Legislation Accelerating Salton Sea Restoration Efforts Passes Key Hurdle

SACRAMENTO – Earlier this week, the California Assembly Natural Resources Committee passed Senate Bill 583, authored by Senator Steve Padilla (D-San Diego) and co-authored by Coachella Valley Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia (D-Coachella). The bill creates the Salton Sea Conservancy to unify the state’s efforts to protect residents’ health, foster ecological recovery in the area, and to empower local stakeholders in that process.

“The Salton Sea poses a unique and acute threat to the communities that call the area home,” said Senator Padilla. “The time for inaction has passed. Generations of working families have already faced the negative consequences of California’s failure to address the Sea’s health risk. A dedicated Conservancy will elevate local voices and give the community control over how limited resources can best help remediate this public health crisis. We owe it to those that breathe the toxic dust blown off the Sea every day to get this done.”

SB 583 would create the Salton Sea Conservancy, tasking it with coordinating management of all conservation projects in the region to restore the shrinking sea and reducing the negative health impact the Sea imposes. 

“The Salton Sea needs long-term management that is strongly guided by local voices and leadership," said Frank Ruiz, Audubon California's Salton Sea Program Director. "Audubon greatly appreciates Senator Padilla's leadership in authoring SB 583, which will create a conservancy that is governed by a board of locally-selected leaders in partnership with state officials. The new Salton Sea Conservancy will be a conduit for funding projects at the Sea in ways that are responsive to local needs."

SB 583 has received bipartisan support in committee and passed out on a 10-0 vote. The bill now heads to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. Read more about SB 583 here.

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Steve Padilla represents the 18th Senate District, which includes the communities of Chula Vista, the Coachella Valley, Imperial Beach, the Imperial Valley, National City, and San Diego. Prior to his election to the Senate in 2022, Senator Padilla was the first person of color ever elected to city office in Chula Vista, the first Latino Mayor, and the first openly LGBT person to serve or be elected to city office. Website of Senator Steve Padilla: https://sd18.senate.ca.gov/