How will SSA’s plan be paid for?
A. The Salton Sea Restoration Plan will require a combination of state, local and federal funding over the next 15-20 years. Under the QSA, the State of California has accepted financial responsibility for the restoration of the Sea. The Federal government owns the majority of the sea bed and has entered into international treaties to protect the wildlife habitat of the Sea as part of the Pacific Flyaway for migrating birds. The Sea is also home to federally-listed threatened and endangered species. The Salton Sea Authority and local governments can assist in funding components of the restoration plan by collecting fees from future development through “community facilities districts” made possible by a restored Salton Sea. Under the SSA plan, future development made possible by the healthier Sea will help pay for the Sea’s revitalization and maintenance on an ongoing basis, leveraging federal and state money as it becomes available.
