BOARD02402

• Board Meeting Date: 5/11/1998
• Description: WSP Section - Colorado River Basin Issues - Sonny Bono Memorial Salton Sea Bill
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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Colorado Water Conservation Board
Department of Natural Resources
721 Centennial Building
1 313 Sherman Street
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
fAX: [phone]

STATE OF COLORADO

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Roy Romer
Governor

MEMORANDUM

James S. lochheild
Executive Oireaor, DNR

DariesC. Lile, P.E.
Director, eWeB

TO:

Colorado Water Conservation Board Members

Steve Miller 5t)',vf M'JJ-
Interstate Streams and Hydrologic Investigations Section

FROM:

DATE:

May 4,1998

SUBJECT:

Agenda Item 26j, May 11-12, 1998 Board Meeting-
Colorado River Basin Issues - Sonny Bono Memorial Salton Sea Bill

Introduction

During discussions at the March 1998 Board meeting it was suggested that staff and the Board
should consider commenting on a new piece of proposed federal legislation dealing with restoration
of the Salton Sea in California.

Staff obtained copies of and reviewed the House [H.R 3267] and Senate [So 1716] versions of the
"Sonny Bono Memorial Salton Sea Restoration Act". Both bills are substantially the same. A copy
of H.R 3267 (as introduced Feb. 25, 1998) is attached to this memo, as is a table outlining the main
provisions of both bills. In addition to examining the bills, staff has reviewed testimony presented
to the House Subcommittee on Power and Water which held a hearing on H.R. 3267 on March 12,
1998. We have also obtained some background information on the hydrology of the Salton Sea and
recent environmental issues and studies, which is not discussed in this memo, but can be furnished
to interested Board members. This memo will highlight the principle issues raised by the Bills and
update the Board on their status in this Congress.

Overview of Bills

H.R 3267 directs the Secretary of the Interior in consultation with several California and Tribal
entities to do the following:
I. Prepare a $22.5 million feasibility study of certain remediation alternatives designed to
stabilize the water surface elevation and reduce the salinity of the Salton Sea at levels specified
in the bill.