Environmental, conservation, eco-justice and recreation groups submitted detailed comments and suggestions to the State of California regarding the State’s draft plans to restore the Salton Sea. The organizations have and represent more than one million members nationwide.

The Department of Resources received approximately 38,000 comments during the public comment period and all but one hundred of the comments were generated by the Coalition member groups and other environmental/conservation organizations. After information in the draft PEIR and comments received from the public review of the alternatives were evaluated, a preferred alternative was developed.

In May 2007, the California Resources Agency delivered a preferred alternative to the state legislature for consideration, and in June 2007 they released the Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Report. It is now up to the legislature to decide whether to proceed with the recommended approach, modify it, or select a different approach.

Listen to Mike Chrisman, the California Secretary for Resources, and Dale Hoffman-Floerke, the chief of Colorado River and Salton Sea Office for the Department of Water Resources, explain the 75 year plan for restoring the Salton Sea that begins with the presentation of the preferred alternative to the Legislature.

To help citizens and policymakers understand the strengths and weaknesses of each of the Salton Sea Restoration Plans as proposed in the State of California's Draft Environmental Impact Report, our report card grades each plan and offers an explanation of our point system.

The Preferred Alternative developed and presented to the Legislature incorporates Saline Habitat Complex and Marine Sea Habitat as seen in Alternative 5, expanded areas of the Marine Sea adjacent to existing communities as well as the State Recreation Area as seen in Alternative 3, and expanded Saline Habitat Complex Areas as seen in Alternative 2.

To earn an “A” grade, the final plan must meet the legal requirements to provide enough habitat for fish and wildlife, ensure no new air quality impacts, and improve water quality at the Sea, as well as meet local expectations for recreation and economic development.

SACRAMENTO -- None of the ten Salton Sea restoration plans assessed in the Department of Water Resources' draft Environmental Impact Report earned high marks for achieving restoration goals, according to the Salton Sea Coalition's Restoration Plan Report Card released today. The alternatives contain all the right components, though, to develop a successful plan.

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