“The Salton Sea Can’t Wait”—Inaugural Salton Sea Conservancy Board Meeting Spotlights Community Engagement and the Urgent Need for Progress

(May 14, 2026, La Quinta, CA) Thursday marked the first board meeting of the new Salton Sea Conservancy, the first conservancy established in California in over fifteen years and a recognition of the importance of the state’s largest lake. Convened by Joe Shea, Assistant Secretary for Salton Sea Policy at the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA), the session introduced board members to the public, outlined its budget and structure, and highlighted the importance of community engagement.

“I left the meeting hopeful for accelerated progress and strengthened partnerships, optimistic about the commitment of our diverse board, and excited to tackle the challenges ahead,” said Camila Bautista, Audubon California’s Salton Sea & Deserts Program Manager and CNRA’s appointee to the Board. “As Joe said at the start, the Salton Sea can’t wait. It’s too important for the communities and wildlife that depend on it.”

At the meeting, Camila presented on the need for intentional and consistent community engagement, sharing Audubon’s on-the-ground survey for the Salton Sea Public Access Community study, community-centered planning meetings for the Bombay Beach Wetland Enhancement Project, and her team’s many education and leadership programs.

“For this to really succeed, we need our communities to see themselves reflected in this work, and to feel empowered to participate,” said Camila. “So much of my work has been bringing people to experience the Salton Sea and see it through a different lens - helping them understand the issues, but also envision what it can be and how they can be a part of that future.”

The Salton Sea Partnership, a coalition of leading conservation and community groups, including Audubon, that has worked for more than a decade to protect public and ecological health in the region, expressed support for the launch of the Conservancy.

"The Salton Sea Conservancy's first meeting is another important step toward ensuring a long-term state commitment to revitalize the Salton Sea ecosystem and protect the people in the region," said Michael Cohen, Senior Fellow with the Pacific Institute, member of the Partnership, and long-time Salton Sea advocate. "Special thanks to Senator Padilla and Governor Newsom and his staff for promoting the inter-agency coordination and local representation necessary to ensure the health of the region."

The Conservancy was signed into law in September 2024 through the passage of Senate Bill 583 and is currently funded through an allocation from Proposition 4, the climate bond approved by a majority of California voters in 2024. According to the CNRA, it is unique in its charge with two main functions: ensuring the operations and maintenance of projects that are built under the Salton Sea Management Plan; and acquiring and holding land and water rights.

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Media contact: Shineh Rhee, Communications Director, Audubon California  

shineh.rhee@audubon.org  

415.644.4605  

Audubon California is a regional office of the National Audubon Society. Learn more at audubon.org/california and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @AudubonCA.    

The National Audubon Society is a leading nonprofit conservation organization with 120 years of science-based, community-driven impact, dedicated to protecting birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. Birds are powerful indicators of our planet’s health, acting as sentinels that warn us of environmental change and inspire action. Audubon works across the Western Hemisphere, driven by the understanding that what is good for birds is good for the planet. Through a collaborative, bipartisan approach across habitats, borders, and the political spectrum, Audubon drives meaningful and lasting conservation outcomes. With 800 staff and over 1.9 million supporters, Audubon is a dynamic and ever-growing force committed to ensuring a better planet for both birds and people for generations to come.