1. Salton Sea Species Conservation Habitat Scoping Meetings July 7 and 8, 2010

2. 2 Provide Species Conservation Habitat (SCH) Project information to agencies and public Receive comments that help develop EIS/EIR scope and content Meeting Purpose

3. 3 Presentation Team Rick Davis – Davis Group Arturo Delgado – California Department of Fish and Game Lanika Cervantes – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Rob Thomson – ENTRIX, Inc.

4. Species Conservation Habitat Project Participating Agencies and Roles

5. 5 Lead Agencies California Natural Resources Agency (CEQA) California Department of Fish and Game EIR oversight State permitting lead California Department of Water Resources Contract administration Technical support U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Los Angeles District (NEPA) EIS oversight Federal permitting lead Government-to-government consultation

6. 6 State of California Products and Activities California Natural Resources Agency role CEQA Lead Agency California Department of Fish and Game role Oversee EIR preparation California Endangered Species Act – section 2081 authorization Fish and Game Code section 1602, Streambed Alteration Agreement Applicant for Federal 404/401 permits, other permits and consultation Project funding and implementation

7. 7 Corps Products and Activities NEPA Lead Agency/EIS oversight Clean Water Act – section 404 permit, section 401 certification National Historic Preservation Act – section 106 consultation Federal Endangered Species Act compliance Government-to-government (tribal) consultation

8. Species Conservation Habitat Project Project Overview

9. 9 Need for SCH Project Reduced inflows to Salton Sea will increase salinity and reduce key habitat Increasing salinity will lead to fishery collapse Fishery collapse will result in loss of forage base for fish-eating birds

10. 10 SCH Project Purpose Provide conservation measures while Legislature determines long-term action Replace some near-term habitat loss from salinity increase Target – fish-eating birds dependent on the Sea for: Foraging – fishery resources Essential habitat components (foraging, nesting, roosting, loafing) Viability of significant portion of population

11. 11 Goals and Objectives Goal 1: Develop a range of aquatic habitats that will support fish and wildlife species dependent on the Salton Sea Objectives Provide appropriate foraging habitat for fish-eating bird species Develop habitats required to support fish-eating bird species Support a sustainable, productive aquatic community Provide suitable water quality for fish Minimize adverse effects on desert pupfish Minimize risk of selenium Minimize risk of disease/toxicity impacts

12. 12 Goals and Objectives Goal 2: Develop and refine information needed to successfully manage the SCH Project through an adaptive management process Objectives Identify uncertainties in achieving the objectives Design science-based means to test alternatives and reduce uncertainty Develop and implement a monitoring plan Develop a decision-making framework Provide proof-of-concept for future restoration efforts

13. 13 Three Possible Alternative Locations

14. 14 Key Project Components Construct approximately 2,400 acres of ponds Sited between -228 and -234 msl Possible components include Water diversion from river Water treatment Water conveyance Sediment trap Habitat ponds Discharge to Sea Range of salinity to maximize habitat value and function

15. 15 Photos of Similar Salt Ponds

16. 16 Impact Assessment Planning Significance thresholds based on Initial Study checklist Salton Sea Programmatic EIR Review of potential Project impacts Key environmental issues Biological resources Hydrology/water quality Complete list in Notice of Intent/Notice of Preparation

17. 17 NEPA/CEQA scoping – June/July 2010 Draft EIS/EIR – late 2010 to early 2011 Draft permit applications – early 2011 Final EIS/EIR – mid 2011 Final design – mid to late 2011 Permits complete – mid to late 2011 Begin construction – late 2011 to early 2012 Current Schedule

18. 18 SCH Information Dissemination Website (www.water.ca.gov/saltonsea)www.water.ca.gov/saltonsea Periodic newsletters Public meetings

19. Species Conservation Habitat Project Scoping Process

20. 20 Public Scoping Period Notice of Intent/Notice of Preparation – June 21 Scoping period – June 21 to July 24 Scoping meetings July 7 Palm Desert – UC Riverside (1:00 p.m.) Thermal – Torres Martinez Administrative Building (6:30 p.m.) July 8 Calipatria – Calipatria Inn and Suites (1:00 p.m.) Brawley – Elks Lodge (6:30 p.m.)

21. 21 Ways to Comment Speak at this meeting Write comment at this meeting Email Corps or Department of Fish and Game Send letter to Corps or Department of Fish and Game

22. 22 Where to Send Comments (by July 24) Corps contact: Lanika Cervantes, Project Manager San Diego Section, Regulatory Division U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Los Angeles District 6010 Hidden Valley Road, Suite 105 Carlsbad, CA 92011 (760) 602-4838Lanika.L.Cervantes@usace.army.milLanika.L.Cervantes@usace.army.mil DFG contact: Kim Nicol, Environmental Program Manager California Department of Fish and Game 78078 Country Club Drive, Suite 109 Bermuda Dunes, CA 92203 (760) 200-9178knicol@dfg.ca.govknicol@dfg.ca.gov

23. 23 Public Comments on the EIS/EIR Focus on scope and content of EIS/EIR Goals and objectives Alternatives Potential effects Be specific Speak clearly so concerns are understood Be succinct so others have time to comment