USA, California:

Salton Sea Slated for Federal Funding (The Desert Sun)

Monies could open the door for more government spending on Salton Sea restoration including opportunities for geothermal energy

The Army Corps of Engineers is budgeting $200,000 next year for work relating to the Salton Sea, a step that local officials say may clear the way for more federal government involvement in projects aimed at protecting habitats and keeping dust down as the lake recedes.

Although the amount of proposed federal spending next year is relatively small, the inclusion of a Salton Sea study for the first time in the Corps of Engineers’ work plan signals that the federal government is increasingly making the lake a priority, said Phil Rosentrater, deputy director of the Riverside County Economic Development Agency.

He and other local officials hope the Army Corps of Engineers’ involvement could help open the door for future financial support from Washington.

“It is the key that unlocks the door for the rest of the funding,” said Bruce Wilcox, environmental manager for Salton Sea projects for the Imperial Irrigation District.

He said the federal government’s growing role also fits with other initiatives, including a plan promoted by Imperial Irrigation District to develop more geothermal energy plants around the Salton Sea.

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