CV-SALTS – Managing Salt and Nitrate in the California Central Valley
Prioritization & Optimization Study
About the P&O Study
The P&O Study is developing the technical information and roadmap to describe and address the long-term problem of salt accumulation in the Valley. The study is intended to answer key questions:
Activities
Over the next four years, the Central Valley Salinity Coalition (CVSC) will direct studies to update the understanding of salt conditions across the Valley, identify salt management regions and salinity targets, and develop initial alternatives for managing salt to close the gap between current conditions and the salinity targets. From these studies, CV-SALTS will formulate recommendations for review and consideration by the Central Valley Water Board. Figure 1 shows the near-term activities and milestones.
Timeline
In subsequent years of the Salt Control Program, CV-SALTS will coordinate and guide studies of projects and management actions to achieve the Salt Control Program goals. These studies will identify the location, feasibility, and cost for regional and subregional projects such as de-salters, a regulated brine line, salt storage/management areas, and other groundwater recharge and management actions. The long-term decisions and milestones include:
These studies will lead to development of proposed changes in salinity regulations to incorporate into future basin plan amendments and Phase II and III efforts.
Study Challenges
Addressing salt accumulation in the Central Valley will face inherent challenges:
The P&O Study must also consider important external factors, such as:
Related resource planning initiatives
including surface water use changes and ground water management under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, land use planning efforts, and environmental factors and restoration efforts.
Changing climatic conditions
which affect long-term salt accumulation, rainfall patterns, and temperature.
Competing regulation and funding priorities
for federal, state, and local governments.
Coordination
Valley-wide efforts to address salt accumulation touch on all aspects of water quality and water management. As the Salt Control Program proceeds, additional local and Valley-wide coordination will be important to continue to gather information, solicit input, and develop additional partnerships.
Coordination with related programs and organizations is a core function of CV-SALTS activities. The Program will continue and expand coordination throughout the P&O Study.
WATER QUALITY REGULATORY PROGRAMS
The Central Valley Water Board regulates thousands of businesses, municipalities, and special districts to protect water quality. Most of these entities participate in CV-SALTS individually or through coalitions and associations.
GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT
The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act established local Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) to plan and manage groundwater use to avoid undesirable impacts on groundwater supplies and quality. There are approximately 200 GSAs in the Central Valley.
WATER MANAGEMENT
Hundreds of federal, state, and local organizations manage and regulate the flow, use, and quality of water within the Valley or use its waters throughout the state. These organizations are important partners in the success of CV-SALTS and in meeting the long-term sustainability and water quality needs of their customers and the environment.
Learn More
CV-SALTS continues to grow participation from people and organizations interested in and concerned about water quality in the Central Valley.