Barbara Boxer: “today I am introducing the Sonny Bono Memorial Salton Sea Restoration Act. My legislation will lead to an efficient and…”

“today I am introducing the Sonny Bono Memorial Salton Sea Restoration Act. My legislation will lead to an efficient and responsible restoration of the unique Salton Sea ecosystem. Over the years, scientists, communities and politicians alike have been trying to draw national attention to the decline of the Salton Sea. Our late friend and colleague, Representative Sonny Bono, who died in a tragic skiing accident in January, worked tirelessly to make this issue an environmental priority for this Congress. With this legislation, we can carry on that legacy. The Salton Sea is a unique natural resource in Southern California. Created in 1905 by a breach in a levee along the Colorado River, the Salton Sea is California's largest inland body of water. It is one of the most important habitats for migratory birds along the Pacific Flyway. For 16 months after the breach, the Colorado River flowed into a dry lakebed, filling it to a depth of 80 feet. For a time following the closure of the levee, the water levels declined rapidly as evaporation greatly exceeded inflow. A minimum level was reached in the 1920s, after which the sea once again began to rise, due largely to the importation of water into the basin for agricultural purposes from the New and Alamo Rivers. Since there is no natural outlet for the sea at its current level, evaporation is the only way water leaves the basin.”