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), t...
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