Agenda Item Wording:
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Approve Agreements for the 2025-2026 Land Fallowing Program - Authorize the City Manager to sign the Greater Kaweah Groundwater Sustainability Agency 2025-2026 Fallowing Program contracts for a combined 138.91 field acres in the total amount of $55,564 to be paid to the City of Visalia.
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Prepared by: Rehana Cale, Senior Project Manager (559) 713-4176, rehana.cale@visalia.gov; Nick Bartsch, Public Works Director (559) 713-4428, nick.bartsch@visalia.gov
Department Recommendation: Staff recommends that the Council authorize the City Manager to sign the Greater Kaweah Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GKGSA) 2025-2026 Fallowing Program contracts for a combined 138.91 field acres, related to APNs: 073-110-036, 073-110-049, 073-110-051, 073-110-068, and 103-100-052, in the total amount of $55,564 to be paid to the City of Visalia.
Summary:
The Greater Kaweah Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GKGSA) Pilot Fallowing Program, 2024-2025, was successfully completed in accordance with Council direction issued in December 2023 to cease walnut farming operations on 138.91 acres north of the Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) and to explore alternative land uses compatible with WRF operations. The City participated in the GKGSA’s 2024-2025 Pilot Fallowing Program for a total of 138.91 field acres (APNs: 073-110-036, 073-110-049, 073-110-051, 073-110-068, and 103-100-052) and will receive $69,455 for the one-year fallowing period.
Building on the successful completion of the pilot program, staff recommends that the Council authorize the City Manager to sign the Greater Kaweah Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GKGSA) 2025-2026 Fallowing Program contracts for the same 138.91 field acres in the total amount of $55,564 to be paid to the City of Visalia.
Background Discussion:
Based on the prior direction of the City Council in December 2023 to cease walnut farming operations on 138.91 acres north of the Water Reclamation Facility (WRF), the City successfully participated in the Greater Kaweah Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GKGSA) 2024-2025 Pilot Fallowing Program. This direction also included the removal of the walnut orchard and the continued exploration of long-term lease options that would be compatible with Wastewater Treatment Plant operations.
The GKGSA established the Land Fallowing Program to reduce groundwater extraction within its jurisdictional boundaries, lessen impacts to domestic and irrigation wells, and support the objectives of the GKGSA’s Groundwater Sustainability Plan and the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). Under the 2025-2026 program, the land will remain fallowed from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026.
Building upon the successful completion of the 2024-2025 pilot year, staff submitted a proposal to the GKGSA to again fallow the same City-owned properties totaling 138.91 field acres (APNs: 073-110-036, 073-110-049, 073-110-051, 073-110-068, and 103-100-052) under the 2025-2026 Fallowing Program.
Previously, the GKGSA received, and independently and anonymously evaluated, bids from eligible applicants within its boundaries. This year, the process was changed from a uniform price auction to a fixed price program. Under the new approach, the price was set in advance at $400 per field acre fallowed for qualified applicants. The City’s proposed acreage qualified under this criteria, for a total payment of $55,564 to be made to the City of Visalia.
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to sign the Greater Kaweah Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GKGSA) 2025-2026 Fallowing Program contracts for the same 138.91 field acres in the total amount of $55,564 to be paid to the City of Visalia.
Participation in this program supports regional groundwater sustainability objectives, advances compliance with SGMA, and aligns with the City’s long-term land management and resource conservation strategies.
Fiscal Impact:
The farmland surrounding the Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) (APNs: 073-110-036, 073-110-049, 073-110-051, 073-110-068) is owned by the Wastewater Fund (431) and operated under the Farming Division (4344). Therefore, the revenue of $48,348 generated under this fallowing contract would be credited to the Wastewater Fund (431). The land southwest of the Oakes Basin (APN: 103-100-052) is owned by the General Fund (001) and Storm Sewer Def (222), so the associated revenue of $7,216 related to the fallowing of this parcel would be credited proportionally to the General Fund and Storm Sewer Deficiency funds at a rate of 86% and 14%, respectively.
In total, the fallowing of land in accordance with the proposed agreements under the GKGSA 2025-2026 Fallowing Program would generate $55,564 of revenue to the City of Visalia.
Prior Council Action:
• December 18, 2023 - City Council was presented an update to the city-owned farmland and farming operations, and provided direction to cease farming operations of the 130 acres of walnuts.
• November 18, 2024 - City Council approved agreements for the 2024-2025 Land Fallowing Program and authorized the City Manager to sign the Greater Kaweah Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GKGSA) 2024-2025 Pilot Fallowing Program contracts for a combined 138.91 field acres in the total amount of $69,455 to be paid to the City of Visalia.
Other: N/A
Alternatives: Do not participate in the proposed GKGSA 2025-2026 Land Fallowing Program
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
I move to authorize the City Manager to sign the Greater Kaweah Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GKGSA) 2025-2026 Fallowing Program contracts for a combined 138.91 field acres in the total amount of $55,564 to be paid to the City of Visalia.
Environmental Assessment Status: N/A
CEQA Review: N/A
Deadline for Action: 10/20/2025
Attachments:
Attachment 1 - GKGSA 2025-2026 Fallowing Program Contract - APNs: 073-110-036, 073-110-049, 073-110-051, 073-110-068
Attachment 2 - GKGSA 2025-2026 Fallowing Program Contract - APN: 103-100-052
Attachment 3 - Maps of Land to be Fallowed under the GKGSA 2025-2026 Fallowing Program
Attachment 4 - GKGSA 25-26 Fallowing Letter & Contract Visalia