CC Resolution 2020-039 Salton Sea Water Import Analysis RESOLUTION NO. 2020 - 039
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF LA QUINTA, CALIFORNIA, DECLARING
ITS CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR A
COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS OF ALL WATER
IMPORT ALTERNATIVES AS PART OF THE LONG-
TERM SOLUTION FOR THE SALTON SEA
WHEREAS, the inflow of water to the Salton Sea has decreased and
pursuant to the Quantification Settlement Agreement, mitigation water inflows
ended on December 31, 2017, and without restoration or stabilization
measures, the Salton Sea will rapidly decline; and
WHEREAS, The State of California (“State”) has developed the Salton
Sea Management Program (“SSMP”) through departments within the
California Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Agencies and is
obligated to pay for certain costs related to habitat, and water quality issues
at the Salton Sea; and
WHEREAS, On November 20, 2018 the City of La Quinta adopted
Resolution No. 2018-057 in support of a Memorandum of Understanding with
Riverside and Imperial Counites to work together with local agencies to
collaborate with stakeholders affected by the Salton Sea. The goal was to solve
complex challenges and promote economic development, public health, air
quality, and wildlife habitat;
WHEREAS, On May 7, 2019 the City of La Quinta adopted Resolution
No. 2019-012 that read: “Parties are supportive of comprehensive analysis of
ocean water importation as a long-term solution for the restoration of the
Salton Sea. Parties respectfully request analysis be conducted of ocean water
importation and incorporated into the State’s 10-year SSMP plan”; and
WHEREAS, the California State Water Resources Control Board has an
oversight role in monitoring and ensuring progress towards the goal of the
SSMP and has set a deadline of December 31, 2022 for the completion of a
long-term plan regarding the Salton Sea;
WHEREAS, eleven (11) proposals received by the State in 2018 in
response to their Request for Information (RFI) included a water importation
component; and
Resolution No. 2020-039
Support Analysis of Water Import Alternatives for Restoration of the Salton Sea
Adopted: November 17, 2020
Page 2 of 3
WHEREAS, the City Council requests that agencies and stakeholders
begin the analysis of water import alternatives so it could be completed by the
December 31, 2022 deadline as set forth by the California State Water
Resources Control Board for the long-term plan regarding the Salton Sea;
WHEREAS, the State will require that any water import project proposal
include an engineering and logistic feasibility study conducted on behalf of the
proponent by an accredited or licensed engineering, planning, or equivalent
organization recognized by the State prior to consideration by the SSMP; and
WHEREAS, the State prepared a Request for Proposal (RFP) for an
independent reviewer panel to conduct a feasibility study of water importation
proposals in February 2020 and again in June 2020, neither of which received
response; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City
of La Quinta, California, as follows:
SECTION 1. The City Council declares its continued support for the completion
of a comprehensive analysis and review of all water import alternatives as a
long-term solution for the restoration of the Salton Sea, and requests the
analysis of said alternatives be incorporated into the SSMP.
SECTION 2. The City requests that the State continue to aggressively pursue
the creation of an independent reviewer panel for the immediate analysis of
water import alternatives in order to maintain the current December 31, 2022
completion deadline as set forth by the California State Water Resource
Control Board for the long-term plan regarding the Salton Sea.
SECTION 3. The City of La Quinta requests that the Salton Sea Management
Program allocate two million dollars of the $507.5 million unused and available
funding for restoring the Salton Sea for an immediate comparative
engineering review of the ocean water import proposals accepted by the state
in 2018.
PASSED, APPROVED, and ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the La
Quinta City Council held on this 17th day of November, 2020, by the following
vote:
AYES: Council Members Fitzpatrick, Peña, Radi, Sanchez, Mayor Evans
NOES: None