We’re here, and we want our Salton Sea protected
The Salton Sea is more than a district priority, and it is disheartening to learn that many state officials view it as a problem for only our local officials to solve. Over the next few weeks Gov. Gavin Newsom, the Assembly and the Senate will make crucial decisions about our state budget and a potential Climate Resilience Bond. It is vital for them to understand that protecting the Sea is a statewide priority.
The Salton Sea is surrounded by several unique and rapidly growing communities across Riverside and Imperial counties, ranging in size from 231 residents in Bombay Beach to approximately 44,000 residents in El Centro. All these communities face significant health risks and environmental justice concerns related to the Salton Sea and a number of other issues in the region.
For years, residents have advocated for a revitalized Salton Sea that ceases to harm public health but also becomes a vibrant, safe and healthy space. Our advocacy uplifts concerns about the region's poor air quality, health issues, unreliable electricity, inadequate transportation systems, limited recreational opportunities and other factors that limit access to and enjoyment of the Sea.
Despite our strong and consistent advocacy, our communities are often rendered invisible, as if we don’t exist or aren’t growing and thriving despite the environmental injustices we face. The state might see the sea as an environmental disaster or embarrassment, but we see its beauty, its importance to millions of birds, and its potential to be livable and a community resource for generations to come.
The protection and restoration of the Salton Sea is not just important for our communities, but it will be important for protecting air quality across Southern California. The toxic air resulting from the sea’s continued recession, especially during the windy season from April to June, is reaching further and further into Southern California, with reports of particles from the sea reaching all the way to Los Angeles.
The culmination of our community-led advocacy, a hopeful turning point for Salton Sea communities and our vision for a sustainable Sea can be seen with the recent release of the Salton Sea Management Program and Community Needs Report. As the Salton Sea Management Program reflects on its accomplishments and prepares for the future, we will need substantive investments to ensure a sustainable Salton Sea region.
We understand the state is facing another year of deficit, and the decisions to be made in the coming weeks will be difficult. However, it is imperative that the state budget protect and prioritize investments in community and ensure continued funding for Salton Sea restoration focused on community needs.
To help address our deficit, the state is also considering including a Climate Resilience Bond on the November ballot to ensure continued investment in addressing climate change. Climate change will only further exacerbate the recession of the Sea and the associated public health impacts. If the state moves forward with a Climate Resilience Bond, it must include equitable investment for Salton Sea communities.
Dora Cecilia Armenta has lived with her family of four in Salton City for 29 years. She is an active member in her local church where she volunteers as a catechist. Cecilia is also a member of West Shores Lions Club Chapter and Coachella Valley Parents, as well as an active community partner with Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability. Mariela Loera is the Eastern Coachella Valley Regional Policy Manager with the Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability. They can be reached at mloera@leadershipcounsel.org.
