The Central Valley Salinity Alternatives for Long-Term Sustainability (CVSALTS) executive committee convened last week to hear and understand consultants’ progress on selecting the second salinity management pilot area and progress on groundwater data compilation and evaluating salinity management tools.
The second salt management pilot study area is being selected, and the Kern County CVSALTS coalition is among the candidate areas working with consultants, according to Nicole Bell, the coalition leader. The Delta-Mendota Groundwater Sustainability Agencies comprise the first study area.
Also, planning started for rolling out the salinity management effort in Kern County, a priority 2 region. Our members will benefit from the groundwork now in progress in Kings and other counties. It probably begins in earnest in mid-2025.
Salinity management tools under evaluation and notes:
• Implementation of optimized BMPs for irrigation and other sources, including produced water
• Reduced salinity in water supplies, meaning for drinking water wells and storage
• Reduction in irrigated acreage, which is already occurring to the SGMA
• Crops with reduced demand for water and with higher salt tolerance, such as olives and pistachios
• Groundwater recharge – the Governor and agencies strongly support this; a significant good will win if our reclaimed water is a source for recharge projects
• Engineered solutions to reduce groundwater concentrations in aquifers – the most expensive option and long-term
CIPA is a member of CVSalts and participates in and monitors its developments to ensure proposals do not unduly impact energy production.