The federal government has announced that $70 million in federal funding is being transferred to the state's Salton Sea Management Program.

The first major federal investment will accelerate the ongoing work to restore the Salton Sea. A total of $250 million of federal funding was committed last year to accelerate dust suppression and aquatic habitat projects at the sea. California has committed more than $500 million in state funding for projects at the inland sea.

The $70 million will be used to expand testate's Species Conservation Habitat Project. That project is creating a network of ponds and wetlands over 4,000 acres to provide fish and bird habitat and suppress dust emissions at the southern end of the sea.