Press Release

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 Re: Imperial Valley Salton Sea Conference: Challenges and Opportunity

Los Amigos de Comunidad, Inc (LADLC) co-hosts the Inaugural Imperial Valley Salton Sea Conference: Challenges and Opportunity, with co-hosts Imperial Valley College and the Pacific Institute Friday May 9, from 9 am to 4:30 pm with a keynote address by State Senator Steve Padilla; (D) 18th District who will give an update on the Salton Sea Conservancy and legislative initiatives. The conference will focus on the Salton Sea from an Imperial Valley perspective as multiple summits on the Salton Sea have been held in Riverside County/Coachella Valley but not in Imperial Valley; which has the largest impacts of the receding sea and the most opportunity with the potential

Lithium Valley mineral extraction opportunity and industrial complex projected to create thousands of jobs in the county with the highest unemployment rate in the state.'

The conference will have five different panels with a Community Panel, a Regional water perspective Panel presentation by the Imperial Irrigation District with Board Chair Gina Dockstader and Board member Alex Cardenas scheduled to present followed by a Question and Answer session, then the Colorado River Regional Water Quality Board Executive Director Michael Placencia will present, followed by the keynote address by Senator Padilla. The conference will have a break for lunch then return for two more panels with the California Natural Resources Agency Salton Sea team presenting an update on the 10 year Salton Sea Management Plan with Salton Sea Director Joe Shea, outreach and communication representatives Miguel Hernandez and Mario Llanos supporting Shea on the presentation followed by the last panel on Lithium Valley where County Supervisor Ryan Kelley, UC Riverside mineral professor Michael Mckibben, Managing Principal of Rick Engineering Brian Mooney who headed the Specific Plan data and community information gathering or the plan and Erik Stokes, Chief of Staff of California Energy Commissioner Noemi Gallardo’s Office and Controlled Thermal Resource Chief Operating Officer Rob Moore presenting their updates and perspectives on lithium valley. All panels will have a question and answer session.

“The Salton Sea has been a generations old issue and millions of dollars have been spent on studies and research with little actual improvements and the continued water transfers out of the Imperial Valley and climate change have seen the sea recede at alarming rates that expose new seabed, or playa, to the harsh winds of the area” stated LADLC Executive Director Eric Montoya Reyes. “This conference will help to bring more awareness to Imperial Valley residents who are busy surviving to know the issues facing them at the Sea and will bring together diverse perspectives of the community and agencies in one place to help understand the issues, where we are at, where we need to go and how to make it there so we may have a sustainable Salton Sea and potential economic opportunity while safeguarding the environmental and human health impacts, especially around the lithium development frontline communities” Stated LADLC President and IVC Trustee Area 4 Isabel Solis. The conference will be held in the 2700 building on the north end of the IVC campus off of old highway 111 and parking is available on the north parking lots that day without needing a parking permit. For more information contact Eric Reyes at (760) 550-5153, losamigosdlac@gmail.com or visit their website at losamigosdelacomunidad.com.