Averting Disaster: Action Now for the Salton Sea

Report #228, September 2015
Averting Disaster: Action Now for the Salton Sea

Full Report

Executive Summary

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 24, 2015

For Additional Information Contact:
Carole D’Elia, Executive Director
(916) 445-2125

Commission Urges Immediate State Action to Prevent Massive Dust Storms, Wildlife Losses and Harm to Southland Economies From Receding Salton Sea

Southern California faces an environmental and public health crisis with the continuing, and perhaps irreversible demise of the Salton Sea. This potential wind-blown disaster and related human and economic consequences can be mitigated only if the state quickly implements long-planned improvements, the Little Hoover Commission stated in a report released Thursday, Averting Disaster: Action Now for the Salton Sea.

“The risk to Southern Californians, and in particular the Imperial and Coachella Valleys, their economies and to migrating wildlife, is mounting and well-documented,” said Little Hoover Commission Vice Chair Loren Kaye. “The state has studied this subject long enough; now is the time for action.”

The Commission’s report details a range of negative consequences as thousands of acres of newly dried-up Salton Sea lakebed become exposed to desert winds that could carry dust to populated areas and nearby world-class resort economies. Scientists and experts say without state action dust storms will have serious air quality impacts for Coachella and Imperial Valley residents already contending with California’s highest rates of asthma and unemployment. As the decline of the lake accelerates in 2018 due to changing uses of the Colorado River, efficient irrigation practices and farm-to-urban water transfers, millions of migrating birds that feed on Salton Sea fish populations – and lacking similar ecosystems elsewhere due to large-scale development of wetland areas statewide – also face threatening consequences.

To spur action toward Salton Sea restoration, the Commission commends the Governor on his September 2, 2015, appointment of an assistant secretary for Salton Sea policy and recommends:

  • Immediately implementing projects to cover part of the lakebed with dust-mitigation projects and shallow ponds for wildlife habitat, and exercising an available option to sell water to boost project funding.
     
  • Beginning construction on currently-permitted projects and identifying funding – including money from the Proposition 1 water bond enacted by voters in 2014 – to begin planning a second generation of projects and long-term restoration strategy.
     

The Little Hoover Commission will hold an April 2016 hearing to monitor state progress. Additionally, it will request an August 2016 briefing by state officials about the next phase of projects, as well as medium- and long-term strategies for the Salton Sea.

The Little Hoover Commission is a bipartisan and independent state agency charged with recommending ways to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of state programs. The Commission’s recommendations are submitted to the Governor and the Legislature for their consideration and action. For a copy of the report, visit the Commission’s website: www.lhc.ca.gov.

Fact Sheet

Study Description

For this study, the Commission reviewed the state’s Salton Sea environmental mitigation and restoration strategy. This review stemmed from some Commissioners' long-standing concerns and a request from Assemblymember Garcia.

The Salton Sea in its current form comes from an historical accident, although it sits in an ancient lakebed that has filled and evaporated periodically across centuries. In 1905, a rampaging Colorado River overran pioneer levees and over the course of two years, filled the Salton Sink in the Colorado Desert in the Imperial and Coachella valleys. The defining environmental condition at the Salton Sea is lack of fresh water to sustain its size, plus an ever-increasing salinity. Decades of irrigated salt-laden agricultural runoff from Imperial and Riverside counties has flowed downhill to the sea. Being well below sea level with no ability to drain away the salts or dilute them with an adequate inflow of freshwater, the sea has steadily become saltier than the Pacific Ocean. Biologists believe the sea is headed for ecological collapse as fish species die out and migrating birds find no food.  Further, the seabed harbors nearly a century’s accumulation of toxins from agricultural runoff. As the sea recedes, desert winds will sweep saline dust and toxins into the air, threatening the air quality for neighboring residents and potentially, much of the Los Angeles region. 

At present, the Salton Sea is being temporarily stabilized through a minimum flow of fresh “mitigation water,” part of the 2003 Quantification Settlement Agreement signed by regional water districts and government agencies to reduce California’s demands on the Colorado River to its annual allotment of 4.4 million acre feet. These mitigation flows were considered a temporary 15-year stabilizer until the state – which is ultimately responsible for determining how to save the sea and pay for it – found a longer-term fix for its increasing salinity and shrinking size. The mitigation flows are soon to end, with the arrangement expiring at the end of 2017.

With 2017 fast approaching, the state still lacks consensus for a Salton Sea solution. It also has not set aside enough money toward implementing a solution. State government in the past decade has instead produced a number of studies, eight possible restoration plans without funding and legislation that largely rearranges agency responsibilities for solving the problem.

As part of this study, the Commission examined the viability of different options to address the Salton Sea. It brought together stakeholders to consider what the Salton Sea ultimately should look like and how to mitigate potential health and environmental catastrophes. The Commission also explored what kind of state governing structure would help resolve the gridlock and move toward a solution.

Agenda

Overview

In this report, the Commission urges immediate state action to prevent massive dust storms, wildlife losses and harm to Southern California economies from a receding Salton Sea.

Duiring this review, the Commission found these negative consequences can be mitigated only if the state quickly implements long-planned improvements.

The Commission recommends the Governor and Legislature immediately begin planning its next phase of Salton Sea projects while developing its long-term restoration plan.

This review was requested by Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia in a February 5, 2015, request letter to the Commission.

Print Agenda
  • March 23
    2017
    Business Meeting
    9:00 a.m., State Capitol, Room 437, Sacramento, CA
    Business Meeting
    Agenda

    AGENDA

    Business Meeting
    Thursday, March 23, 2017, at 9:00 a.m.
    State Capitol, Room 437
    Sacramento, CA 95814
     

    1. Bruce Wilcox, Assistant Secretary, Salton Sea Policy, California Natural Resources Agency (Written Testimony)
       
    2. Christine Baker, Director, California Department of Industrial Relations (Written Testimony)
       
    3. Marybel Batjer, Secretary, Government Operations Agency (Written Testimony)
       
    4. Business Meeting Minutes from February 13 & 26, 2017
       
    5. Officer Elections
       
    6. Subcommittee Reports and Project Selection
       
    7. Implementation
       
    8. Reports from the California State Auditor’s Office
       

    Comments Submitted by Members of the Public

    Public Notice

    PUBLIC NOTICE

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    March 13, 2017

    For Additional Information Contact:
    Carole D’Elia, Executive Director
    (916) 445-2125

    Notice of Meeting

    On Thursday, March 23, 2017, the Little Hoover Commission will hold a business meeting to hear updates on implementation from five Commission reports released in 2014, 2015 and 2016. The meeting will take place at 9 a.m. in Room 437 of the State Capitol.

    These reports include:

    Addressing the Salton Sea study will be Bruce Wilcox, Assistant Secretary for Salton Sea Policy at the California Natural Resources Agency. Discussing the underground economy study, will be Christine Baker, Director of the California Department of Industrial Relations. Regarding the civil services reform and government interactions studies, the Commission will hear from Marybel Batjer, Secretary of the Government Operations Agency. Following these updates, the Commission will conduct other business as detailed on the attached agenda.

    If you need reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please contact Commission Executive Director Carole D’Elia at (916) 445-2125 or littlehoover@lhc.ca.gov by Thursday, March 16, 2017.

    Video
  • June 25
    2015
    Salton Sea
    9:00 a.m., Location: Room 437, State Capitol, Sacramento, CA
    Public Hearing
    Agenda

    AGENDA

    Public Hearing on the Salton Sea
    Thursday, June 25, 2015, at 9:00 a.m.
    State Capitol, Room 437
    Sacramento, CA


    Opening Remarks

    Air Quality Risks from the State's Perspective

    1. Mary Nichols, Chairperson, California Air Resources Board (Written Testimony)
       

    California's Strategy for the Salton Sea

    1. Keali'i Bright, Deputy Secretary for Legislation, California Natural Resources Agency (Written Testimony)
    • Attachment: California State Auditor. November 2013. "The State has not Fully Funded a Restoration Plan and the State's Future Mitigation Costs are Uncertain." Report 2013-101.


    $100 Million for Restoration Now: Short-Term Funding Possibilities

    1. Bill Hasencamp, Manager, Colorado River Resources, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (Written Testimony)

    Years of Distractions and Missed Opportunities: The View from Outside of Government

    1. Kimberly Delfino, California Program Director, Defenders of Wildife (Written Testimony)
      ​​​​​​​

    What Happens if Nothing Happens: The Cost of Inaction

    1. Michael Cohen, Senior Research Associate, The Pacific Institute (Written Testimony)
      ​​​​​​​
    • Attachment 1: Executive Summary from Hazard: The Future of the Salton Sea with No Restoration Project (Michael J. Cohen and Karen H. Hyun, 2006, The Pacific Institute)
       
    • Attachment 2: Executive Summary from Hazard's Toll: The Costs of Inaction at the Salton Sea (Michael J. Cohen, September 2014, The Pacific Institute)
      ​​​​​​​

    The Big Picture: A Potential Win for California

    1. Timothy Bradley, Director, Salton Sea Initiative, University of California, Irvine (Written Testimony)
      ​​​​​​​

    Comments Submitted by Members of the Public

    Public Notice

    PUBLIC NOTICE

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    June 11, 2015

    For Additional Information Contact:
    Carole D’Elia, Executive Director
    (916) 445-2125

    Notice of Meeting

    On Thursday, June 25, 2015, the Little Hoover Commission will conduct a public hearing on the Salton Sea. The hearing will begin at 9:00 a.m. in Room 437 of the State Capitol in Sacramento. The Commission is reviewing the environmental, governance and funding challenges surrounding the mitigation and restoration of the Salton Sea.

    At this hearing, the Commission will hear the state and nongovernmental perspectives on the impacts of the receding sea and proposed solutions. The Commission will hear from Chairperson Mary Nichols of the California Air Resources Board (CARB) about air quality concerns related to the receding lake and CARB’s role, in relation to the local air agencies, in addressing those concerns. A Natural Resources Agency representative will discuss the State of California’s actions and plans for the Salton Sea. The Commission will hear from a representative of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California about potential short-term funding opportunities. A representative from Defenders of Wildlife will provide a nongovernmental perspective on attempts to restore the Salton Sea. The Commission also will hear from a Pacific Institute researcher on the costs of inaction at the sea. Finally, the director of the University of California, Irvine, Salton Sea Initiative will frame the lake’s restoration within a global perspective, discuss lessons learned from similar challenges with other bodies of water and describe how California can still achieve an environmental win with the Salton Sea.

    There will be opportunities for public comment. The Commission also encourages written comments. Immediately following the hearing, the Commission will hold its business meeting in Room 175 of 925 L Street, Sacramento, CA. During the business meeting, Commissioners will have a teleconference with former Assemblymember William T. Bagley about the Bagley-Keene Act in relation to its study on California’s open meeting acts.

    All public notices for meetings are on the Commission’s website, www.lhc.ca.gov. If you need reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please contact Commission Executive Director Carole D’Elia at (916) 445-2125 or littlehoover@lhc.ca.gov by Thursday, June 18, 2015

    Video
  • April 28
    2015
    Salton Sea
    9:00 a.m., Auditorium, University of California, Riverside, Palm De
    Public Hearing
    Agenda

    AGENDA

    Public Hearing on the Salton Sea
    Tuesday, April 28, 2015, at 9:00 a.m.
    Auditorium, University of California, Riverside, Palm Desert Campus 
    75080 Frank Sinatra Dr., Palm Desert, CA 92211


    Opening Remarks

    Water and its Users, Part I

    1. Kevin Kelley, General Manager, Imperial Irrigation District (Written Testimony)
       

    The Joint Powers Authority for the Salton Sea

    1. Robert Hargreaves, General Counsel for the Salton Sea Authority, Best Best & Krieger LLP (Written Testimony)
      Additional background information supplied by the Salton Sea Authority:
    • Attachment 1: Legislative Analyst's Office Report. January 2008. "Restoring the Salton Sea."
       
    • Attachemtn 2: California Departments of Water Resources and Fish and Game. 2011-12 Budget Act Supplemental Report. "Joint Report to the Legislature: Salton Sea Restoration Program."
       
    • Attachment 3: Salton Sea Odor Impacts: Complaints to AQMD on September 10-13, 2012.
       
    • Attachment 4: University of Redlands Salton Sea Database Program. Salton Sea Land Ownership.
       
    • Attachment 5: Phil Rosentrater. October 2014. "The Ripple Effect." 


    Biological Threat Caused by a Receding Sea and Current Restoration Efforts

    1. Jack Crayon, Environmental Scientist, California Department of Fish and Wildlife (Written Testimony)


    Air Quality Threat Caused by a Receding Sea

    1. Brad Poiriez, Air Pollution Control Officer, Imperial County Air Pollution Control District (Written Testimony)​​​​​​​
    1. Afshan Nuri Baig, Chief Medical Officer, Clinicas de Salud del Pueblo (Written Testimony)
       
    2. Barry Wallerstein, Executive Officer, South Coast Air Quality Management District (Written Testimony)
       

    Impact of a Receding Sea on its Neighbors

    1. Mary Resvaloso, Tribal Chairwoman, Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians (Written Testimony)
       
    2. Ralph Cordova, County Executive Officer, Imperial County (Written Testimony)
       
    3. John Benoit, Supervisor, Riverside County (Written Testimony)
      ​​​​​​​

    Water and its Users, Part II

    1. Jim Barrett, General Manager, Coachella Valley Water District (Written Testimony)
       
    2. Peter Nelson, Director, Coachella Valley Water District 
       
    3. Bradley Herrema, Special Counsel for the San Diego County Water Authority, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck (Written Testimony)
      ​​​​​​​

    Comments Submitted by Members of the Public

    • Colt Stewart, Founder and former Publisher of Government West Magazine, former Senior Consultant to the California State Assembly Sub-committee on Energy (Written Comments)
       
    • Timothy Bradley, Professor, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Director, UC Irvine Salton Sea Initiative, University of California Irvine (Written Comments)
       
    • Travis Abeyta, Chapter Network Manager - Southern California, Audubon California (Written Comments)
    Public Notice

    PUBLIC NOTICE

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    April 14, 2015

    For Additional Information Contact:
    Carole D’Elia, Executive Director
    (916) 445-2125

    Notice of Meeting

    On Tuesday, April 28, 2015, the Little Hoover Commission will conduct a public hearing on the Salton Sea. The hearing will begin at 9:00 a.m. in the auditorium of the University of California, Riverside, Palm Desert Campus. The Commission is reviewing the environmental, governance and funding challenges surrounding the mitigation and restoration of the Salton Sea.

    At this hearing, the Commission will hear the local perspective on the impacts of the receding sea and proposed solutions. The Commission will hear from the Salton Sea Authority (SSA) on the history and hydrology of the lake, governance structure of the SSA, the state’s obligation to the sea, obstacles encountered by the SSA in its efforts to restore the sea and its Financial Feasibility Action Plan. A California Department of Fish and Wildlife representative will discuss the impact on wildlife and describe the progress of restoration projects. The Commission will hear from representatives from the Imperial County Air Pollution Control District, Clinicas de Salud del Pueblo and the South Coast Air Quality Management District on the effect of a receding Salton Sea on the region’s air quality and public health. Imperial and Riverside County representatives will testify on the consequences of inaction regarding the Salton Sea on their communities and explain what their constituents hope to see in a solution. Representatives from the signatory agencies of the Joint Powers Authority Creation and Funding Agreement of the Quantification Settlement Agreement – the Imperial Irrigation District, the Coachella Valley Water District and the San Diego County Water Authority – will discuss their responsibilities to the Salton Sea, the state’s responsibilities to the sea and issues that should be addressed in developing a solution.

    There will be opportunities for public comment. The Commission also encourages written comments. During the lunch break, scheduled from approximately 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., the Commission will hold a business meeting in Room B114/B117 at the University of California, Riverside, Palm Desert Campus. Members of the public can also access the business meeting in Suite 805 of 925 L Street in Sacramento and at 333 S Hope Street, 29th floor, Los Angeles, CA 90071.

    All public notices for meetings are on the Commission’s website, www.lhc.ca.gov. If you need reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please contact Commission Executive Director Carole D’Elia at (916) 445-2125 or littlehoover@lhc.ca.gov by Tuesday, April 21, 2015.

    Video
March 23
2017
Business Meeting
9:00 a.m., State Capitol, Room 437, Sacramento, CA
Business Meeting
Agenda

AGENDA

Business Meeting
Thursday, March 23, 2017, at 9:00 a.m.
State Capitol, Room 437
Sacramento, CA 95814
 

  1. Bruce Wilcox, Assistant Secretary, Salton Sea Policy, California Natural Resources Agency (Written Testimony)
     
  2. Christine Baker, Director, California Department of Industrial Relations (Written Testimony)
     
  3. Marybel Batjer, Secretary, Government Operations Agency (Written Testimony)
     
  4. Business Meeting Minutes from February 13 & 26, 2017
     
  5. Officer Elections
     
  6. Subcommittee Reports and Project Selection
     
  7. Implementation
     
  8. Reports from the California State Auditor’s Office
     

Comments Submitted by Members of the Public

Public Notice

PUBLIC NOTICE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 13, 2017

For Additional Information Contact:
Carole D’Elia, Executive Director
(916) 445-2125

Notice of Meeting

On Thursday, March 23, 2017, the Little Hoover Commission will hold a business meeting to hear updates on implementation from five Commission reports released in 2014, 2015 and 2016. The meeting will take place at 9 a.m. in Room 437 of the State Capitol.

These reports include:

Addressing the Salton Sea study will be Bruce Wilcox, Assistant Secretary for Salton Sea Policy at the California Natural Resources Agency. Discussing the underground economy study, will be Christine Baker, Director of the California Department of Industrial Relations. Regarding the civil services reform and government interactions studies, the Commission will hear from Marybel Batjer, Secretary of the Government Operations Agency. Following these updates, the Commission will conduct other business as detailed on the attached agenda.

If you need reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please contact Commission Executive Director Carole D’Elia at (916) 445-2125 or littlehoover@lhc.ca.gov by Thursday, March 16, 2017.

Video
June 25
2015
Salton Sea
9:00 a.m., Location: Room 437, State Capitol, Sacramento, CA
Public Hearing
Agenda

AGENDA

Public Hearing on the Salton Sea
Thursday, June 25, 2015, at 9:00 a.m.
State Capitol, Room 437
Sacramento, CA


Opening Remarks

Air Quality Risks from the State's Perspective

  1. Mary Nichols, Chairperson, California Air Resources Board (Written Testimony)
     

California's Strategy for the Salton Sea

  1. Keali'i Bright, Deputy Secretary for Legislation, California Natural Resources Agency (Written Testimony)
  • Attachment: California State Auditor. November 2013. "The State has not Fully Funded a Restoration Plan and the State's Future Mitigation Costs are Uncertain." Report 2013-101.


$100 Million for Restoration Now: Short-Term Funding Possibilities

  1. Bill Hasencamp, Manager, Colorado River Resources, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (Written Testimony)

Years of Distractions and Missed Opportunities: The View from Outside of Government

  1. Kimberly Delfino, California Program Director, Defenders of Wildife (Written Testimony)
    ​​​​​​​

What Happens if Nothing Happens: The Cost of Inaction

  1. Michael Cohen, Senior Research Associate, The Pacific Institute (Written Testimony)
    ​​​​​​​
  • Attachment 1: Executive Summary from Hazard: The Future of the Salton Sea with No Restoration Project (Michael J. Cohen and Karen H. Hyun, 2006, The Pacific Institute)
     
  • Attachment 2: Executive Summary from Hazard's Toll: The Costs of Inaction at the Salton Sea (Michael J. Cohen, September 2014, The Pacific Institute)
    ​​​​​​​

The Big Picture: A Potential Win for California

  1. Timothy Bradley, Director, Salton Sea Initiative, University of California, Irvine (Written Testimony)
    ​​​​​​​

Comments Submitted by Members of the Public

Public Notice

PUBLIC NOTICE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 11, 2015

For Additional Information Contact:
Carole D’Elia, Executive Director
(916) 445-2125

Notice of Meeting

On Thursday, June 25, 2015, the Little Hoover Commission will conduct a public hearing on the Salton Sea. The hearing will begin at 9:00 a.m. in Room 437 of the State Capitol in Sacramento. The Commission is reviewing the environmental, governance and funding challenges surrounding the mitigation and restoration of the Salton Sea.

At this hearing, the Commission will hear the state and nongovernmental perspectives on the impacts of the receding sea and proposed solutions. The Commission will hear from Chairperson Mary Nichols of the California Air Resources Board (CARB) about air quality concerns related to the receding lake and CARB’s role, in relation to the local air agencies, in addressing those concerns. A Natural Resources Agency representative will discuss the State of California’s actions and plans for the Salton Sea. The Commission will hear from a representative of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California about potential short-term funding opportunities. A representative from Defenders of Wildlife will provide a nongovernmental perspective on attempts to restore the Salton Sea. The Commission also will hear from a Pacific Institute researcher on the costs of inaction at the sea. Finally, the director of the University of California, Irvine, Salton Sea Initiative will frame the lake’s restoration within a global perspective, discuss lessons learned from similar challenges with other bodies of water and describe how California can still achieve an environmental win with the Salton Sea.

There will be opportunities for public comment. The Commission also encourages written comments. Immediately following the hearing, the Commission will hold its business meeting in Room 175 of 925 L Street, Sacramento, CA. During the business meeting, Commissioners will have a teleconference with former Assemblymember William T. Bagley about the Bagley-Keene Act in relation to its study on California’s open meeting acts.

All public notices for meetings are on the Commission’s website, www.lhc.ca.gov. If you need reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please contact Commission Executive Director Carole D’Elia at (916) 445-2125 or littlehoover@lhc.ca.gov by Thursday, June 18, 2015

Video
April 28
2015
Salton Sea
9:00 a.m., Auditorium, University of California, Riverside, Palm Desert Campus,,75080 Frank Sinatra Dr., Palm Desert, CA 92211
Public Hearing
Agenda

AGENDA

Public Hearing on the Salton Sea
Tuesday, April 28, 2015, at 9:00 a.m.
Auditorium, University of California, Riverside, Palm Desert Campus 
75080 Frank Sinatra Dr., Palm Desert, CA 92211


Opening Remarks

Water and its Users, Part I

  1. Kevin Kelley, General Manager, Imperial Irrigation District (Written Testimony)
     

The Joint Powers Authority for the Salton Sea

  1. Robert Hargreaves, General Counsel for the Salton Sea Authority, Best Best & Krieger LLP (Written Testimony)
    Additional background information supplied by the Salton Sea Authority:
  • Attachment 1: Legislative Analyst's Office Report. January 2008. "Restoring the Salton Sea."
     
  • Attachemtn 2: California Departments of Water Resources and Fish and Game. 2011-12 Budget Act Supplemental Report. "Joint Report to the Legislature: Salton Sea Restoration Program."
     
  • Attachment 3: Salton Sea Odor Impacts: Complaints to AQMD on September 10-13, 2012.
     
  • Attachment 4: University of Redlands Salton Sea Database Program. Salton Sea Land Ownership.
     
  • Attachment 5: Phil Rosentrater. October 2014. "The Ripple Effect." 


Biological Threat Caused by a Receding Sea and Current Restoration Efforts

  1. Jack Crayon, Environmental Scientist, California Department of Fish and Wildlife (Written Testimony)


Air Quality Threat Caused by a Receding Sea

  1. Brad Poiriez, Air Pollution Control Officer, Imperial County Air Pollution Control District (Written Testimony)​​​​​​​
  1. Afshan Nuri Baig, Chief Medical Officer, Clinicas de Salud del Pueblo (Written Testimony)
     
  2. Barry Wallerstein, Executive Officer, South Coast Air Quality Management District (Written Testimony)
     

Impact of a Receding Sea on its Neighbors

  1. Mary Resvaloso, Tribal Chairwoman, Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians (Written Testimony)
     
  2. Ralph Cordova, County Executive Officer, Imperial County (Written Testimony)
     
  3. John Benoit, Supervisor, Riverside County (Written Testimony)
    ​​​​​​​

Water and its Users, Part II

  1. Jim Barrett, General Manager, Coachella Valley Water District (Written Testimony)
     
  2. Peter Nelson, Director, Coachella Valley Water District 
     
  3. Bradley Herrema, Special Counsel for the San Diego County Water Authority, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck (Written Testimony)
    ​​​​​​​

Comments Submitted by Members of the Public

  • Colt Stewart, Founder and former Publisher of Government West Magazine, former Senior Consultant to the California State Assembly Sub-committee on Energy (Written Comments)
     
  • Timothy Bradley, Professor, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Director, UC Irvine Salton Sea Initiative, University of California Irvine (Written Comments)
     
  • Travis Abeyta, Chapter Network Manager - Southern California, Audubon California (Written Comments)
Public Notice

PUBLIC NOTICE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 14, 2015

For Additional Information Contact:
Carole D’Elia, Executive Director
(916) 445-2125

Notice of Meeting

On Tuesday, April 28, 2015, the Little Hoover Commission will conduct a public hearing on the Salton Sea. The hearing will begin at 9:00 a.m. in the auditorium of the University of California, Riverside, Palm Desert Campus. The Commission is reviewing the environmental, governance and funding challenges surrounding the mitigation and restoration of the Salton Sea.

At this hearing, the Commission will hear the local perspective on the impacts of the receding sea and proposed solutions. The Commission will hear from the Salton Sea Authority (SSA) on the history and hydrology of the lake, governance structure of the SSA, the state’s obligation to the sea, obstacles encountered by the SSA in its efforts to restore the sea and its Financial Feasibility Action Plan. A California Department of Fish and Wildlife representative will discuss the impact on wildlife and describe the progress of restoration projects. The Commission will hear from representatives from the Imperial County Air Pollution Control District, Clinicas de Salud del Pueblo and the South Coast Air Quality Management District on the effect of a receding Salton Sea on the region’s air quality and public health. Imperial and Riverside County representatives will testify on the consequences of inaction regarding the Salton Sea on their communities and explain what their constituents hope to see in a solution. Representatives from the signatory agencies of the Joint Powers Authority Creation and Funding Agreement of the Quantification Settlement Agreement – the Imperial Irrigation District, the Coachella Valley Water District and the San Diego County Water Authority – will discuss their responsibilities to the Salton Sea, the state’s responsibilities to the sea and issues that should be addressed in developing a solution.

There will be opportunities for public comment. The Commission also encourages written comments. During the lunch break, scheduled from approximately 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., the Commission will hold a business meeting in Room B114/B117 at the University of California, Riverside, Palm Desert Campus. Members of the public can also access the business meeting in Suite 805 of 925 L Street in Sacramento and at 333 S Hope Street, 29th floor, Los Angeles, CA 90071.

All public notices for meetings are on the Commission’s website, www.lhc.ca.gov. If you need reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please contact Commission Executive Director Carole D’Elia at (916) 445-2125 or littlehoover@lhc.ca.gov by Tuesday, April 21, 2015.

Video
Print Agenda
  • March 23
    2017
    Business Meeting
    9:00 a.m., State Capitol, Room 437, Sacramento, CA
    Business Meeting
    Agenda

    AGENDA

    Business Meeting
    Thursday, March 23, 2017, at 9:00 a.m.
    State Capitol, Room 437
    Sacramento, CA 95814
     

    1. Bruce Wilcox, Assistant Secretary, Salton Sea Policy, California Natural Resources Agency (Written Testimony)
       
    2. Christine Baker, Director, California Department of Industrial Relations (Written Testimony)
       
    3. Marybel Batjer, Secretary, Government Operations Agency (Written Testimony)
       
    4. Business Meeting Minutes from February 13 & 26, 2017
       
    5. Officer Elections
       
    6. Subcommittee Reports and Project Selection
       
    7. Implementation
       
    8. Reports from the California State Auditor’s Office
       

    Comments Submitted by Members of the Public

    Public Notice

    PUBLIC NOTICE

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    March 13, 2017

    For Additional Information Contact:
    Carole D’Elia, Executive Director
    (916) 445-2125

    Notice of Meeting

    On Thursday, March 23, 2017, the Little Hoover Commission will hold a business meeting to hear updates on implementation from five Commission reports released in 2014, 2015 and 2016. The meeting will take place at 9 a.m. in Room 437 of the State Capitol.

    These reports include:

    Addressing the Salton Sea study will be Bruce Wilcox, Assistant Secretary for Salton Sea Policy at the California Natural Resources Agency. Discussing the underground economy study, will be Christine Baker, Director of the California Department of Industrial Relations. Regarding the civil services reform and government interactions studies, the Commission will hear from Marybel Batjer, Secretary of the Government Operations Agency. Following these updates, the Commission will conduct other business as detailed on the attached agenda.

    If you need reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please contact Commission Executive Director Carole D’Elia at (916) 445-2125 or littlehoover@lhc.ca.gov by Thursday, March 16, 2017.

    Video
  • June 25
    2015
    Salton Sea
    9:00 a.m., Location: Room 437, State Capitol, Sacramento, CA
    Public Hearing
    Agenda

    AGENDA

    Public Hearing on the Salton Sea
    Thursday, June 25, 2015, at 9:00 a.m.
    State Capitol, Room 437
    Sacramento, CA


    Opening Remarks

    Air Quality Risks from the State's Perspective

    1. Mary Nichols, Chairperson, California Air Resources Board (Written Testimony)
       

    California's Strategy for the Salton Sea

    1. Keali'i Bright, Deputy Secretary for Legislation, California Natural Resources Agency (Written Testimony)
    • Attachment: California State Auditor. November 2013. "The State has not Fully Funded a Restoration Plan and the State's Future Mitigation Costs are Uncertain." Report 2013-101.


    $100 Million for Restoration Now: Short-Term Funding Possibilities

    1. Bill Hasencamp, Manager, Colorado River Resources, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (Written Testimony)

    Years of Distractions and Missed Opportunities: The View from Outside of Government

    1. Kimberly Delfino, California Program Director, Defenders of Wildife (Written Testimony)
      ​​​​​​​

    What Happens if Nothing Happens: The Cost of Inaction

    1. Michael Cohen, Senior Research Associate, The Pacific Institute (Written Testimony)
      ​​​​​​​
    • Attachment 1: Executive Summary from Hazard: The Future of the Salton Sea with No Restoration Project (Michael J. Cohen and Karen H. Hyun, 2006, The Pacific Institute)
       
    • Attachment 2: Executive Summary from Hazard's Toll: The Costs of Inaction at the Salton Sea (Michael J. Cohen, September 2014, The Pacific Institute)
      ​​​​​​​

    The Big Picture: A Potential Win for California

    1. Timothy Bradley, Director, Salton Sea Initiative, University of California, Irvine (Written Testimony)
      ​​​​​​​

    Comments Submitted by Members of the Public

    Public Notice

    PUBLIC NOTICE

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    June 11, 2015

    For Additional Information Contact:
    Carole D’Elia, Executive Director
    (916) 445-2125

    Notice of Meeting

    On Thursday, June 25, 2015, the Little Hoover Commission will conduct a public hearing on the Salton Sea. The hearing will begin at 9:00 a.m. in Room 437 of the State Capitol in Sacramento. The Commission is reviewing the environmental, governance and funding challenges surrounding the mitigation and restoration of the Salton Sea.

    At this hearing, the Commission will hear the state and nongovernmental perspectives on the impacts of the receding sea and proposed solutions. The Commission will hear from Chairperson Mary Nichols of the California Air Resources Board (CARB) about air quality concerns related to the receding lake and CARB’s role, in relation to the local air agencies, in addressing those concerns. A Natural Resources Agency representative will discuss the State of California’s actions and plans for the Salton Sea. The Commission will hear from a representative of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California about potential short-term funding opportunities. A representative from Defenders of Wildlife will provide a nongovernmental perspective on attempts to restore the Salton Sea. The Commission also will hear from a Pacific Institute researcher on the costs of inaction at the sea. Finally, the director of the University of California, Irvine, Salton Sea Initiative will frame the lake’s restoration within a global perspective, discuss lessons learned from similar challenges with other bodies of water and describe how California can still achieve an environmental win with the Salton Sea.

    There will be opportunities for public comment. The Commission also encourages written comments. Immediately following the hearing, the Commission will hold its business meeting in Room 175 of 925 L Street, Sacramento, CA. During the business meeting, Commissioners will have a teleconference with former Assemblymember William T. Bagley about the Bagley-Keene Act in relation to its study on California’s open meeting acts.

    All public notices for meetings are on the Commission’s website, www.lhc.ca.gov. If you need reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please contact Commission Executive Director Carole D’Elia at (916) 445-2125 or littlehoover@lhc.ca.gov by Thursday, June 18, 2015

    Video
  • April 28
    2015
    Salton Sea
    9:00 a.m., Auditorium, University of California, Riverside, Palm De
    Public Hearing
    Agenda

    AGENDA

    Public Hearing on the Salton Sea
    Tuesday, April 28, 2015, at 9:00 a.m.
    Auditorium, University of California, Riverside, Palm Desert Campus 
    75080 Frank Sinatra Dr., Palm Desert, CA 92211


    Opening Remarks

    Water and its Users, Part I

    1. Kevin Kelley, General Manager, Imperial Irrigation District (Written Testimony)
       

    The Joint Powers Authority for the Salton Sea

    1. Robert Hargreaves, General Counsel for the Salton Sea Authority, Best Best & Krieger LLP (Written Testimony)
      Additional background information supplied by the Salton Sea Authority:
    • Attachment 1: Legislative Analyst's Office Report. January 2008. "Restoring the Salton Sea."
       
    • Attachemtn 2: California Departments of Water Resources and Fish and Game. 2011-12 Budget Act Supplemental Report. "Joint Report to the Legislature: Salton Sea Restoration Program."
       
    • Attachment 3: Salton Sea Odor Impacts: Complaints to AQMD on September 10-13, 2012.
       
    • Attachment 4: University of Redlands Salton Sea Database Program. Salton Sea Land Ownership.
       
    • Attachment 5: Phil Rosentrater. October 2014. "The Ripple Effect." 


    Biological Threat Caused by a Receding Sea and Current Restoration Efforts

    1. Jack Crayon, Environmental Scientist, California Department of Fish and Wildlife (Written Testimony)


    Air Quality Threat Caused by a Receding Sea

    1. Brad Poiriez, Air Pollution Control Officer, Imperial County Air Pollution Control District (Written Testimony)​​​​​​​
    1. Afshan Nuri Baig, Chief Medical Officer, Clinicas de Salud del Pueblo (Written Testimony)
       
    2. Barry Wallerstein, Executive Officer, South Coast Air Quality Management District (Written Testimony)
       

    Impact of a Receding Sea on its Neighbors

    1. Mary Resvaloso, Tribal Chairwoman, Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians (Written Testimony)
       
    2. Ralph Cordova, County Executive Officer, Imperial County (Written Testimony)
       
    3. John Benoit, Supervisor, Riverside County (Written Testimony)
      ​​​​​​​

    Water and its Users, Part II

    1. Jim Barrett, General Manager, Coachella Valley Water District (Written Testimony)
       
    2. Peter Nelson, Director, Coachella Valley Water District 
       
    3. Bradley Herrema, Special Counsel for the San Diego County Water Authority, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck (Written Testimony)
      ​​​​​​​

    Comments Submitted by Members of the Public

    • Colt Stewart, Founder and former Publisher of Government West Magazine, former Senior Consultant to the California State Assembly Sub-committee on Energy (Written Comments)
       
    • Timothy Bradley, Professor, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Director, UC Irvine Salton Sea Initiative, University of California Irvine (Written Comments)
       
    • Travis Abeyta, Chapter Network Manager - Southern California, Audubon California (Written Comments)
    Public Notice

    PUBLIC NOTICE

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    April 14, 2015

    For Additional Information Contact:
    Carole D’Elia, Executive Director
    (916) 445-2125

    Notice of Meeting

    On Tuesday, April 28, 2015, the Little Hoover Commission will conduct a public hearing on the Salton Sea. The hearing will begin at 9:00 a.m. in the auditorium of the University of California, Riverside, Palm Desert Campus. The Commission is reviewing the environmental, governance and funding challenges surrounding the mitigation and restoration of the Salton Sea.

    At this hearing, the Commission will hear the local perspective on the impacts of the receding sea and proposed solutions. The Commission will hear from the Salton Sea Authority (SSA) on the history and hydrology of the lake, governance structure of the SSA, the state’s obligation to the sea, obstacles encountered by the SSA in its efforts to restore the sea and its Financial Feasibility Action Plan. A California Department of Fish and Wildlife representative will discuss the impact on wildlife and describe the progress of restoration projects. The Commission will hear from representatives from the Imperial County Air Pollution Control District, Clinicas de Salud del Pueblo and the South Coast Air Quality Management District on the effect of a receding Salton Sea on the region’s air quality and public health. Imperial and Riverside County representatives will testify on the consequences of inaction regarding the Salton Sea on their communities and explain what their constituents hope to see in a solution. Representatives from the signatory agencies of the Joint Powers Authority Creation and Funding Agreement of the Quantification Settlement Agreement – the Imperial Irrigation District, the Coachella Valley Water District and the San Diego County Water Authority – will discuss their responsibilities to the Salton Sea, the state’s responsibilities to the sea and issues that should be addressed in developing a solution.

    There will be opportunities for public comment. The Commission also encourages written comments. During the lunch break, scheduled from approximately 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., the Commission will hold a business meeting in Room B114/B117 at the University of California, Riverside, Palm Desert Campus. Members of the public can also access the business meeting in Suite 805 of 925 L Street in Sacramento and at 333 S Hope Street, 29th floor, Los Angeles, CA 90071.

    All public notices for meetings are on the Commission’s website, www.lhc.ca.gov. If you need reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please contact Commission Executive Director Carole D’Elia at (916) 445-2125 or littlehoover@lhc.ca.gov by Tuesday, April 21, 2015.

    Video
March 23
2017
Business Meeting
9:00 a.m., State Capitol, Room 437, Sacramento, CA
Business Meeting
Agenda

AGENDA

Business Meeting
Thursday, March 23, 2017, at 9:00 a.m.
State Capitol, Room 437
Sacramento, CA 95814
 

  1. Bruce Wilcox, Assistant Secretary, Salton Sea Policy, California Natural Resources Agency (Written Testimony)
     
  2. Christine Baker, Director, California Department of Industrial Relations (Written Testimony)
     
  3. Marybel Batjer, Secretary, Government Operations Agency (Written Testimony)
     
  4. Business Meeting Minutes from February 13 & 26, 2017
     
  5. Officer Elections
     
  6. Subcommittee Reports and Project Selection
     
  7. Implementation
     
  8. Reports from the California State Auditor’s Office
     

Comments Submitted by Members of the Public

Public Notice

PUBLIC NOTICE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 13, 2017

For Additional Information Contact:
Carole D’Elia, Executive Director
(916) 445-2125

Notice of Meeting

On Thursday, March 23, 2017, the Little Hoover Commission will hold a business meeting to hear updates on implementation from five Commission reports released in 2014, 2015 and 2016. The meeting will take place at 9 a.m. in Room 437 of the State Capitol.

These reports include:

Addressing the Salton Sea study will be Bruce Wilcox, Assistant Secretary for Salton Sea Policy at the California Natural Resources Agency. Discussing the underground economy study, will be Christine Baker, Director of the California Department of Industrial Relations. Regarding the civil services reform and government interactions studies, the Commission will hear from Marybel Batjer, Secretary of the Government Operations Agency. Following these updates, the Commission will conduct other business as detailed on the attached agenda.

If you need reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please contact Commission Executive Director Carole D’Elia at (916) 445-2125 or littlehoover@lhc.ca.gov by Thursday, March 16, 2017.

Video
June 25
2015
Salton Sea
9:00 a.m., Location: Room 437, State Capitol, Sacramento, CA
Public Hearing
Agenda

AGENDA

Public Hearing on the Salton Sea
Thursday, June 25, 2015, at 9:00 a.m.
State Capitol, Room 437
Sacramento, CA


Opening Remarks

Air Quality Risks from the State's Perspective

  1. Mary Nichols, Chairperson, California Air Resources Board (Written Testimony)
     

California's Strategy for the Salton Sea

  1. Keali'i Bright, Deputy Secretary for Legislation, California Natural Resources Agency (Written Testimony)
  • Attachment: California State Auditor. November 2013. "The State has not Fully Funded a Restoration Plan and the State's Future Mitigation Costs are Uncertain." Report 2013-101.


$100 Million for Restoration Now: Short-Term Funding Possibilities

  1. Bill Hasencamp, Manager, Colorado River Resources, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (Written Testimony)

Years of Distractions and Missed Opportunities: The View from Outside of Government

  1. Kimberly Delfino, California Program Director, Defenders of Wildife (Written Testimony)
    ​​​​​​​

What Happens if Nothing Happens: The Cost of Inaction

  1. Michael Cohen, Senior Research Associate, The Pacific Institute (Written Testimony)
    ​​​​​​​
  • Attachment 1: Executive Summary from Hazard: The Future of the Salton Sea with No Restoration Project (Michael J. Cohen and Karen H. Hyun, 2006, The Pacific Institute)
     
  • Attachment 2: Executive Summary from Hazard's Toll: The Costs of Inaction at the Salton Sea (Michael J. Cohen, September 2014, The Pacific Institute)
    ​​​​​​​

The Big Picture: A Potential Win for California

  1. Timothy Bradley, Director, Salton Sea Initiative, University of California, Irvine (Written Testimony)
    ​​​​​​​

Comments Submitted by Members of the Public

Public Notice

PUBLIC NOTICE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 11, 2015

For Additional Information Contact:
Carole D’Elia, Executive Director
(916) 445-2125

Notice of Meeting

On Thursday, June 25, 2015, the Little Hoover Commission will conduct a public hearing on the Salton Sea. The hearing will begin at 9:00 a.m. in Room 437 of the State Capitol in Sacramento. The Commission is reviewing the environmental, governance and funding challenges surrounding the mitigation and restoration of the Salton Sea.

At this hearing, the Commission will hear the state and nongovernmental perspectives on the impacts of the receding sea and proposed solutions. The Commission will hear from Chairperson Mary Nichols of the California Air Resources Board (CARB) about air quality concerns related to the receding lake and CARB’s role, in relation to the local air agencies, in addressing those concerns. A Natural Resources Agency representative will discuss the State of California’s actions and plans for the Salton Sea. The Commission will hear from a representative of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California about potential short-term funding opportunities. A representative from Defenders of Wildlife will provide a nongovernmental perspective on attempts to restore the Salton Sea. The Commission also will hear from a Pacific Institute researcher on the costs of inaction at the sea. Finally, the director of the University of California, Irvine, Salton Sea Initiative will frame the lake’s restoration within a global perspective, discuss lessons learned from similar challenges with other bodies of water and describe how California can still achieve an environmental win with the Salton Sea.

There will be opportunities for public comment. The Commission also encourages written comments. Immediately following the hearing, the Commission will hold its business meeting in Room 175 of 925 L Street, Sacramento, CA. During the business meeting, Commissioners will have a teleconference with former Assemblymember William T. Bagley about the Bagley-Keene Act in relation to its study on California’s open meeting acts.

All public notices for meetings are on the Commission’s website, www.lhc.ca.gov. If you need reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please contact Commission Executive Director Carole D’Elia at (916) 445-2125 or littlehoover@lhc.ca.gov by Thursday, June 18, 2015

Video
April 28
2015
Salton Sea
9:00 a.m., Auditorium, University of California, Riverside, Palm Desert Campus,,75080 Frank Sinatra Dr., Palm Desert, CA 92211
Public Hearing
Agenda

AGENDA

Public Hearing on the Salton Sea
Tuesday, April 28, 2015, at 9:00 a.m.
Auditorium, University of California, Riverside, Palm Desert Campus 
75080 Frank Sinatra Dr., Palm Desert, CA 92211


Opening Remarks

Water and its Users, Part I

  1. Kevin Kelley, General Manager, Imperial Irrigation District (Written Testimony)
     

The Joint Powers Authority for the Salton Sea

  1. Robert Hargreaves, General Counsel for the Salton Sea Authority, Best Best & Krieger LLP (Written Testimony)
    Additional background information supplied by the Salton Sea Authority:
  • Attachment 1: Legislative Analyst's Office Report. January 2008. "Restoring the Salton Sea."
     
  • Attachemtn 2: California Departments of Water Resources and Fish and Game. 2011-12 Budget Act Supplemental Report. "Joint Report to the Legislature: Salton Sea Restoration Program."
     
  • Attachment 3: Salton Sea Odor Impacts: Complaints to AQMD on September 10-13, 2012.
     
  • Attachment 4: University of Redlands Salton Sea Database Program. Salton Sea Land Ownership.
     
  • Attachment 5: Phil Rosentrater. October 2014. "The Ripple Effect." 


Biological Threat Caused by a Receding Sea and Current Restoration Efforts

  1. Jack Crayon, Environmental Scientist, California Department of Fish and Wildlife (Written Testimony)


Air Quality Threat Caused by a Receding Sea

  1. Brad Poiriez, Air Pollution Control Officer, Imperial County Air Pollution Control District (Written Testimony)​​​​​​​
  1. Afshan Nuri Baig, Chief Medical Officer, Clinicas de Salud del Pueblo (Written Testimony)
     
  2. Barry Wallerstein, Executive Officer, South Coast Air Quality Management District (Written Testimony)
     

Impact of a Receding Sea on its Neighbors

  1. Mary Resvaloso, Tribal Chairwoman, Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians (Written Testimony)
     
  2. Ralph Cordova, County Executive Officer, Imperial County (Written Testimony)
     
  3. John Benoit, Supervisor, Riverside County (Written Testimony)
    ​​​​​​​

Water and its Users, Part II

  1. Jim Barrett, General Manager, Coachella Valley Water District (Written Testimony)
     
  2. Peter Nelson, Director, Coachella Valley Water District 
     
  3. Bradley Herrema, Special Counsel for the San Diego County Water Authority, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck (Written Testimony)
    ​​​​​​​

Comments Submitted by Members of the Public

  • Colt Stewart, Founder and former Publisher of Government West Magazine, former Senior Consultant to the California State Assembly Sub-committee on Energy (Written Comments)
     
  • Timothy Bradley, Professor, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Director, UC Irvine Salton Sea Initiative, University of California Irvine (Written Comments)
     
  • Travis Abeyta, Chapter Network Manager - Southern California, Audubon California (Written Comments)
Public Notice

PUBLIC NOTICE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 14, 2015

For Additional Information Contact:
Carole D’Elia, Executive Director
(916) 445-2125

Notice of Meeting

On Tuesday, April 28, 2015, the Little Hoover Commission will conduct a public hearing on the Salton Sea. The hearing will begin at 9:00 a.m. in the auditorium of the University of California, Riverside, Palm Desert Campus. The Commission is reviewing the environmental, governance and funding challenges surrounding the mitigation and restoration of the Salton Sea.

At this hearing, the Commission will hear the local perspective on the impacts of the receding sea and proposed solutions. The Commission will hear from the Salton Sea Authority (SSA) on the history and hydrology of the lake, governance structure of the SSA, the state’s obligation to the sea, obstacles encountered by the SSA in its efforts to restore the sea and its Financial Feasibility Action Plan. A California Department of Fish and Wildlife representative will discuss the impact on wildlife and describe the progress of restoration projects. The Commission will hear from representatives from the Imperial County Air Pollution Control District, Clinicas de Salud del Pueblo and the South Coast Air Quality Management District on the effect of a receding Salton Sea on the region’s air quality and public health. Imperial and Riverside County representatives will testify on the consequences of inaction regarding the Salton Sea on their communities and explain what their constituents hope to see in a solution. Representatives from the signatory agencies of the Joint Powers Authority Creation and Funding Agreement of the Quantification Settlement Agreement – the Imperial Irrigation District, the Coachella Valley Water District and the San Diego County Water Authority – will discuss their responsibilities to the Salton Sea, the state’s responsibilities to the sea and issues that should be addressed in developing a solution.

There will be opportunities for public comment. The Commission also encourages written comments. During the lunch break, scheduled from approximately 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., the Commission will hold a business meeting in Room B114/B117 at the University of California, Riverside, Palm Desert Campus. Members of the public can also access the business meeting in Suite 805 of 925 L Street in Sacramento and at 333 S Hope Street, 29th floor, Los Angeles, CA 90071.

All public notices for meetings are on the Commission’s website, www.lhc.ca.gov. If you need reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please contact Commission Executive Director Carole D’Elia at (916) 445-2125 or littlehoover@lhc.ca.gov by Tuesday, April 21, 2015.

Video