As the Habitat Representative of the conservancy board, our Salton Sea & Deserts Program Manager will champion conservation and public access at the Sea for birds and local communities
SACRAMENTO — Governor Gavin Newsom and California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) Secretary Wade Crowfoot have named Camila Bautista, Audubon California’s Salton Sea & Deserts Program Manager, to the new Salton Sea Conservancy Board. The conservancy marks a critical milestone for the long-term habitat restoration goals at the state’s largest lake and will be tasked with overseeing the progress of all conservation projects in the region.
“The Salton Sea is full of possibilities for the future, and I’m honored to represent the vision of our communities and the needs of our incredible wildlife,” said Camila Bautista, Audubon California’s Salton Sea & Deserts Program Manager and CNRA’s appointee to the Board.
“I’ve had the chance to meet with hundreds of our residents, and I know that while we face undeniable challenges, we are a resilient region that holds so many opportunities,” said Bautista. “We’ve seen important conservation progress, with the Species Conservation Habitat Project and the Bombay Beach Wetlands restoration, and I look forward to expanding that work through deeper community engagement and broader public access.”
As the only environmental conservation nonprofit organization on the board and a long-term restoration partner with the state, Audubon California will serve as a voice for the millions of birds that rely on the Salton Sea and an expert resource on the region’s diverse and unique habitats. Audubon California’s work on the Bombay Beach Wetland Enhancement Project to stabilize and expand important habitat while addressing public health and access issues has brought in millions of dollars of funding, including in recent federal community project appropriations.
“Audubon California is deeply committed to the health and future of the Salton Sea, a vital refuge for birds and other wildlife, and has championed its importance for over 20 years,” said Andrea Jones, Vice President of California for the National Audubon Society. “Camila’s appointment to the board is an important continuation of that work and a testament to her tireless advocacy, invaluable scientific expertise, and commitment to environmental justice.”
Bautista played a critical role in the Salton Sea Public Access Community study, which engaged more than 600 residents around the sea, including Spanish- and Purécha-speaking communities. The results highlighted a clear community vision prioritizing clean air, clean water, and safe, accessible opportunities to connect with the Salton Sea.
Born and raised in the Coachella Valley, Bautista is an accomplished scientist and community advocate—most recently, her contributions to a study on the increase of shorebirds at the sea were published in Waterbirds. Her master’s thesis, which won the Farvolden Scholarship at the National Groundwater Association (NGWA) Groundwater Week 2023 conference, analyzed the water sources sustaining the Bombay Beach Wetland Project through isotopic techniques. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from UCLA and a master’s degree in environmental science from California State University, Los Angeles.