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PUBLICATIONS & ARTICLESSalton Sea Ecosystem Restoration Program Draft Programmatic
On October 19, 2006, the California Resources Agency, in partnership with the Department of Fish and Game and the Department of Water Resources, released the Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Report, which contains eight alternatives and one option of no action for restoring the Salton Sea ecosystem. Background The majority of water that flows into the Salton Sea is agricultural drain water. Under the Quantification Settlement Agreement (QSA) signed in 2003 by the Imperial Irrigation District (IID), the San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA) and the Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD), water previously used for agricultural purposes that eventually entered the Salton Sea was redirected for urban use. Under the QSA, the Imperial Irrigation District (IID) will continue to provide the same inflow levels to the Salton Sea for the next 15 years. However, at the end of the 15 year period, the reduction of flows into the lake will accelerate the evaporation of the lake. This will cause saline levels to increase rapidly, threatening marine and avian habitat, as well as pose air quality concerns for area residents. The lake has no outlet and its saline levels are approximately 30% higher than the ocean and increasing. Proposed Alternatives The draft EIR contains eight alternative plans with varying degrees of action as well an alternative of no action. The legislation directed the State Resources Agency to develop the range of alternatives based on a set of guidelines, including, salinity control, habitat creation and restoration, differing shoreline levels, surface area configurations and different inflow conditions. The Fish and Game Code directed the alternatives to maximize the program objectives, which included maintaining salinity levels, protecting the endangered pupfish, reduce vector issues as well as compliance with other Endangered Species, environmental, water quality and air quality laws. CEQA requires a "no project" alternative to be evaluated with the other alternatives to facilitate comparison of what would happen if no action was taken. Under the QSA, a number of actions must be taken and facilities must be constructed. These include construction of pupfish connectivity channels and air quality management of exposed playa. Alternative 1 provides for a Saline Habitat Complex in the southern sea bed consisting of a series of 1,000 acre cells with water depths of less than six feet. Deep holes would be created to protect fish life. The salinity of each cell could vary depending on what fish and/or invertebrate habitat are being provided for. The Saline Habitat would provide habitat for a variety of birds. There would also be pupfish channels constructed. A Brine Sink would exist and would receive runoffs from Salt and San Felipe creeks. Alternative 2 is similar to alternative 1 but would contain more Saline Habitat Complexes. Irrigation of water efficient vegetation would be used to control air quality management issues. The third alternative would create two concentric rings that would provide moderately deep Marine Seas. Desert pupfish connectivity, Brine Sink and air management elements would also be included. In addition, all shorelines would have water. Alternative 4 consists of four separate lakes similar to the Saline Habitat Complex, but without the individual cells. The first lake would contain the pupfish connectivity. The second lake would connect all of the northern drains and Salt Creek. This alternative contains irrigation water supply. Long term irrigation facilities are not provided for in this alternative and therefore long term air quality management practices addressed are not addressed. The lakes would be formed by Geotube |
