The drought conditions of 2015 increased public awareness of water use in California and renewed interest in the Salton Sea. It was evident to state, local and federal officials that municipal water in growing metropolitan areas was direly needed. A major potential water supply for Southern California municipalities is agricultural land in the Imperial Valley irrigated by the Colorado River. However, any proposal to transfer agricultural water supplies to urban use would reduce the Salton Sea's size, harming the established ecosystem and risking the health of local communities. The difficulties of addressing the Salton Sea dilemma highlight the challenges of balancing urban, agricultural and environmental water needs in the arid southwest.
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