House passes wildfire and drought package that includes $250 million for Salton Sea
After 30 years of primarily focusing on research, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation could soon expand its efforts on public health and environmental restoration projects at the Salton Sea with the House’s passage of the Salton Sea Projects Improvements Act on Friday.
The act, which still needs Senate approval, authorizes $250 million for the Bureau of Reclamation to carry out projects at the Salton Sea, a nearly 20-fold increase from the current $13 million.
The bill, introduced by Rep. Raul Ruiz, D-Palm Desert, passed the House on Friday as part of the broader Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act, a package of 49 bills aimed at improving fire-adapted ecosystems, protecting communities against wildfires and enhancing drought resiliency.
“In our region, drought and reduced water flows into the Salton Sea have led to deteriorating water quality and toxic dust that threatens local communities' health,” Ruiz said on the House floor on Friday. “My bill will authorize $250 million (that) the Bureau of Reclamation can spend on the Salton Sea and expand the types of transformative projects at the sea. This will ultimately strengthen our all-hands-on-deck approach to this environmental and public health crisis by expanding the bureau's ability to work with state, local and tribal partners in the area.”
For decades, reduced inflows to the Salton Sea have resulted in thousands of acres of exposed lakebed containing toxic dust from years of fertilizer and pesticide runoff, subjecting nearby communities to respiratory issues from the resulting air pollution.
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The Reclamation Projects Authorization and Adjustment Act of 1992 created the Salton Sea Research Project at the Bureau of Reclamation. The law gave the Bureau of Reclamation authority to engage in research projects related to controlling salinity, protecting habitat, enhancing fisheries, and protecting recreational opportunities.
But this current authorization requires that Bureau of Reclamation projects at the Salton Sea have a research function, limiting the agency’s ability to participate in dust suppression projects and other efforts to address public health and ecological issues at the sea.
“Reclamation is severely limited in their ability to participate in the Salton Sea Management Program run by the State of California, due both to funding constraints and the requirement that all projects have a research function,” according to a fact sheet from Ruiz’s office.
The Salton Sea Projects Improvement Act would allow the Bureau Reclamation to participate in these projects, by amending its authority to include entering into grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements for projects at the Salton Sea that improve air quality, fish and wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities, and water quality.
Under this expanded authority, the Bureau of Reclamation could partner with the state of California, the Salton Sea Authority, nonprofit organizations, and other entities to implement projects at the Salton Sea. These projects could include “construction, operation, maintenance, permitting, and design activities” and dust-suppression projects.
The Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act still needs approval from the Senate, where it faces an uncertain future. The act passed 218-199 in the House, with just one Republican voting for the package and 198 Republicans voting against it. The Senate is evenly divided, with 48 Democrats, 50 Republicans, and two independents that caucus with the Democrats. Vice President Kamala Harris can provide the tie-breaking vote to pass measures supported by Democrats.
Erin Rode covers the environment for the Desert Sun. Reach her at erin.rode@desertsun.com or on Twitter at @RodeErin.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: House passes wildfire and drought package with $250 million for Salton Sea
