[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 244 Introduced in House (IH)]






109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 244

 Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the creation of the Salton Sea.


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 27, 2005

    Mr. Filner (for himself and Mrs. Bono) submitted the following 
      resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the creation of the Salton Sea.

Whereas the Salton Sea was formed in 1905 when the Colorado River burst out of 
        its man-made irrigation canal and flooded the dry alkaline basin of the 
        Imperial Valley to create California's largest lake and the largest 
        inland body of water west of the Rockies;
Whereas the Salton Sea was originally a fresh water lake, but is now a closed 
        system with a tremendously productive ecosystem that is home to numerous 
        fish and nearly 400 species of birds, including several species that are 
        on the endangered species list such as the Yuma clapper rail, the 
        California brown pelican, the desert pupfish, the Aleutian Canada goose, 
        the Southwest willow flycatcher and the bald eagle;
Whereas 95 percent of other wetlands in Southern California have been lost to 
        development, and the Salton Sea is a critical stopover for migratory 
        birds and a vital link for waterfowl and shore birds on the Pacific 
        Flyway;
Whereas although the Salton Sea is known best for its fish and bird populations, 
        it is also home to 24 species of reptiles and over 20 species of 
        mammals;
Whereas in addition to its ecological value, the Salton Sea serves as the second 
        largest producer of geothermal-generated electricity and mineral 
        recovery in the United States;
Whereas the Salton Sea receives over 200,000 visitors each year who partake in 
        its many recreational areas and visit the Sonny Bono Salton Sea National 
        Wildlife Refuge; and
Whereas the Congress passed the Salton Sea Reclamation Act in 1998, directing 
        the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Reclamation, 
        to prepare a study on the restoration of the Salton Sea and submit it to 
        the Congress by January 1, 2000: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) celebrates the 100th anniversary of the creation of the 
        Salton Sea;
            (2) recognizes the extraordinary economic, cultural, 
        recreational, scientific and environmental importance of the 
        Salton Sea; and
            (3) recommits itself to restoring the Salton Sea.
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