The Imperial County Board of Supervisors approved another increase to the contract for the Lithium Valley Specific Plan on Tuesday, July 1, adding more than $170,000 to the project’s budget as both costs and frustrations continue to climb. The board’s carrying vote brings the total contract amount to just over $3.2 million. … The project, funded through Senate Bill 125, includes the development of the Lithium Valley Specific Plan, a Programmatic Environmental Impact Report, and a supporting infrastructure assessment for the area surrounding the Salton Sea’s southern edge. State lawmakers approved $5 million for Imperial County in 2022 to help prepare for lithium and renewable energy development in the region. … In addition to the traffic modeling, Dudek completed a hydrogeological study earlier this year to evaluate groundwater availability and potential impacts from industrial development in the area.