Please join Audubon California in thanking Governor Jerry Brown for including $80 million for projects to create habitat and reduce dust pollution at the Salton Sea.
The $80 million in the budget is the most that the State has ever committed to this problem, but there is much more work to be done if California is to keep its promise to the people and birds of the Salton Sea. And time is running out.
Many bird species rely on the Salton Sea including large proportions of North America’s Eared Grebes, White Pelicans, Ruddy Ducks, and Caspian Terns. Beginning in 2018, water diversions that commenced in 2003 will no longer be offset with mitigation water, and we may see a 40% reduction in water flowing to the Salton Sea. Huge expanses of lakebed will be exposed, creating plumes of toxic dust and a loss of tens of thousands of acres of habitat.
Please send your email to thank Governor Brown and urge him to continue making progress to avoid a crisis for people and birds at the Salton Sea.