At 35 miles long and 15 mile wide, the Salton Sea is California's largest lak and one of its most polluted.

It is nearly twice as salty a the ocean laden with agricultural runoff, and susceptible to algal bloom that spew hydrogen sulfide, a noxious gas.

State officials have wrestle with the sea's declinin condition as its water becomes foule and its footprint shrinks, exposing toxic dust that blows through the region.

This year, the state too a step toward a solution, creating a new Salton Se Conservancy and earmarkin nearly half a billion dollars to reviv the degraded water body.

The California Climate Bond that voters passed in November dedicates $170 million towar Salton Sea restoration, including $10 million t establish the Conservancy.

The state's Greenhouse Ga Reduction Fund dedicate $60 million.

The Federal Bureau o Reclamation contribute another $250 million, California State Senator Steve Padilla said.

Despite its contamination, the sea still provide key wildlife habitat.

It's a haven to more than 40 bird species and a key stop on the Pacifi Flyway, one of North America' main bird migration routes.

The California Salton Se Management Program lists 18 restoration projects, including some already underway.

Workers will build shallow pond and mix highly saline water fro the sea with fresh water from its main tributary, the New River.

They plan to reach a targe salinity of 20 to 40 part per thousand.

At that level, the water ca support native desert pupfis along with tilapia.

An expansion to that project would add more aquatic habitat for fish-eating birds with nesting and loafing islands and ponds of varied depth.

For CalMatters, I'm Debora Brennan.