County issues emergency declaration regarding Salton Sea
EL CENTRO — Irritated with the lack of progress in remediation work at the Salton Sea, the Imperial County Board of Supervisors declared an emergency and issued a letter to the state detailing its concerns.
In a June 27 letter to E. Joaquin Esquivel, the chair of the State Water Resource Board, Imperial County Air Control District Officer Matt Dessert wrote that his agency is disappointed with the lack of progress that has been made to mitigation air quality impacts coming from the Salton Sea.
At the end of 2018 playa exposure had increased by 8 percent, while the emissions increased exponentially by 41 percent. There were also no projects implemented in the Salton Sea playa.
He wrote that one immediate concern is failure to complete the Red Hill Bay Project that begin three years ago but has made minimal progress.
Now, he said, there is saltation dust in the air and that the lack of the project completion due to permitting is unacceptable.
“We strongly urge the State Water Resources Board to carefully consider our comments made in this letter as you continue to work on the Salton Sea Management program,” Dessert wrote.
Dessert said in the four months since the letter was sent there has been no response whatsoever to this letter or to a March 29 letter sent to Justine Herrig, senior environmental scientist for the State Water Resources Control Board.
Air Quality Special Projects Coordinator for the Salton Sea Katie Burnworth said not many birds and fish still remain at the Salton Sea.
“Our residents deserve more than this,” she said.
Imperial County Supervisor Jesus Eduardo Escobar said the county needs to step up its game to do more.
He said the Salton Sea will be much, much worse if nothing is done.
“Everything is so slow,” he said. “It’s time to stop playing and passing the envelope as much as we can to make a difference.”
Supervisor Luis Plancarte told Dessert he feels his frustration, saying they are three years into a 10-year plan and nothing has been done.
“It is time to do this,” he said. “If they can’t do it, then let’s help them.”
Supervisor Mike Kelley agreed with the other supervisors.
“It’s ridiculous and disgusting. It’s almost comical,” he said. “We have been fighting this for so long.”
The District 3 supervisor said he remembers telling the governor a few years ago that if the sea was in Sacramento it would have been resolved immediately.
“It’s been an uphill battle,” he said. “It’s high time to do something.”
Supervisor Chairman Ryan Kelley said the county can’t continue to allow the can to be kicked down the road, adding that nothing has been completed in the first three years of the 10-year plan.
“We live here. We deal with it, and they make the decisions in Sacramento,” Ryan Kelley said. “This (emergency declaration) is letting you know clearly and loudly this is not going to be allowed.”
He said the U.S Army Corps of Engineers “needs to get off their duff and show up” to issue the permits.
The board chairman said he has heard about all of the nosebleeds that residents living close to the Salton Sea are having or school being cancelled due to a fire.
“As strong as we think we are, we didn’t have this obligation (in) sending the water elsewhere.” he said.
Imperial Irrigation District Board President Erik Ortega at its meeting Tuesday afternoon said they agree with the supervisors declaring an emergency.
Assemblyman Eduardo Garcia said he supported the declaration of emergency.
“I do believe we have an everyday crisis on our hands,” he said, mentioning the sea drying up is creating air pollution problems for residents living in that area.
He said the playa blowing around at the Salton Sea and surrounding area has resulted in a very dangerous situation for residents living nearby.
Garcia said he hopes the state will take the declaration of emergency seriously, and he also wants the state to address other measures following the completion of the 10-year plan.
“I am hoping the response is a positive one,” he said.
Garcia, however, would not say nothing has been accomplished regarding the Salton Sea because $200 million has been set aside for the work to begin.
“I think we all have a feeling that nothing substantial has been done,” Garcia said.