September 30, 2024: kpbs
Why the Sierra Club is suing to change a deal aimed at protecting the Colorado River
The Sierra Club is suing Imperial County’s Imperial Irrigation District (IID) over a water conservation deal aimed at saving the Colorado River. Under the deal, IID will cut water usage by 750,000 acre-feet over three years in exchange for over $600 million from the federal Bureau of Reclamation.
However, this reduction in water consumption will accelerate the drying of the Salton Sea, which could release toxic dust into the air, impacting residents’ health.
The Sierra Club argues that IID violated the California Environmental Quality Act by not conducting a full environmental analysis, failing to fully assess the environmental and health risks associated with the shrinking lake.
IID insists the deal is legal and necessary to manage the region’s water supply while also securing federal funds for Salton Sea restoration.
The lawsuit underscores the tension between conserving the Colorado River and protecting the Salton Sea and its surrounding communities from environmental harm.
Salton Sea Coalition 