The development of the most effective and appropriate restoration alternatives for the Salton Sea involved a large number of stakeholder agencies, policy-makers, and the general public, and consideration of many complicated environmental, engineering, financial, aesthetic, and social issues. Many of the most important and vocal stakeholders involved in this process were non-scientist, lay people from all backgrounds and walks of life who had a burning interest in the Sea's fate. One of several key products identified for development within the University of Redlands, Redlands Institute (RI) Salton Sea Database Program (SSDP) was a graphical atlas to help explain the complex nature of the Sea, and the equally complex historical and contemporary cultural and environmental interactions that have resulted in the Sea's current condition. The hard-copy atlas provided a highly graphic, non-technical medium to describe the physical and cultural geography of the Salton Sea in a manner that could be easily understood by lay public and decision makers.

The hardcopy Salton Sea Atlas was later followed with the development of a digital interactive Atlas (Winner of Best of Show as well as the Best Interactive Digital Map award in the Professional Category 2004 ACSM-CaGIS Map Design Competition) that was distributed in CD media for use by schools, managers, scientists and the public.

The Request for Information (RFI) system was implemented in November of 1999 and now numbers over 1000 entries. Using an on-line form, agencies or individuals can request a variety of products and services including applications and training, bibliographic references, documents, maps, graphics, and GIS data. Requests range from “what is the origin of the name ‘Salton’,” to highly technical analysis and originate from federal, state and local government, consulting and engineering firms, environmental and community groups, and Native American tribal committees.

Several requests have inspired larger projects including producing maps for a Guide to Birds of the Salton Sea (Massey & Zembal 2002), a Salton Sea fish kill response system, a Salton Sea—California’s Everglades (University of Redlands, 2002) information booklet, and a regional strategy for water quality monitoring.

A collection of products offered by the Salton Sea Database Program.