Press-Enterprise: Salton Sea help gets closer

"Salton Sea October 2006 002" by sproutgrrl

A sea in danger

The threatened Salton Sea is home to numerous endangered species of various types, including birds and fish, and is one of the more important spots of the Pacific Flyway. Due to the vagaries of California agricultural irrigation and water politics, the sea is in danger of disappearing.

An article published this past Wednesday in the Riverside Press-Enterprise -- "Salton Sea help gets closer" -- discusses the various restoration efforts that the State of California is considering.

Keeping the Salton Sea from drying into a polluted dust bowl and preserving wildlife habitat used by millions of migrating birds each year would cost as much as $5.8 billion under a plan being released today by the state.

The plan presents eight options for saving the saltwater lake, once one of Southern California's most popular boating and fishing areas.

The 3,000-page plan, the result of a two-year effort, was heralded as the first realistic effort at finding a solution to restore the desert lake. A final plan is expected to be announced by state Resources Secretary Mike Chrisman in April.