International Water Experts Meet At Pacific Mcgeorge School Of Law To Find Ways To Save The Salton Sea
February 14, 2005For Immediate Release - February 14, 2005
Contact: Janet Konttinen, 916.739.7047, cell 916.216.6362
On Friday & Saturday, February 18-19, 2005, the University of Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento, CA, will host the International Law Conference ‘Transboundary Freshwater Ecosystem Restoration’ in which two dozen internationally renowned authorities on water resources management will gather to discuss California’s largest transnational ecosystem restoration challenge: the Lower Colorado River. Experts from Mexico and Canada, along with the U.S., will share their knowledge about the complex relationship between the rehabilitation of the failing Salton Sea, and the potential restoration of the threatened Colorado River delta.
“The Salton Sea is both a unique, artificial watercourse and a legacy of a massive early 20th century levee break along the Colorado River,” explains Pacific McGeorge law professor and Director of the Institute for Sustainable Development, Gregory Weber. “With a once thriving fishery, and a huge migratory bird population, the Salton Sea depends upon irrigation runoff from Imperial Valley Farms. Over the past half-century, the Sea’s level has declined and its salinity increased. The fishery no longer thrives and massive bird kills have occurred.”
This timely symposium will also look to recent developments in other ecosystem restoration projects in various stages of development throughout California. Examples in Northern California include the Trinity River, the Klamath River, and the San Joaquin River downstream of the Friant-Kern dam.
A variety of poignant viewpoints will be presented by Mexican Ambassador Alberto Szekely, wildlife experts, and representatives for the Colorado River Indian Tribes.
Members of the media are invited to attend by prior arrangement with Connie Neumann, Symposium Coordinator at 916-739-7019.
