Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Tom Kirk (760) 564-4888

March 28, 2002

The Salton Sea Authority Thursday unanimously approved a resolution expressing concerns about adverse air quality impacts of the water transfer and opposed transfer projects that would significantly lower the level of the Salton Sea.

The resolution also calls for the Imperial Irrigation District board of directors “to pursue water transfer solutions which meet the terms of the Quantification Settlement Agreement and which properly mitigate impacts on the Salton Sea, and addresses economical and social impacts in the Imperial and Coachella valleys.

The Authority resolution states, “any mitigation identified and implemented for the transfer be done in a manner consistent with the goals and objectives of the full restoration of the Salton Sea.”

The Authority board adopted the resolution after several presentations by local officials and Salton Sea area residents.

"The possibility of adverse air quality impacts in eastern Riverside County from a shrinking Salton Sea is of great concern to me,” said Authority Board President Roy Wilson.

“I am pleased that my colleagues on the SSA board share that concern. The parties engaged in the water transfer must accurately identify the impacts that will occur from reduced inflows and commit to mitigating those impacts."

Buford Crites, a city councilman from Palm Desert and chair of the Coachella Valley Association of Government’s Energy and Environment Subcommittee, also praised the resolution.

“There is significant evidence that water transfers would have adverse effects on wildlife at the Salton Sea as well as water quality and air quality. The dust would have significant negative economic and environmental impacts in the Coachella and Imperial valleys,” he said.

Mr. Crites added,  “if the Salton Sea were in the front yards of Los Angeles, San Diego and Orange counties, the current transfer proposal would be off the table.

Additional support for the resolution was offered by landowners from around the Salton Sea, who presented petitions with over 1000 signatures, and by three environmental organizations.

 

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