State of California Department of Water Resources

The Purpose of the Species Conservation Habitat Expansion (SCH Expansion) Is to Construct Additional Aquatic Habitat Restoration Adjacent to Further the Salton Sea Management Program Goal Towards 14,900 Acres of Aquatic Habitat. Due to the Increasing Salinity in the Salton Sea From the Receding Shoreline Habitat Is Being Lost. to Increase the Amount of Aquatic Habitat for Fish and Wildlife, Additional Ponds Would Be Constructed Around the SCH. the Ponds Would Provide Up to an Additional 7,000 Acres and Would Be Designed to Meet the Same Performance Criteria as SCH. Nesting and Loafing Islands, and Shallow, Mid- and Deep Areas Would Be Constructed. the Northern Berms Would Be Constructed in the Wet. the Project Footprint Will Be Refined During the Design Phase. Project May Include the Following Key Activities and Objectives: 1. Conduct Environmental Surveys to Determine Baseline Conditions and Develop Permit Applications 2. Develop the Designs for the SCH Ponds, Berms, and Infrastructure 3. Construct the SCH Expansion Project Over a Series of Phases Which Includes the Expansion West Ponds, the Expansion Center Ponds, and the Expansion East Ponds.due to the Receding Salton Sea, It Has Impacted Many Fish and Wildlife Habitation. This Agreement Will Directly Benefit Fish and Wildlife Species Through the Creation of Approximately 7,000 Acres of Aquatic Habitat.