Letter to Barbara Boxer

In addition to coming up with a solution for better managing resources, my government class also wrote letters to members of Congress to tell them of our concerns and solutions.

March 2, 2009
The Honorable Barbara Boxer
112 Hart Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510



Dear Senator Barbara Boxer:

I am writing to express my concern regarding the problematic and possibly severe situation of the Salton Sea just north of the Imperial Valley. The lake, the largest body of water in California and home to hundreds of species of birds and thousands of fish, is quickly shrinking while its salinity is increasing to dangerous levels. This is mostly due to the diversions from Salton Sea and the Colorado River, a major source of water for the lake. Because of these actions, the entire ecosystem that it holds is now in jeopardy.

I have read the reports from the Salton Sea Ecosystem Restoration Program that were submitted in 2007, but I am not entirely satisfied with the proposed solution. It seems to me that those who are involved in choosing the best action to take, the Salton Sea Authority, Department of Fish and Game, Department of Water Resources and others, have made their decisions primarily to satisfy minimum requirements, rather than what is best for Salton Sea. The proposed plan would destroy the lake that was formed over one hundred years ago and create an entirely man-made water system for the purpose of meeting technical requirements: to lower the salinity, save the brine shrimp and improve and monitor the air quality. Instead of a whole lake, there will be concentric circles of small lakes (no more than twelve feet deep) and one larger portion for recreational use. In the middle of the doughnut, there will only be two small lakes, and the rest will be exposed lake bed. This plan, which is now moving into action, was adopted without any intent to preserve the lake as a part of the environment around it, and as the great ecosystem it has become.

I urge you to take a moment, if you have not already done so, to ensure that the officials who have worked so hard to construct this solution consult with the local people and others who have a vested interest in the lake, such as fishermen. Although Salton Sea is relatively young, that does not mean that it is less valued as a part of nature. Indeed, hundreds of species of birds have made it a major stop on the Pacific Flyway, thereby turning it into a crucial part of California’s landscape. Please make sure that this plan only goes forward if the lake cannot be sustained as it is.

Sincerely,

Amelia Vance
2225 Seaside St
San Diego, CA 92107