Senator Padilla’s Historic Legislation Creating Salton Sea Conservancy Signed into Law
SACRAMENTO – Last night, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Senate Bill 583, authored by Senator Steve Padilla (D-San Diego) and co-authored by Coachella Valley Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia (D-Coachella. The law 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.
“This conservancy is a demonstration of the state’s commitment to meaningful and lasting restoration of this environmentally overburdened region,” said Senator Padilla. “We must center these remediation efforts on the communities that have waited generations for the means and the avenue to address the challenges the Sea poses — the Salton Sea Conservancy will empower these local voices with just those tools. This historic victory belongs to them.”
SB 583 creates 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.
Conservancies in California have had historic and recorded success in remediating and restoring some of the state’s most vulnerable habitats. The Salton Sea Conservancy would be California’s 11th conservancy and the first established in over 15 years. The state is making unprecedented investments in Salton Sea restoration efforts with over $250 million secured for critical restoration in the Inflation Reduction Act at the federal level, $60 million from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, and $170 million if the voters pass the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024. This financial commitment comes at a key time, ensuring residents have a seat at the table deciding how recovery efforts proceed and projects are prioritized.
Senate Bill 583 is supported by a broad coalition of environmental justice and community organizations.
"Establishing the Salton Sea Conservancy is critical to securing the long-term environmental and economic future for the region and I applaud Governor Newsom for signing SB583 into law,” said Silvia Paz, Executive Director, Alianza Coachella Valley. “Alianza Coachella Valley is committed to fostering a sustainable and equitable future for the residents that call the Salton Sea region home. This legislation will allow for the strategic collaboration and resource alignment that are needed to address the complex challenges that currently impede progress for environmental protection, public health, and economic growth."
"SB 583 opens new opportunities for people living near the Salton Sea to coordinate with local, state, and federal representatives to ensure projects better address the needs of communities,” said Mariela Loera, Regional Policy Manager, Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability. “We look forward to working with Senator Padilla next year to keep building on this important step so that we can strengthen community engagement and enhance community benefits in the Salton Sea Region."
“The Salton Sea is a critical resource that will require decades of careful management to protect local communities and birds along the Pacific Flyway,” said Mike Lynes, Policy Director for Audubon California. “We are deeply appreciative to Senator Padilla for authoring SB 583 and Governor Newsom for signing it. Audubon looks forward to working with the Salton Sea Conservancy to ensure that this new, community-led institution will manage projects for the benefit of the people and wildlife that depend on the Salton Sea.”
"We applaud the passage of SB 583 which is a real step forward in the State’s obligation to restore the Salton Sea and help local communities impacted by this worsening crisis," said Richard Miller, Chapter Director, Sierra Club San Diego.
To learn more about SB 583 and the Salton Sea, click 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/