CC Resolution 2002-052 Salton Sea Water TransfersRESOLUTION NO. 2002-52
A RESOLUTION OF CONCERN OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF LA QUINTA, CALIFORNIA, REGARDING THE
EFFECT OF WATER TRANSFERS ON THE SALTON SEA
WHEREAS, the Salton Sea is a valuable economic and recreational resource of
the Coachella Valley receiving over 200,000 visitors per year at the State Parks alone;
and
WHEREAS, the Salton Sea is among the most important bird resources in North
America, with the greatest biodiversity of bird species in California and the second
most in the Nation; and
WHEREAS, the Salton Sea will become more saline unless a plan for salinity
control is implemented and its resources as we know them, will be lost; and
WHEREAS, the City of La Quinta understands the need and supports the
implementation of the "California 4.4 Plan," which is designed to reduce California's
use of Colorado River water in normal years to 4.4 MAF, without causing major
economic and social impacts to the Coachella Valley, Palo Verde Valley, Coastal
Southern California and California; and
WHEREAS, the City of La Quinta understands that the Quantification Settlement
Agreement (QSA), which is the key element of the "California 4.4 Plan" provides the
Coachella Valley with a firm water supply to resolve the overdraft of the groundwater
basin and to allow for growth; and
WHEREAS, without the QSA and its water transfers to the Coachella Valley,
development and water costs in the Coachella Valley will be impacted; and
WHEREAS, the City of La Quinta understands that the QSA is a time sensitive
matter with an existing signature date of December 31, 2002 and that without
agreement the Secretary of the Interior will limit California to 4.4 MAF which will
reduce the supply to coastal Southern California or create water reallocations; and
WHEREAS, water transfers are a business arrangement between agencies to sell
and buy water and are an essential component of the proposed "California 4.4 Plan"
and the QSA; and
WHEREAS, in the recently released Imperial Irrigation District (IID) Water
Conservation and Transfer Project Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact
Statement on the water transfer of up to 200,000 acre-feet per year of water to the
SDCWA and the transfer of 100,000 acre-feet to the Coachella Valley indicates that
the transfer could significantly reduce flows to the Sea; and
Resolution No. 2002-52
Water Transfers / Salton Sea
Adopted: April 2, 2002
Page 2
WHEREAS, a major reduction of inflows to the Sea will likely lead to a reduction
in sea elevation of up to 22 feet, potentially exposing over 100 square miles of seabed
and diminish the vitality of the Sea; and
WHEREAS, a major reduction of inflows greatly accelerates salinity increases
in the Sea; and
WHEREAS, with or without transfers, significant changes to habitat threaten
bird biodiversity and abundance at the Salton Sea; and
WHEREAS, the aforementioned physical changes in the Sea could lead to
significant air quality, biological, and economic impacts; and
WHEREAS, the Coachella Valley may soon be redesignated as a non -attainment
area for Particulate Matter smaller than 10 microns (PM-10); and
WHEREAS, particulate matter contributions from exposed lake -bed might
jeopardize the Coachella Valley's compliance efforts and lead to significant economic
disruptions and health impacts; and
WHEREAS, major reductions of inflow will greatly increase the cost of restoring
the Salton Sea and thereby risk making restoration financially and practically infeasible;
and
WHEREAS, Congress and the California legislature have authorized studies of
the Salton Sea and a plan approved by Congress and the California legislature does not
exist for the restoration of the Salton Sea; and
WHEREAS, the IID Water Conservation and Transfer Project Environmental
Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement contains several options to develop the
water for the transfers including the option of fallowing land which would have less
impact on the Salton Sea; and
WHEREAS, efforts are underway to relax environmental compliance laws to
facilitate the water transfers; and
WHEREAS, the City of La Quinta acknowledges that the California "fully -
protected species" laws may need to be updated to allow "take" provisions similar to
the California Endangered Species Act; and
Resolution No. 2002-52
Water Transfers / Salton Sea
Adopted: April 2, 2002
Page 3
WHEREAS, for all of the above reasons it is prudent to proceed cautiously with
those parts of the "California 4.4 Plan" which have serious economic and
environmental impacts while continuing to proceed expeditiously with those parts of
the Plan which are essential to meeting the California Colorado River Allotment.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of
La Quinta, California, as follows:
To oppose projects which significantly lower the level of the Salton Sea; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED to support efforts by Congresswoman Mary Bono
to ensure that the impacts of water transfers on the Salton Sea and the Coachella
Valley are complying with environmental laws; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED to urge the IID Board of Directors to pursue water
transfer solutions which meet the terms of the QSA and do not create significant
negative impacts on the Salton Sea; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED to support stringent reviews of any State and/or
Federal legislation that relax environmental laws at the detriment of economic or
environmental values of the Salton Sea or Coachella Valley; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be sent to
Senator Dianne Feinstein, Senator Barbara Boxer, Congresswoman Mary Bono and the
rest of the Congressional Salton Sea Task Force, other appropriate members of
Congress, the Secretary of the Interior, State Senator Jim Battin, Assemblyman Dave
Kelley, State Senator Sheila Kuehl, other appropriate members of the State legislature,
the California Resources Secretary, the Secretary of the Environmental Protection
Agency, other appropriate State and Federal agencies, and the Salton Sea Authority.
PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the La Quinta City
Council held on this 2nd day of April, 2002, by the following vote to wit:
AYES: Council Members Adolph, Henderson, Perkins, Sniff, Mayor Pena
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Resolution No. 2002-52
Water Transfers / Salton Sea
Adopted: April 2, 2002
Page 4
JOHN J. JPNA, M ,
L City of uinta, lifornia
ATTEST:
JUNE REEK, CMC, City CI
City of La Quinta, California
(City Seal)
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
City of La Quinta, Californ