The SALTON SEA COALITION (SSC) is a group of concerned citizens, water experts, and local officials in the Coachella Valley who began meeting in the summer of 2017 to save the Salton Sea region from the ecological disaster posed by the drying of the Sea. With only Colorado River water and a few small polluted rivers providing water to sustain the Sea, it is shrinking and becoming more saline and polluted, no longer providing habitat for wildlife or recreation for humans.
The SSC has allied itself with several local groups to warn the community about the public health, economic, and environmental dangers posed by the drying of the Sea. We joined forces with a local environmental non-profit group called ECOMEDIA COMPASS, which in 2011 began advocating to import ocean water to restore the Sea, build large scale desalination plants, and clean up the air and water pollution. Courageous Resistance of the Desert, a large grass-roots activist organization based in Palm Springs, joined forces with SSC to educate the public about these dangers. Two other local organizations that also provided consistent support for our goals were the Comite Latino of the Coachella Valley, an immigrant rights organization, and a Desert Hot Springs environmental group called People Over Pollution, which had previously fought the construction of the Sentinel Natural Gas power plant.
In October 2022, SSC joined with the Desert Interfaith Council to organize a prayer vigil at the Salton Sea attended by over 200 members of all faiths, who hold that faith in God compels us to be good stewards of the Earth. Members of the interfaith council actively support our lobbying efforts.
UC Riverside scientists and medical researchers have contributed to our community outreach by presenting their project data on conditions at the Sea and the health effects of Salton Sea dust on respiratory health. UC Climate Stewards have also contributed to help the SSC with website design and media outreach.
Questions or requests for information can be directed to Chuck Parker at SaltonSeaCoalition99@gmail.com
Learn more about the History of the Salton Sea Coalition.
Salton Sea Coalition 