Sorry, you need to enable JavaScript to visit this website.

Supervisor Perez Elected President of Salton Sea Authority Board

28 July 2021

PALM DESERT – Supervisor V. Manuel Perez looks forward to guiding continued efforts to advance habitat and dust suppression projects at the Salton Sea as the new president of the Salton Sea Authority board of directors.

Supervisor Perez Elected President of Salton Sea Authority Board

PALM DESERT – Supervisor V. Manuel Perez looks forward to guiding continued efforts to advance habitat and dust suppression projects at the Salton Sea as the new president of the Salton Sea Authority board of directors.

At the June meeting of the Salton Sea Authority board of directors, directors by unanimous vote elected Supervisor Perez to a one-year term as board president beginning July 1. The other newly elected officers are: Imperial County Supervisor Luis A. Plancarte, vice president; Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians Tribal Councilmember Altrena Santillanes, secretary; and Coachella Valley Water District Director Anthony Bianco, treasurer.

“I thank my fellow directors for the honor to serve as president of the board of the Salton Sea Authority for this next year,” said Supervisor Perez. “It is encouraging to see such momentum for the Salton Sea, efforts that are taking place at every single level of government and at the community level, nonprofits on the ground and educational researchers. We are looking forward to a productive year for our Salton Sea efforts, as we work to ensure our number one priority of public health, as well as environmental, social and economic concerns.”

Supervisor Perez’s goals for this year include: securing funding for more Salton Sea projects; leading a series of outreach and community engagement sessions; building out projects across the entire Salton Sea region including the North Shore demonstration pilot project at the northern end and supporting projects in Imperial County at the southern end and to the west in the community of Desert Shores; begin identifying Perimeter Lake projects; and reviewing evaluations and getting feedback from the Salton Sea Authority board on long term strategy of water importation.

Supervisor Perez also looks forward to working with state and federal government partners, and continued collaboration with State Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia and U.S. Representative Raul Ruiz.

California Secretary for Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot stated, “We appreciate Supervisor Perez’s ongoing leadership at the Salton Sea and very much look forward to working with him in this important new capacity.”

“Supervisor Manuel Perez is an excellent choice whose leadership and expertise will prove an asset to the Salton Sea Authority at this pivotal time. As California continues to make progress on Salton Sea action like never before, with construction on the first major habitat and dust suppression project well underway, the Supervisor’s firsthand knowledge of the state process will allow us to strengthen community engagement and maximize our combined regional efforts,” said Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia.

“Congratulations to Supervisor V. Manuel Perez, on his election to serve as president of the board of the Salton Sea Authority,” said Dr. Ruiz. “Supervisor Perez’s experience working to mitigate the consequences of the shrinking Sea will help the Salton Sea Authority successfully continue its vital work to protect the public’s health. I look forward to continuing our partnership to strengthen our all-hands-on-deck approach to the urgent environmental crisis affecting our communities.”

The Salton Sea Authority is a joint powers authority comprised of Riverside County, Imperial County, Coachella Valley Water District, Imperial Irrigation District and the Torres-Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians.

###Supervisor V. Manuel Perez represents the eastern two-thirds of Riverside County on the Riverside County Board of Supervisors. Stretching from Palm Springs and Desert Hot Springs, south to the Salton Sea and east to Blythe and the Colorado River, the 4th District is the largest geographical district in the county.

Supervisor Perez’s office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.