Senate Bill 583, passed by the California Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2024, created the Salton Sea Conservancy (SSC), the first state conservancy created in the last 15 years. On April 10, the governor announced the inaugural appointees to the conservancy board. … The initial 22 conservancy board members—15 voting members, and seven ex-officio members—include state and regional agency, department and non-governmental organization representatives, including two local longtime advocates for long-term solutions: Castulo Estrada, a member of the Coachella Valley Water District Board of Directors and a 12-year member of the Salton Sea Authority; and Silvia Paz, founder and executive director of Alianza Coachella Valley. The Independent spoke with both of them about the role the SSC will play.