Dr. Ruiz Leads Push to Defend Salton Sea from Funding Cuts

Palm Desert, CA – Today, Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) called on the U.S. Department of the Interior to uphold its commitments to the Salton Sea by ensuring that key drought mitigation funding under the Inflation Reduction Act is used to address the ongoing public health and environmental crisis at the Sea. Dr. Ruiz’s letter to Interior Secretary Deb Haaland comes amid calls for the Department of Interior to withhold federal funds for the Salton Sea until additional water cuts are agreed to by the State of California.  

Citing the environmental and public health crisis at the Sea as well as the disproportionate impact of the region’s historic drought on frontline communities, Dr. Ruiz urged Secretary Haaland to uphold the federal government’s responsibilities to protect the Sea and the region.  

“As you work to oversee negotiations over voluntary reductions in the amount of water used by Colorado River stakeholders, I strongly urge you to distribute the drought mitigation funding in a way that upholds the federal government’s responsibilities to protect the Sea and the region,” Dr. Ruiz wrote. “California is a senior water rights holder on the Colorado River, yet California water agencies have already offered substantial water cuts in the spirit of good-faith negotiations…California stakeholders have asked that any Colorado River water cuts come with money to support the Salton Sea. Not only is this a reasonable request, but mitigation funding for the Salton Sea should be a prerequisite for any water cuts to the region.” 

“As a doctor, I am deeply concerned by the effects of the Salton Sea on my constituents’ health,” Dr. Ruiz continued. “Denying the Salton Sea proper mitigation funding would exacerbate the issue and further hurt vulnerable, disadvantaged, and tribal communities.” 

BACKGROUND 

For decades, inflows to the Salton Sea have been reduced, resulting in thousands of acres of exposed lakebed and rapidly declining water quality that threaten the local ecosystem and public health of surrounding communities.  

The Inflation Reduction Act includes $4 billion in funding specifically for water management and conservation efforts in the Colorado River Basin and other areas experiencing similar levels of drought. This funding will go toward states, public water facilities, and water districts, including $12.5 million to mitigate the effect of drought on Tribes. 

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