How will the water transfer from the Imperial Valley to San Diego affect the Sea?
The water transfer will reduce inflows into the Sea beginning as soon 2004. Over 15 years inflows will be reduced by hundreds of thousands of acre feet. If no action is taken, shoreline reduction could expose many square miles of hazardous sediment. Fortunately supporters of restoration fought long and hard to require that any transfer take into account the negative impacts to the Salton Sea. The water transfer deal struck in October 2003 included an estimated $300 million for Salton Sea restoration. In addition, the State of California has assumed responsibility for mitigating negative impacts from the water transfer on the Sea.
