What Salton Sea Authority does

The Salton Sea Authority is a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) formed in 1993 to coordinate the revitalization of California's Salton Sea, a 343-square-mile inland lake facing shrinkage, hyper-salinity, and toxic dust exposure. The Authority operates as a public governance and coordination body rather than a commercial enterprise, bringing together Riverside County, Imperial County, Coachella Valley Water District, Imperial Irrigation District, the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians, and federal partners including the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and U.S. Bureau of Land Management.

The Authority's core activities center on environmental restoration projects — notably the North Lake Pilot Demonstration Project, the North Shore Beach and Yacht Club sea access restoration, the proposed Perimeter Lake, the Desert Shores project, and the Torres Martinez wetlands (the first state-funded project completed at the Salton Sea, delivered on time and under budget in 2018). Underlying technology is environmental and water management infrastructure: wetlands construction, dust suppression on exposed playa, habitat restoration for 400+ bird species, and water resource management. The Authority has also positioned itself at the intersection of restoration and emerging economic opportunity around lithium extraction from geothermal brines.

The Authority's revenue model is entirely non-commercial. Funding flows from California state budget allocations (e.g., $47M in 2020), voter-approved bond measures (Proposition 1: $80.5M; Proposition 3: $200M), federal grants (NRCS: $7.5M; Wildlife Conservation Board: $14M; Army Corps WRDA authorization: $30M), and public donations. The GTM motion is government-to-government advocacy and stakeholder coordination — lobbying state and federal funders, facilitating MOUs between counties, and convening public board meetings. The staff is nine people, executing an unusually high-leverage operating model focused on regulatory and political capital rather than headcount-intensive delivery.

Name

Salton Sea Authority

Legal name

The Salton Sea Authority

Website

https://saltonsea.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Salton Sea Authority is a California Joint Powers Authority that coordinates environmental restoration of the 343-square-mile Salton Sea, uniting federal, state, county, water district, and tribal stakeholders to secure funding and implement water management, habitat, and dust control projects.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Restoration Services

NAICS

Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (924110), Administration of Conservation Programs (92412)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Resources Administration (Watersheds, Rivers, Groundwater) (BPAIAMAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Coastal & Marine Resources Administration (Oceans, Fisheries, Shorelines) (BPAIAMAI), Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)

Keywords

• Environmental restoration services
• Water resource management
• Habitat conservation projects
• Wetlands construction
• Government joint powers authority

Headquarters

HQ city

Indio

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. State Government Funding: California state budget allocations for Salton Sea projects and restoration efforts.
2. Federal Government Funding: Federal appropriations and authorized funding from agencies such as Army Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation.
3. Proposition and Bond Funding: Voter-approved bond measures and propositions directing funds to Salton Sea management.
4. Grants: Federal and state grants from agencies such as Natural Resources Conservation Service, Wildlife Conservation Board, and California Natural Resources Agency.
5. Donations: Public donations accepted for Salton Sea restoration efforts.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Salton Sea Authority is a Joint Powers Authority that coordinates and implements environmental restoration and water management projects at the Salton Sea. Its core offerings include multi-jurisdictional stakeholder coordination, wetlands construction and habitat restoration projects, dust control initiatives, and securing government funding for the revitalization of the Salton Sea. The Authority unites federal, state, local, and tribal stakeholders to protect human health, restore habitat, and revitalize the regional economy.

Product overview

The Salton Sea Authority is a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) that serves as a coordination and advocacy body rather than a technology product company. Its core offering consists of environmental restoration and revitalization projects aimed at protecting human health, restoring habitat, and revitalizing the economy of the Salton Sea area. The main project portfolio includes the North Lake Pilot Demonstration Project, the North Shore Beach and Yacht Club restoration, the Perimeter Lake initiative, and the Desert Shores project. These projects work in concert with state, federal, and local government partners along with tribal stakeholders to implement water management, habitat restoration, and air quality improvement measures. The Authority also administers legislative and grant programs including Proposition 1 Water Bond ($80.5M), Natural Resources Conservation Service funding ($7.5M), California Wildlife Conservation Board grants ($14M), and Water Resources Development Act authorization ($30M).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• North Lake Pilot Demonstration Project A pilot demonstration project focused on restoring and managing water at the North Lake area of the Salton Sea to provide habitat and dust control. Hosted by Riverside County.
• Restoring Sea Access via North Shore Beach and Yacht Club A project to restore public sea access through the North Shore Beach and Yacht Club area of the Salton Sea.
• Perimeter Lake A proposed perimeter lake project around the Salton Sea designed to maintain water levels and provide habitat.
• Desert Shores A project focused on development and restoration activities in the Desert Shores area of the Salton Sea.
• Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians Wetlands First state-funded project completed at the Salton Sea, a wetlands on tribal land providing valuable habitat and dust control. Delivered in partnership with the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians.

Quantifiable outcome

• First state-funded project completed at the Salton Sea - a wetlands on Torres Martinez tribal land delivered on time and under budget
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla IndianscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Salton Sea Authority partnered with the Torres Martinez Tribe to deliver the first state-funded project at the Salton Sea - a wetlands on tribal land. This project was completed on time and under budget, demonstrating a successful model for project implementation. The Authority works with the Tribe on Colorado River Operations consultation and various restoration initiatives.
• Imperial Irrigation DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImperial Irrigation District is one of the major landowners under the Salton Sea and a key party to the Quantification Settlement Agreement. The Authority coordinates with IID on water transfers, conservation efforts, and Salton Sea management.
• Coachella Valley Water DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoachella Valley Water District is a key partner in Salton Sea Authority activities. CVWD hosts board meetings and is involved in water conservation and transfer agreements affecting Salton Sea inflows.
• Riverside CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRiverside County is a key partner in Salton Sea Authority. The County signed a historic MOU with Imperial County in December 2018 for Salton Sea cooperation. Riverside County hosts the North Lake Pilot Demonstration Project.
• Imperial CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImperial County partnered with Riverside County in signing a historic MOU for Salton Sea cooperation in December 2018. The County hosts board meetings at their Board of Supervisors Chambers.
• U.S. Bureau of ReclamationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Bureau of Reclamation, under the Department of Interior, owns significant land under the Salton Sea. The Authority works with USBR on water management, federal partnership coordination, and has representatives participating in board meetings.
• U.S. Army Corps of EngineerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Authority has been designated as the preferred non-federal partner for Army Corps of Engineers work at the Salton Sea. $30 million has been authorized through Water Resources Development Act for feasibility studies and implementation.
• California Natural Resources AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCNRA is the primary state agency partner for Salton Sea Authority. The agency oversees the Salton Sea Management Plan and Prop 4 budget allocations. A Public Affairs Officer from CNRA provides regular state updates.
• U.S. Bureau of Land ManagementminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBLM, under the Department of Interior, owns land under the Salton Sea as part of the federal government's land holdings in the area.
• UCLA Water Quality ResearchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCLA Water Quality Research team, led by Imogen Lee, presented a grant request at the July 2026 board meeting for water quality research.
• San Diego County Water AuthorityminorOthersSDCWA is a party to the Quantification Settlement Agreement and receives water transfers from Imperial Irrigation District, which affects Salton Sea inflows.
• Metropolitan Water District of Southern CaliforniaminorOthersMWD is a party to the Quantification Settlement Agreement involving water transfers affecting the Salton Sea.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Great Lakes Commission: Compact agency representing eight Great Lakes states and two Canadian provinces on shared water resource management. Comparable to SSA in coordinating policy, funding, and restoration across multiple sovereign jurisdictions for a major shared water body.
• Tahoe Regional Planning Agency: Bi-state (California-Nevada) compact authority governing land use and environmental protection at Lake Tahoe. Comparable to SSA as a compact-driven public authority coordinating environmental restoration across multiple jurisdictions for a specific large water body.
• Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy: California state conservancy coordinating multi-jurisdictional restoration of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Highly comparable to SSA as a California public body managing large-scale aquatic ecosystem restoration across federal, state, local, and water district stakeholders.
• San Joaquin River Conservancy: California state authority managing the San Joaquin River Parkway through land acquisition, restoration, and recreation. Comparable to SSA as a public conservation authority executing habitat and water resource restoration projects with multi-agency coordination.
• Colorado River Board of California: California state agency coordinating Colorado River policy among water contractors, agencies, and governments. Comparable to SSA in its role as a convener across water rights holders, federal partners, and California agencies on a contested water resource.

Broad incumbents

• California Water Commission: State commission overseeing water storage and diversion projects under California's Water Storage Investment Program. Adjacent to SSA's role in advising on water policy and funding priorities for state-level water resource decisions.
• California Coastal Commission: State agency regulating land and water use along California's coastline. Comparable to SSA in administering environmental protection and habitat restoration for a major California water body through coordinated state and local action.
• U.S. Bureau of Reclamation: Federal agency managing water resources and infrastructure across the western U.S., including significant landholdings under the Salton Sea. Comparable to SSA as a major institutional actor in Western water resource management, though at federal scale vs. regional.

Emerging players

• Klamath River Renewal Corporation: Non-profit implementing the largest dam removal and river restoration project in U.S. history on the Klamath River. Comparable to SSA as a multi-stakeholder restoration coordinator focused on a specific California water resource with federal and tribal partnerships.

Regional players

• Imperial Irrigation District: Largest irrigation district in the U.S. and SSA's principal local partner, controlling water rights critical to the Salton Sea's inflows. Comparable in regional scope and water-resource stewardship role, though operationally distinct as a water utility vs. a restoration coordinator.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SaltonSeaNews
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/saltonsea

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Salton Sea Authority