Salton Sea Management Program Phase 1: 10-Year Plan Imperial and Riverside Counties, California Draft Environmental Assessment

This Environmental Assessment (EA) was prepared pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and analyzes and discloses the effects of the implementation of the Salton Sea Management Program’s (SSMP’s) Phase 1: 10-Year Plan (SSMP 10-Year Plan or Applicant’s Proposed Project) being proposed by CNRA (California Natural Resource Agency), California Department of Water Resources (DWR), and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), collectively known as the SSMP team. The SSMP team is seeking Department of the Army (DA) authorization from the United States Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), Los Angeles District, pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (CWA; 33 USC §1344). The SSMP 10-Year Plan proposes to implement a total of 29,800 acres of aquatic habitat restoration and dust suppression projects around the perimeter of the Salton Sea. At least 50 percent of the project acreage will be created as habitat for fish and wildlife that depend on the Salton Sea ecosystem and the remainder will be projects to suppress dust.