the annual contracted cost for the Salton Sea fish clean up program. The remaining $65,379 will be used by the Authority for Operation and Maintenance expenses for the Imperial, Brawley and Shank Road wetlands.
The Imperial Irrigation District has operated and maintained two of the three wetlands since their inception. The third wetlands, Shank Road is currently under construction and is anticipated to be online within the next year. Initially, funding for the IID services was provided through a grant and the grant has expired. These funds will assist the Authority in contracting with the IID to continue those services for one year.
The Salton Sea Authority is a joint powers authority created by the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians, Riverside County, Imperial County, Imperial Irrigation District, and the Coachella Valley Water District in 1993 to restore the Salton Sea.
Contact:
Dan Cain (760-564-4888) OR Bill Gay (760-337-1700)