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(Salton Sea, Calif.--May 6, 2025) For the first time, water is flowing into the Species Conservation Habitat Project at California’s beleaguered Salton Sea—creating vital refuge for shorebirds and bringing much-needed relief from airborne dust in nearby communities.

“This is a big day for the many thousands of birds that call the Salton Sea home, as well as the nearby communities seeking relief from the unhealthy dust kicked up from exposed playa,” said Andrea Jones, Լ����Ƶ California’s director of conservation and interim executive director. “Ultimately, water is the essential ingredient that provides life for this community—and the fact that it is flowing into this project should give everyone hope that better days are coming.”

The state-run Salton Sea Management Program announced the water flows into the project’s east pond in early May. The inflow is a mix of water from the Salton Sea and the New River. This is the first step in the watering of the project. Toward the end of the month, state officials expect to begin watering the East Pond 1 Expansion Pond. Together, these ponds will provide about 2,000 acres of new habitat for migrating shorebirds, waterfowl and other waterbirds.

“Seeing the water flowing into this project demonstrates to the communities around the Salton Sea that the state is genuinely committed to turning things around,” Camila Bautista, Լ����Ƶ California’s Desert and Salton Sea Program Manager.

The flooding will substantially reduce acreage of playa, exposed lakebed that that can send clouds of windborne dust blowing into nearby communities. Some 650,000 people live near the Salton Sea and suffer some of the highest incidences of respiratory ailments in the state.

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Press contact: Jason Howe, jason.howe@audubon.org