Bombay Beach strollers advocate for Salton Sea
BOMBAY BEACH — Balloons and streamers led community members from as far away as Pasadena here Saturday for the first ever Salton Sea Stroll.
The event organized by NorthEnd Alliance
111 provided participants with a T-shirt, bracelet and a pink fish which was needed to receive a participation medal.
“We are doing it to bring the community together to show that the Salton Sea is worth saving,” Anna Garcia, member of the alliance said.
A brief moment of silence for elected member of Bombay Beach Service Department Louie Knight who recently passed was given before event goers hit the beach.
“Everyone needs to return to this register table, Garcia said. “We need to make sure we get everyone back.
The stroll route led participants along the sea. Event staff stationed at strategic resting points along the path offered water and juice to strollers.
Many participants who finished the stroll met at the Bombay Beach Community center for after event refreshments and to listen to Salton Sea updates by Imperial County District 4 Representative Ryan Kelley
“The biggest change is the species conservation habitat at the New River delta,” Kelley said, adding the multi-million-dollar, 4,300-acre habitat is currently under construction.
Other projects in the works Kelley shared with the group consisted of wetland creation, desert shores restoration, Salton Sea Interpretive Center and walking trails.
“When this is done it will create habit and recreation,” Kelley said.
Bombay Beach resident Candi Youngberg said the sea should be saved.
“It would be a big boost for everybody,” she said.
Youngberg remembers the campground filled with campers “four rows deep” and everyone was enjoying the water.
“I’d love to see boats back out on the water,” she added.
Ann Garcia said her group plans to conduct more outreach events throughout Imperial County to raise awareness of the needs of their communities.
“Our mission is to bring benefits, opportunities and services to our north-end communities,” Garcia said. “We want to show the county we are important, too.