Potential Impacts of Reduced Inflows to the Salton Sea: Forecasting Non-market Damages

American Water Resources Association (AWRA) | September 28th, 2022

Quality of Groundwater Used for Domestic Drinking-Water Supply in the Coachella Valley, 2020

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) | January 13th, 2023

Quality of Groundwater Used for Domestic Supply in the Modesto, Turlock, and Merced Subbasins of the San Joaquin Valley, California

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) | January 6th, 2023

More than 2 million Californians rely on groundwater from privately owned domestic wells for drinking-water supply. This report summarizes a water-quality survey of domes

More than 2 million Californians rely on groundwater from privately owned domestic wells for drinking-water supply. This report summarizes a water-quality survey of domestic and small-system drinking-water supply wells in the Modesto, Turlock, and Merced subbasins of the San Joaquin Valley where more than 78,000 residents are estimated to use privately owned domestic wells. Results indicate that inorganic and organic constituents in groundwater were respectively present above regulatory (maximum contaminant level, MCL) benchmarks for public drinking-water quality in 37 percent and 9 percent of the aquifer area used for domestic drinking-water supplies (herein, “domestic groundwater resources”). The most prevalent inorganic constituents exceeding regulatory benchmarks were nitrate, uranium, and arsenic. The only organic constituents exceeding regulatory benchmarks were the fumigant constituents 1,2,3-trichloropropane (1,2,3-TCP) and 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP), but the herbicides atrazine and simazine were detected at low concentrations below one-tenth of regulatory benchmarks in 30 percent of domestic groundwater resources. Total dissolved solids (TDS) and manganese exceeded aesthetic-based (secondary maximum contaminant level [SMCL]) benchmarks for drinking water in 3 percent and 13 percent of domestic groundwater resources, respectively. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were detected in 23 percent of domestic groundwater resources, with 4 percent exceeding California state notification or response levels for specific compounds. Total coliform bacteria were detected in 20 percent of domestic groundwater resources. Elevated concentrations of nitrate, uranium, TDS, and pesticides (fumigant constituents and herbicides) are related to agricultural land use and were typically present at shallow depths up to 75 meters below land surface. Agriculturally derived constituents were detected in wells screened below the Corcoran Clay Member of the Tulare Formation (herein, “Corcoran Clay”) in the southeastern part of the study area, where the Corcoran Clay tends to be shallower and thinner than in areas to the northwest. Nitrate, uranium, and TDS were most prevalent in the northwest part of the study area proximal to the valley trough where soils are poorly drained and agricultural land uses are predominantly grain, alfalfa, and dairy farms. Pesticides tended to occur in groundwater below coarse-grained surficial deposits and within a northwest to southeast trending band along the eastern extent of the Corcoran Clay that typically demarcates the western extent of well-drained soils associated with perennial orchard crops. Elevated concentrations of arsenic tended to occur west of this band in reducing groundwater but also sometimes co-occurred with elevated nitrate in oxic groundwater, most likely because of geochemical conditions in agriculturally affected groundwater that can enhance the mobility of arsenic from aquifer sediments.

Remote sensing is a viable tool for mapping soil salinity in agricultural lands

University of California, Davis (UC Davis) | April 7th, 2017

Report to the California State Legislature Joint Legislative Budget Committee on Reduction of Agricultural Pollution Runoff into the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta

California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) | December 1st, 2010

This report has been prepared pursuant to the requirements of the Supplemental Report to the 2008 Budget Act: “On or before March 30, 2009, State Water Resources Con

This report has been prepared pursuant to the requirements of the Supplemental Report to the 2008 Budget Act: “On or before March 30, 2009, State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) shall submit a report to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee and to the relevant policy committees that details: (a) the precise actions the State Water Board would have to undertake to obtain a 30 percent reduction to agricultural pollution runoff in to the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta [Delta] and its tributary watersheds by 2012, (b) the estimated costs of those actions, and (c) which of those actions can be completed administratively and which would require legislation to implement.” The Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board, (Central Valley Regional Water Board) staff has determined that replacing irrigation practices that produce return flow is the only method of ensuring a 30 percent reduction in agricultural pollution runoff to the Delta by 2012. The program would be focused within the Delta and San Joaquin River watershed and apply to surface return flow (tailwater). Tailwater can convey contaminants applied to or on the land surface, such as pesticides, sediment, fertilizer, and manure. Tile water (subsurface drainage pumped to surface waters) contains naturally occurring minerals found in ground water, and may contain contaminants leached into the ground water due to application on the land surface. However, tile water is not the focus of this control strategy, since it would take longer to implement the required control technologies. Irrigation return flow is the focus of this effort, since it is more amenable to control (versus storm water runoff) and over 60 percent of the exceedances of water quality objectives we have identified occur during the irrigation season.1 A target of converting 50 percent of the irrigated acres that produce runoff to more efficient irrigation practices that produce no runoff is recommended. A 50 percent conversion target is recommended, since there are other pathways for agricultural pollutants to reach the Delta through surface waters (e.g., pesticide drift, tile water drainage), so a larger percentage reduction in irrigation runoff would be needed to ensure that the overall 30 percent pollution reduction goal is achieved. The estimated cost to the agricultural community to implement the required management practices is $250 million - $450 million in capital cost, assuming half of the one million acres of agricultural land requiring improved irrigation management systems would be targeted to meet the 2012 timeframe. Additional Central Valley Regional Water Board staff resources of up to 10 PY would be required to ensure the required practices are implemented.

Retiring Poisoned Lands in the Western San Joaquin Valley: A C-WIN Policy Brief

California Water Impact Network (C-WIN) | January 1st, 2012

It is the policy of the California Water Impact Network to: •Retire poisoned lands from irrigation so that pollution from naturally high levels of contaminants such

It is the policy of the California Water Impact Network to: •Retire poisoned lands from irrigation so that pollution from naturally high levels of contaminants such as salt, selenium, boron, mercury, arsenic and molybdenum is ended. •End wasteful and unreasonable uses of water as mandated under the California Constitution. •Slow or stop the spread of contamination to drinking water supplies, aquifers and aquatic food webs (including those with anadromous fish) where it now occurs, thereby protecting human and public health. •Redirect as much as 4 million acre-­feet of fresh water freed from retired lands to other beneficial uses within the Central Valley watershed, including fish and wildlife refuges, Delta ecosystem restoration and instream flows, and drought-­period municipal uses. •Require that solutions for retiring the poisoned lands from irrigation result in either no net change or an actual net decrease in energy consumption associated with use of those lands.

Salton Sea Management Program and Community Needs

California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) | January 31st, 2024

In the Southeastern corner of the state, straddling Imperial and Riverside counties, the Salton Sea (the Sea) is California’s largest inland lake and home to many Calif

In the Southeastern corner of the state, straddling Imperial and Riverside counties, the Salton Sea (the Sea) is California’s largest inland lake and home to many California Native American tribes and communities. Once a resort destination, the Sea has since become a growing environmental issue. The Sea has been shrinking, largely due to water transfers out of Imperial Valley that reduce inflows to the Sea. Drought and changes to Colorado River water availability exacerbate this trend. Although it continues to provide a vital stop along the Pacific Flyway for migratory birds, the water has become increasingly saline. As the Sea shrinks, it exposes the lakebed that has the potential to release dust, contributing to worsening air quality in a region already struggling with poor air quality from high wind events, idling vehicles, high off-road activity, commercial truck traffic, and agricultural burning. Compounding this, communities in the Eastern Coachella Valley and Imperial Valley have for decades also faced social and economic challenges. While these vibrant communities have rich cultural and natural resources, they suffer from decades of underinvestment. Residents have highlighted that local communities struggle with poor air quality, health issues, low broadband access, unreliable electricity, limited access to recreational opportunities, inadequate transportation systems, and underfunded public health infrastructure and services. These challenges make it difficult to overcome the growing environmental challenges related to the Sea.

Salton Sea Monitoring Implementation Program (MIP) Annual Work Plan 2024

California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) | February 29th, 2024

The California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA), the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) are implemen

The California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA), the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) are implementing the Salton Sea Management Program (SSMP) to address air quality and ecological threats at the Salton Sea. The SSMP has a plan for action over the 10-year period from 2018 to 2028 (Phase 1: 10-Year Plan), which aims to improve conditions around the Salton Sea by constructing projects that create habitat and reduce dust from the exposed lakebed on 30,000 acres. Since the state is not a significant landowner in the area, collaboration with land-owning entities is essential and a top priority for the SSMP. The SSMP team also recognizes the crucial role of partnerships in meeting restoration goals through collecting data, facilitating project implementation, and helping obtain funding sources. The Salton Sea Monitoring Implementation Plan (MIP) is a regional-scale monitoring plan for the Salton Sea ecosystem (CNRA 2022). The MIP, which was developed with input from implementing partners (agencies, non-governmental activities to measure conditions of water, air quality, land cover, biological resources, and socioeconomics. The MIP prioritized indicators and metrics and summarized methods and sampling regimes. These indicators were prioritized based on their informativeness and relationship to key resources and drivers of the Salton Sea ecosystem, feasibility of measurement, and relevance for management actions. Some indicators were recommended only for focused study to inform a specific management-articulated information need or specifically identified data gap.

San Joaquin Valley Drainage Monitoring Program 2006 - 2010

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | September 20th, 2013

This report shares valuable information about agricultural drainage water in order to increase the understanding of its potential impacts and improve its management in th

This report shares valuable information about agricultural drainage water in order to increase the understanding of its potential impacts and improve its management in the San Joaquin Valley. The Drainage Monitoring Program is a cooperative effort of State, federal, and local agencies.  Program staff collect, assemble, review, evaluate, and disseminate data on both the quality of drainage water as well as the depth of shallow groundwater in the San Joaquin Valley.  Fifty-two drainage sump systems are monitored for flow, sodium, sulfate, total dissolved solids, selenium, and other constituents.  Staff also combine the Department of Water Resources' data with data from over 10 other agencies for this report. DWR used depth information, gathered from approximately 1200 shallow groundwater wells, to draw Present and Potential Drainage Problem Areas Maps for the period from 2006 through 2010.  These maps show over one million acres of potentially impacted lands.  Data provided by several agencies, including the Buena Vista Water Storage District, Central California Irrigation District, Firebaugh Canal Water District, Kern County Water Agency, Panoche Water and Drainage District, San Luis Canal Company, Westlands Water District, and DWR was combined to create the maps. DWR also drew electrical conductivity (EC) maps from ECs measured in about 690 of those wells for the years 2009 and 2010.  All off the maps help inform managers of potential drainage problems in their areas due to encroachment of shallow groundwater.  The number of agencies participating is a reflection of the significance of drainage problems in the San Joaquin Valley and the potential impacts. This report focuses on five years of data collection and compilation for the calendar years 2006 thought 2010, with a special focus on historical arsenic, boron, and selenium.  In addition, pesticide and nutrient data have been added to this report for your use..

Selenium Hazards in the Salton Sea Environment— Summary of Current Knowledge to Inform Future Wetland Management

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) | July 20th, 2023

Quaternary marine and continental shales in the western United States are sources of selenium that can be loaded into the aquatic environment through mining, agricultural

Quaternary marine and continental shales in the western United States are sources of selenium that can be loaded into the aquatic environment through mining, agricultural, and energy production processes. The mobilization of selenium from shales through agricultural irrigation has been recognized since the 1930s; however, discovery of deformities in birds and other wildlife using agricultural habitats during the 1980s spurred studies to determine the extent and effects of the contamination. Through these early studies, researchers determined that biota in the Salton Sea drainage basin was at risk from legacy selenium contamination in the Colorado River watershed.