Go Green Radio

The area surrounding the Salton Sea is home to more than 650,000 people. As the water levels in the sea recede, the exposed lakebed dries up and the toxic dust blows across the vicinity, which has some of the highest asthma rates in the United States. In addition to the public health implications, shrinking water levels result in a higher salinity, which kills fish that many migratory birds depend on to fuel their migrations along the Pacific Flyway. In June 2018, California voters passed Proposition 68, a $4 billion state bond measure that will provide critical funding for state parks, clean water, climate change resilience, and wildlife habitat – including $200 million in funding to address the deterioration of the Salton Sea. Echoing this mandate from the electorate, the National Audubon Society urges the state of California to accelerate progress on the implementation of projects to reduce dust and stave off environmental degradation.