The plan to restore California's largest lake, the decaying Salton Sea, is now in the hands of the state legislature. After years of debate and delays, the restoration project kicks into another gear. KPBS reporter Ed Joyce has more.
The Salton Sea is the largest man-made lake in the state and straddles Imperial and Riverside Counties. California Resources Secretary Mike Chrisman turned over his final plan to restore the polluted Salton Sea to the state legislature.
Part of the $9 billion plan includes building a variety of dams, dikes, and smaller lakes to protect wildlife and air quality as the lake shrinks.
There's also a recreational lake, which Imperial County officials say is critical to generate income for the region. It's hoped the plan will keep the Sea, an internationally recognized stopping point for migratory birds, from turning into a brackish expanse of mud ringed by a choking dust bowl.
Julia Levin is with Audubon California and a member of the Salton Sea Advisory Committee.
Levin : The priority for public funding and for water and in terms of the timing, should be on the wildlife habitat restoration and the public health components, the air and water quality.
Some state legislators may struggle with the $9 billion price tag. State Senator Christine Kehoe says the plan will likely be changed before it's finalized.
Kehoe : If we were do to everything that needs to be done at Salton Sea, there'd be very little money left for other projects.
Once a popular fishing destination, the Salton Sea, has suffered for years from fish die-offs, odor issues, and other problems. Salinity from river water, selenium in the lake bed, and algae blooms from farm runoff all contribute to the sea's "rotten egg" smell.
The lake will lose nearly half of its imported water flows beginning in 2017 because of a state and federal agreement to transfer the water to fast-growing urban areas.
Ed Joyce, KPBS News.
