Residents Tired of Mutiple Studies on Saving Sea

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thedesertsun.com I Residents tired of multiple studies on saving sea They suggested it would be quicker to begin work on that plan rather than study a new range of alternatives. "I'd spend $20 million on the project," said Tom Kirk, executive director of the Salton Sea Authority. "This community has had 40 years of studies. It is time to get on with a project." The state process was sparked by a series of laws the Legislature approved to help close a massive Colorado River water sale aimed at moving billions and billions of gallons of water from Imperial Valley fields to San Diego and the Coachella Valley. The water, mostly runoff from fields, would otherwise flow to the sea. By diverting water from the sea, water users virtually guaranteed it will shrink. The multi - billion dollar deal between four regional water districts, California, other Colorado River states and the federal government also sets aside up to around $300 million for ecosystem restoration -- but it doesn't guarantee the money will be spent at the sea. The state working group in charge of drafting the alternatives report will weigh the merits of using the money to restore habitat along the Colorado River or the Gulf of California in Mexico. Jeanine Jones, the engineer in charge of the working group, said the Legislature may determine it is more cost effective to spread the ecosystem restoration money beyond the boundaries of the Salton Sea. "They need to know what sort of benefit they get from what sort of expenditure," Jones said. Meantime, many believe the environment around the sea is in decline. They cite reports that few, if any, fish are showing up on anglers' hooks or in gill nets set to record the fish population. The declining fish population in what was once billed as one of the world's most productive fisheries is contributing to problems for birds, too. Bird populations have dwindled in recent years, according to Dan Cooper, director of bird conservation for Audubon California. For example, he said volunteers counted 100,000 eared grebes at the sea during a 2001 census, but just 543 in a similar count in 2002. White pelican numbers have also fallen dramatically, Cooper said. The pelican decline can be attributed to low fish counts, he said. But the decline of eared grebes, a duck -like bird, "is even more troubling," because they feed on smaller organisms, Cooper said. The sea, considered a major stop on the migratory bird route known as the Pacific Flyway, is a haven for more than 400 species of birds -- two- thirds of the bird species known to exist in California. Benjamin Spillman can be reached at 778 -4643 or by e-mail. Send a friend a link to this story: Your friend's e-mail address: F_ Your e-mail address: F_ A brief message: Page 2 of 3 http:// www. thedesertsun. com/ news/ stories2004 /local/20040317010529.shttnl 3/18/2004