Department of Water Resources
A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment
June 5, 2007
3. Watersheds
Editorial: We must now stay on course to save the Salton Sea
Desert Sun – 6/5/07
After 23 attempts since 1963, we finally have a working plan to revitalize the dying
The plan, based on recommendations from state Secretary of Resources Mike Chrisman, calls for reducing the state's largest lake to about a fifth of its current size and creating areas for wildlife habitat. A bill that would provide nearly $9 billion to fund the project is expected to be voted on in the Senate by Friday.
Now is a critical time to stay the course and focus on letting your representatives and governor know that you want this bill passed and funded.
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Denise Ducheny, D-San Diego, will be stalled if the vote is put off because this week is the deadline to move bills. A strong, united front will show the Senate that this issue can no longer wait on the back burner and the people of
To that point, it is of paramount importance that tribal lands that are now part of the
The state's latest plan for the sea would reduce the size of the sea and leave land owned by the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians exposed. Dust from the exposed lake bed would harm air quality. Leaving tribal land exposed is a deal breaker for the Salton Sea Authority. Exposure of the Torres Martinez Indians' tribal land is a deal breaker for the Salton Sea Authority, said Rick Daniels, executive director of the local effort to save the Sea.
Because we've come so far this time around it is important to keep moving forward with the sincere belief that the plan will be either amended, or tweaked to protect the tribal lands from exposure. There will always be time to break the deal, but there is no need to do it now.
The Torres Martinez tribe wants its land to remain under water. Exposure of the lake bed in that northern end would create poor air quality that would have a negative impact on tribal lands, as well as some other private and public land.
The tribe is right to want to protect its land. We also can see why the members would be skeptical at this point and think they will get stuck with air quality mitigation without state help. But we encourage them to stay involved with the plan and the authority. If everyone sticks together on this issue, we have a better chance of getting what we want, and what we want is also what we believe the Torres Martinez tribe wants. 
The Salton Sea Authority has already gotten the state to make seven of the 11 changes it requested earlier this year. Daniels says more changes can still be made down the road.
In addition to the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians, the Salton Sea Authority is made up of the Coachella Valley Water District, The Imperial Irrigation District,
Another issue that should be addressed in the final plan is water treatment. Chrisman's plan does not include water quality improvements. Treatment addresses odors and helps keep wildlife safe. Deeper bodies of water are important in fighting hydrogen sulfide contamination.
To accomplish this, everyone involved must stay at the table and remain engaged in shaping and pushing the plan. Restoration advocates must remain unified. We can't stress this point enough.
To be fragmented on the local level would make it difficult to present a united front to sway lawmakers and skeptics around the state. We must all stick together while moving our cause forward.
While fine-tuning is needed, the plan is the one we all have to work on making happen.
A managing agency made up of federal, state and local agencies will likely be involved in executing the plan. We all must stay focused on the overall revitalization of the sea so its future remains in local control. #
http://www.thedesertsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070605/OPINION01/706050313/1004/opinion
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