Governor Gavin Newsom has announced the creation of the Salton Sea Conservancy, which is meant to restore the habitat in the area and improve air quality. It’s the state’s first conservancy in 15 years. … Residents like Imari Kariotis say they’ve developed chronic health issues from living in the area. “I have breathing issues. So I am on this Nova disc in the morning. I have a rescue inhaler,” Kariotis says. She’s lived in the area for 30 years and says affordability is what brings most people to the area. But she says the government has neglected the region. … Joe Shea, who works on Salton Sea policy with the California Natural Resources Agency, says the conservancy will expand the state’s capacity for projects at the Salton Sea.

Other Salton Sea news:

• SFGate: More hiking trails, campgrounds could come to the Salton Sea
• Imperial Valley Press (El Centro, Calif.): State releases 2026 Salton Sea annual report