As California farms use less Colorado River water, worries grow over shrinking Salton Sea

It was 111 degrees when Mark McBroom stepped from his air-conditioned pickup and onto a dry alfalfa field. Reyes has criticized IID officials for doing “backroom deals” and “leaving the community out.” Leaders of several other groups, including Alianza Coachella Valley and Audubon California, said the water cuts under the new program come on top of lower-than-expected water use in the region this year, and have led to what they say is an alarming acceleration of the lake’s decline. The district said in a written statement that it “remains dedicated to ensuring the long-term sustainability of the Colorado River while also addressing the immediate needs of the Salton Sea and surrounding communities.” “Our goal is to protect both our region’s water supply and the health of residents and wildlife, and we will continue to take proactive steps in maintaining that balance,” the district said. “We understand there are concerns and issues, but at the end of the day, the Salton Sea has no water if Imperial Valley has no water, so we’re going to do our best to protect the river for the community and the growers — and the region as a whole.” A boat sits high on the shore of Desert Shores next to the Salton Sea. “These fields are some really strong ground, and so this should come back really well.” McBroom and other growers say they don’t expect the water-saving program to have a significant effect on the Salton Sea beyond the reductions in water use that were already occurring before the deal.