On October 19^th, local and state officials celebrated the commencement of the initial project area surveys, which will help officials make key decisions on project design. While the project’s actual groundbreaking will probably not take place for another year or so, this is an important milestone towards mitigation efforts at the Salton Sea.

The North Lake project plans include a 156-acre lake with shallow and deep-water habitat at the northern shore of the Salton Sea, adjacent to North Shore Beach and Yacht Club. This project will aid in habitat restoration for fish and birds and will also help control dust in the area. This is the first major project to take place on the sea’s northern border, while the Species Conservation Habitat Project along the southern edge is nearing completion.

Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD) Vice President Castulo Estrada stated that officials set their sights on the North Lake project as an initial demonstration project to get a better understanding of the water quality and water supply available. Once those questions are answered, Estrada stated, more projects could potentially be endeavored at the sea.