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The Salton Sea is set to receive the largest state
budget appropriation ever provided by the state,
thanks to persistent efforts on the part of the Salton
Sea Authority (SSA). Governor Brown's budget includes
$80 million this year from a portion of the Prop 1 state
water bond approved by voters over a year ago.
The Salton Sea, California's largest inland sea, is
home to the largest and most diverse renewable
energy portfolio in the Western Hemisphere. It is also
home to the largest and most diverse nesting grounds
for migratory waterfowl in North America, outside the
Everglades. The survival of this vital ecosystem is in
jeopardy due to rising salinity levels (the sea has no
outlet) and reduced water volumes expected from a
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large water transfer set to accelerate in
2017.
The state investment is a huge step in the
right direction to get the sea turned
around before it becomes a major liability
to the nearby communities.
The SSA is a joint powers authority chaired
by Riverside County Supervisor John Benoit and
orchestrated by Phil Rosentrater who serves as
Executive Director for the organization. Supervisor
Marion Ashley is also on the SSA Board of Directors
as the senior statesman among a group of partner
agencies that includes elected representatives from
Imperial County, Coachella Valley Water District,
Imperial Irrigation District, and the Torres Martinez
Tribal Nation.
Although the state appropriation is a drop in the
bucket compared to the long term Multi-billion dollar
estimate for revitalization, it opens the door to
recovering the positive potential of this amazing asset.
Salton Sea
These employees will be eligible for recognition of their service by the Board of Supervisors in March 2016 for
their years of service as of December 2015. They deserve to be recognized for their dedication to the county!
Human Resources—“Years of Service Milestones” in 2015
Department
Employee
Service Years
Housing Authority
Carmen Chavez
35
Workforce Development
Beatrice Putz
30
Administration
Lynda Trumbauer
30
Workforce Development
Hilda Garcia
25
Workforce Development
Annette Best
25
Workforce Development
Retha Smith
25
Housing Authority
Tom Fan
25
Custodial
Gary Adams
25
Custodial
Martin Garcia
25
Custodial
Deborah Prim
25
Maintenance
Narciso Barragan
25
Design & Construction
Teresa Valadez
25
CSA
Steve Jones
25