Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Tom Kirk (760) 564-4888
or Bill Gay (760) 337-1700

April 5, 2002

A group of air quality experts have agreed that without mitigation, there could be serious air quality problems in the region if the Salton Sea’s lakebed is exposed by a reduction of inflows.

The group also expressed concern that  the Imperial Irrigation District/San Diego water transfer environmental impact analysis had some serious shortcomings.

They faulted the report for assuming that crusts would form which would mitigate most of the air quality problems from a receding Sea and presenting no scientific support for such a conclusion.

While problems at the sea are not likely to be as severe as Owens Lake -- the worst source of dust emissions in the nation --Ted Schade, manager of the effort to get dust under control there, pointed out “If the Salton Sea has only one percent, or even one-half of one percent, of the emissions at Owens Lake, the area will exceed air quality compliance standards,” he said.

The 12 air quality experts met Thursday in La Quinta to tour the Salton Sea and discuss the probability of air quality problems if the Sea’s elevation is dropped, exposing shoreline around the Sea.

The meeting was conducted by the Salton Sea Science Office on behalf of the Salton Sea Authority and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.   Larry Biland, with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, noted that this was the best and brightest group of experts he has ever seen come together to address issues of dust associated with dry lakes.

The question of blowing dust is of particular concern because both the Imperial and Coachella Valleys already violate dust standards set under the Clean Air Act. 

Scientists were surprised by the complexity of conditions around the Sea.  Differing soils, wind conditions, ground moisture, and water chemicals, among other factors, will affect the likelihood of dust storms.

While finding it difficult to predict what will happen without actually observing drawdown conditions, the scientists agreed that without mitigation, serious problems would result.

The groups suggested that various areas might blow under differing conditions.  In other words, the problem may not be limited to a few predictable “hot spots.”

Factors that will affect the amount of dust include soil and sediment composition, chemistry of the salts in the soil, winds, temperature, ground moisture, vegetation, and precipitation.

The group also suggested what actions could mitigate blowing dust, including limiting the draw-down, keeping exposed areas wet, covering exposed areas with gravel or vegetation, and keeping people and other disturbance out of “hot spots” to avoid break-up of fragile soil crusts.

Sylvia Oey, from the California Air Resources Board, said, “Mitigation efforts should begin as soon as levels start dropping rather than waiting until a problem develops.”  Mitigation at Owens Lake is estimated to cost up to $400 million.

The Science office meeting came one week after the Salton Sea Authority unanimously adopted a resolution expressing concerns about adverse air quality impacts of the IID-San Diego 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 stated, “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.”

 

Copyright 2000 Salton Sea Authority - All Rights Reserved
Site Design and Hosting by KG WebWorks