Salton Sea, CA
The removal of mitigation water from the Imperial Valley, beginning in January of 2018, as mandated by the Quantification Settlement Agreement (QSA), will lead to significantly reduced flow of water into the Salton Sea, California's largest lake. This would cause a rapid reduction in water level in the Sea with many of the same results experienced at Owens lake. It will lead to the exposure of thousands of acres of playa (former lake bottom) which would be the source of highly toxic dust laden with agricultural chemicals and heavy metals.
According to the published literature, this type of air pollution is associated with premature death, increased rates of hospitalization for respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, adverse birth outcomes, and lung cancer. Air pollution also places a large economic burden on the region. It is well understood that this new dust will critically affect the health of residents in the Coachella and Imperial Valleys and far beyond, increasing the incidence of asthma, emphysema and cancer in a region that already has some of the worst air quality in the country.
The state of California has plans to try to control the dust from the playa, but these plans are behind schedule and currently heavily underfunded.
Therefore, we the undersigned respectfully request the State Water Resources Control Board to regulate and manage the water transfers referenced in the QSA such that the rate at which playa will be formed is matched by the capacity of the State of California to carry out restoration & dust mitigation measures that protect the health of its citizens. No new dust.
Sincerely, Concerned Citizens of Southern California, Mexico and Arizona, including The EcoMedia Compass and regional teachers.
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