News Release Archive

Reclamation Releases Salton Sea Report

Media Contact: Robert Walsh , 702.293.8421, 02/02/2007 17:47

For Release: February 02, 2007

A draft summary report of the study conducted by the Bureau of Reclamation on Salton Sea restoration was released today.

Reclamation was directed to conduct the study and provide Congress a report on a preferred alternative for Salton Sea restoration by Public Law 108-361. This report, which describes and evaluates the physical, biological and engineering aspects of, and performs risk assessments of, five potential project alternatives, partially fulfills that requirement. A final summary report is anticipated by late spring.

The report provides information on the study results for: a Mid-Sea Dam with a North Marine Lake (proposed by the Salton Sea Authority); a Mid-Sea Barrier with South Marine Lake; Concentric Lakes (proposed by the Imperial Group); North-Sea Dam with Marine Lake; and Habitat Enhancement without Marine Lake. A no-project alternative is also evaluated.

Reclamation coordinated its studies closely with the State of California Department of Water Resources and the Salton Sea Authority. Reclamation's alternatives are conceptually similar to those presented by those entities, but there are differences in design and cost estimates between Reclamation's identified alternatives and theirs. Reclamation applied its own internal design criteria and guidelines, resulting in a different level of consideration given to design, as well as its own internal study methods and data assumptions.

The report has been posted on Reclamation's web site, at www.usbr.gov/lc/region/programs/saltonsea.html

It will be available for review until March 5. Comments on the report are welcome. Written comments can be sent to: Bureau of Reclamation, Attn: Mike Walker, Salton Sea Study Program Manager, YAO-2500, 7301 Calle Agua Salada, Yuma AZ 85364. Comments can also be submitted electronically to broper@lc.usbr.gov

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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.