Agenda Item Wording:
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Approve Agreements for the 2024-2025 Land Fallowing Program - Authorize 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.
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Deadline for Action: 11/18/2024
Submitting Department: Public Works
Contact Name and Phone Number: Nick Bartsch 559-713-4428
Department Recommendation:
Staff recommends that the Council authorize 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, related to APNs: 073-110-036, 073-110-049, 073-110-051, 073-110-068, and 103-100-052, in the total amount of $69,455 to be paid to the City of Visalia.
Background Discussion:
Based on the health and condition of the walnut orchards, historical and projected crop production, and associated uncertainties related to groundwater sustainability regulations, the City Council directed City staff to stop farming its 130 acres of Walnuts, just north of the Water Reclamation Facility (WRF), in December 2023. This direction also included the removal of the walnut orchard and the exploration of long-term lease options that would be compatible with the Wastewater Treatment Plant operations.
The GKGSA has established a Land Fallowing Pilot Program in order to immediately reduce groundwater extraction within the GKGSA's jurisdictional boundaries, reduce impacts to domestic and irrigation wells, and effectuate the objectives of GKGSA's Groundwater Sustainability Plan and the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act ("SGMA"). Under this program, the land shall remain fallowed from October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025. Any farm within GKGSA's boundaries with four or more acres was eligible to bid. Growers had to be in good standing with the GKGSA and compliant with all other rul...
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