California State Parks is working to develop a general plan for Salton Sea State Recreation Area. The general plan will establish a long-term vision for the park and serve as its primary management document. It will include goals and guidelines for future recreation opportunities, resource protection and facility development, as well as park improvements, services and programs. An environmental impact report (EIR), as required under the California Environmental Quality Act, will also be prepared as part of the general plan process. The EIR will evaluate potential environmental impacts of the general plan's recommendations.

The park was classified as a state recreation area in 1963, but a general plan has never been developed for Salton Sea SRA. California law requires previously classified park units to prepare a general plan before the permanent commitment of park resources are made. Additionally, declining water levels due to reduced inflows into the Salton Sea continue to reshape recreation opportunities at the park and impact the fragile ecosystem within which the park exists. The development of a general plan for Salton Sea SRA is therefore a high-ranking priority for California State Parks.