Central Valley Salinity Alternatives for Long-Term Sustainability (CV-SALTS)

Overview of the CV-SALTS Program

Elevated salinity and nitrates in surface water and groundwater are increasing problems affecting much of California, other western states, and arid regions throughout the world. In California, as surface and groundwater supplies become scarcer, and as wastewater streams become more concentrated, salinity and nitrate impairments are occurring with greater frequency and magnitude.

In 2006, the Central Valley Water Board, the State Water Board, and stakeholders began a joint effort to address salinity and nitrate problems in California’s Central Valley and adopt long-term solutions that will lead to enhanced water quality and economic sustainability. Central Valley Salinity Alternatives for Long-Term Sustainability (CV-SALTS) is a collaborative basin planning effort aimed at developing and implementing a comprehensive salinity and nitrate management program. The goal of CV-SALTS is to maintain a healthy environment and a good quality of life for all Californians by protecting our most essential and vulnerable resource: WATER.

In July 2008, the Central Valley Salinity Coalition (CVSC) was formed.  CVSC represents stakeholder groups working with the Board in the CV-SALTS effort.  Its purpose is to organize, facilitate and fund efforts needed to fulfill the goals of CV-SALTS.  CVSC coordinates the meetings of the CV-SALTS committees, maintains an independent web site, and manages the projects originating from this effort.  Information and materials regarding the stakeholder committees and other activity, including the meeting schedule, are posted on their website: www.cvsalinity.org. 

Archives of initial CV-SALTS activities and meetings (2006-2008) will be posted on this site until further notice.

New! Central Valley Salt and Nitrate Management Plan

• CV-SALTS Developed Salt and Nitrate Management Plan (SNMP)
  The CV-SALTS initiative completed a Central Valley-wide SNMP on 31 December 2016. The SNMP provides a framework to manage salt and nitrate discharges within the Central Valley region. A public hearing will be held to discuss components on 9 March 2017 at the Central Valley Water Board's office in Rancho Cordova. For more information see the following links:
  • Executive Summary
  • Environmental Documentation
  • Link to full SNMP
  • SNMP Fact Sheets and Summaries:
    • One Page SNMP Overview Fact Sheet
      • Hoja informativa de una página
    • Four Page SNMP Overview Fact Sheet
      • Hoja informativa de 4 páginas
    • SNMP Overview Summary
    • Nitrate Permitting Strategy Summary
    • Salinity Management Strategy
    • Groundwater Management Zone Policy Summary
    • Offset Policy Summary
    • Exceptions Policy Summary
    • Salinity Variance Policy Summary
    • Secondary MCL Policy Summary
    • Drought Policy Summary
    • Alternative Compliance Project Guidelines Summary
  • Comment Letters Received:
    • California Sportfishing Protection Alliance
    • California Urban Water Agencies
    • Central Valley Clean Water Association
    • City of Sacramento - Sacramento River Source Water Protection Program
      • Attachment 1
      • Attachment 2
      • Attachment 3
      • Attachment 4
      • Attachment 5
      • Attachment 6
      • Attachment 7
      • Attachment 8
    • Contra Costa Water District
    • East Bay Municipal Utility District
    • Environmental Justice Community Stakeholders:
      • EJ Stakeholders Comments on Technical Documents
      • EJ Stakeholders Comments on Draft SNMP
      • EJ Stakeholders Attachments to Comments
    • Luhdorff & Scalmanini Consulting Engineers
    • RegionalSan
    • South Delta Water Agency
      • 2016-12 South Delta Leaching Fractions Project Report Update
      • Terry Prichard Updated Testimony
      • Statement of Jack Alvarez
    • Valley Water Management

New! Notices of Public Hearing and Opportunity for Public Comments

• New! Public Hearing and Opportunity for Public Comments Concerning Amendments to the Water Quality Control Plans for the Sacramento River and San Joaquin River Basins and the Tulare Lake Basin (Basin Plans) to Incorporate a Central Valley-wide Salt and Nitrate Control Program
  The Central Valley Water Board has scheduled a hearing to receive oral comments regarding a draft staff report and Proposed Amendments to the Basin Plans to establish a Central Valley-wide Salt and Nitrate Control Program. The Board is also inviting the public, stakeholders, and representatives of other agencies to submit written comments on the Proposed Amendments and draft Staff Report/SED.
  NOTICE: Comment Period Extended from 22 March 2018 to noon on Monday, 7 May 2018
  • REVISED Notice of Opportunity to Comment and Public Hearing (31 May/1 June 2018)
  • Aviso Modificado Sobre Oportunidad Para Dar Comentarios, Audiencia Pública, Y Registro (31 de Mayo/1 de Junio de 2018)
  • Notice of Opportunity to Comment and Public Hearing (22 March 2018 and 31 May 2018)
  • NEW! Draft Staff Report
    • Cover, Executive Summary, Basin Plan Amendment Language, Table of Contents
    • Main Report (includes all sections of the report except for the appendices)
    • Appendix A - Surface Water Quality Information
    • Appendix B - Groundwater Quality Information
    • Appendix C - Regulation of Waste Discharges in the Central Valley
    • Appendix D - Programs and Policies Matrices
    • Appendix E - List of Non-Prioritized Groundwater Basins
    • Appendix F - Title 22 §64449
    • Appendix G - Considerations When Implementing SMCL Water Quality Objectives When Developing WDRs
    • Appendix H - Alternative Compliance Project Guidelines
    • Appendix I - Summary Salt Control Program with Examples
    • Appendix J - Implementation of the Recommended Alternative for the Nitrate Control Program
    • Appendix K - Environmental Checklist
    • Appendix L - CV-SALTS Process and Public Participation
  
  
  • NEW! Development of the Proposed Salt and Nitrate Control Program Basin Plan Amendment Draft Staff Report
    • Scientific Peer Reviews
      Seven scientific reports utilized in the development of the Central Valley-wide Salt and Nitrate Management Plan's Salinity Management Strategy and Nitrate Permitting Strategy, the resulting Salt and Nitrate Control Program Basin Plan Amendment and its associated Draft Staff Report, along with three additional reports that provided documentation for models used to develop the SNMP, were submitted for external scientific peer review on 11 January 2018, and a revision submitted on 24 January 2018.
      • 24 January 2018 Request for External Scientific Peer Review
      • Peer Reviews:
        • Coming Soon!
        • Coming Soon!
        • Coming Soon!
      • Response to Peer Review Comments - Coming Soon!


• Public Workshop to Discuss Proposed Basin Plan Amendments to the Water Quality Control Plans for the Sacramento River and San Joaquin River Basins and the Tulare Lake Basin (Basin Plans) for a Central Valley-wide Salt and Nitrate Control Program - 19 January 2018
  The Central Valley Water Board will conduct a workshop to discuss proposed Basin Plan Amendments to the Water Quality Control Plans for the Sacramento River and San Joaquin River Basins and the Tulare Lake Basin (Basin Plans) for a Central Valley-wide Salt and Nitrate Control Program. The Board is conducting the public workshop to solicit stakeholder input on the strategies, policies and guidance currently under development. Although the Board may provide feedback to Board staff at the workshop, no Board action will be taken.
  • Notice of Workshop
  • Notice of Workshop - Spanish
  • New! Discussion Handouts
  • New! Workshop Presentations:
    • Main Workshop Presentation
    • Sacramento River Source Water Protection Program Presentation
    • Contra Costa Water District Presentation
  • Workshop Material
    • Salt Control Program
    • Nitrate Control Program
    • Conditional Prohibition for the Salt and Nitrate Control Program
    • Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level Policy
    • Drought and Conservation Policy
    • Offsets Policy
    • Exceptions Policy
    • Variance Policy
    • Definitions and Terminology
  
  
• Hearing on Proposed Amendment to the Water Quality Control Plan for the Sacramento River and San Joaquin River Basins - 6/7 April 2017 & 8/9 June 2017
  The Central Valley Water Board will conduct two public hearings on an Amendment to the Water Quality Control Plan for the Sacramento River and San Joaquin River Basins to adopt Water Quality Objectives for the Lower San Joaquin River upstream of the Airport Way Bridge near Vernalis to the mouth of the Merced River. The first public hearing will be held on 6 or 7 April 2017 to receive oral comments regarding the proposed amendment. The second public hearing will be held on 8 or 9 June 2017 to consider adoption of the proposed amendment. Please contact staff two weeks prior to each meeting for the exact date. All written comments must be received for this amendment by 14 April 2017.
  • Notice of Opportunity to Comment, Public Hearing, and Filing
  • Project Webpage with Draft Staff Report


• Region-wide MUN Evaluation Process Basin Plan Amendment - 23/24 February 2017 & 8/9 June 2017
  The Central Valley Water Board will conduct two public hearings on an Amendment to the Water Quality Control Plans for the Sacramento River and San Joaquin River Basins and the Tulare Lake Basin to Incorporate a Process into the Basin Plans for Determining Appropriate Designation and Level of Protection of Municipal and Domestic Supply (MUN) in Agriculturally Dominated Water Bodies. The first public hearing will be held on 23 and 24 February 2017 to receive oral comments regarding the proposed amendment. The second public hearing will be held on 8 and 9 June 2017 to consider an adoption of the proposed amendment. All written comments must be received for this amendment by 24 March 2017.
  • Notice of Opportunity to Comment, Public Hearing, and Filing,
    *Written Comment Period Extended until 24 March 2017*
  • Aviso Sobre Oportunidad Para Dar Comentarios, Audiencia Pública, Y Registro
  • Project Webpage with Draft Staff Report


• Special Hearing for Central Valley Region Salt and Nutrient Management Plan - 9 March 2017
  The Central Valley Water Board will conduct a public hearing on 9 March 2017 to consider a resolution that would direct Board staff to develop Basin Plan amendments to implement a Salt and Nitrate Management Plan (SNMP) for the Central Valley. The Board is inviting the public, stakeholders, and representatives of other agencies to submit written comments on the SNMP. Written comments must be submitted to the Central Valley Water Board by 21 February 2017.
  • Final Resolution
  • Notice of Opportunity to Comment and Notice of Public Hearing
  • Aviso Sobre Oportunidad Para Dar Comentarios Y Aviso Sobre Audiencia Publica
  • Draft Resolution Accepting the Salt and Nitrate Management Plan for the Central Valley Region and Directing Staff to Initiate Basin Plan Amendments as Appropriate to Implement the Plan
  • Salt and Nitrate Management Plan Executive Summary
  • Full Salt and Nitrate Management Plan (http://www.cvsalinity.org/index.php/docs/central-valley-snmp/final-snmp.html)
  • 9 March 2017 Central Valley Water Board SNMP Acceptance Hearing Presentations
    • Morning Presentation
    • Afternoon Presentation


• Amendment to the Water Quality Control Plan for the Tulare Lake Basin - at the 6 and 7 April 2017 Board Meeting
  An Amendment to the Water Quality Control Plan for the Tulare Lake Basin to Remove the Municipal and Domestic Supply (MUN) and Agricultural Supply (AGR) Beneficial Uses Within a Designated Horizontal and Vertical Portion of the Tulare Lake Bed was adopted at the 6 and 7 April 2017. Written comments received by 23 February 2017 were addressed in the Boards Response to Comments.
  • Notice of Opportunity to Comment, Public Hearing, and Filing
  • Aviso Sobre Oportunidad Para Dar Comentarios, Audiencia Pública, Y Registro
  • Project Webpage with Final Staff Report

Past Activities and Meetings

• CV-SALTS Public Workshop - Wednesday August 17, 2016 - 9:00 A.M.
  A Public Workshop will be held on 17 August 2016 to Discuss Potential Amendments to the Water Quality Control Plans for the Sacramento River and San Joaquin River Basins and the Tulare Lake Basin to Support the Central Valley Salinity Alternatives for Long-Term Sustainability (CV-SALTS) Initiative
  
  • Incorporating a process into the Basin Plans for determining appropriate designation and level of protection of Municipal and Domestic Supply (MUN) in agriculturally dominated water bodies
  
  
  • Setting salt/boron water quality objectives and adding/modifying an implementation program for the Lower San Joaquin River
  
  
  • Evaluating the designation/dedesignation of the MUN and agricultural supply (AGR) beneficial uses in a portion of the Tulare Lake Bed Groundwater Basin


• CV-SALTS Story Brochure now available en Español
  
  • historia Folleto


• Notice of Public Workshop regarding the framework for a Central Valley-wide Salt and Nitrate Management Plan (SNMP)
  • 22 June 2016 Public Workshop - Development of a Central Valley Wide Salt and Nitrate Management Plan for Incorporation into the Sacramento-San Joaquin and Tulare Lake Basin Plans
    • Notice
      • Aviso Taller en Español
    • Presentation
    • Information Documents:
      • Workshop Materials List
      • Executive Summary Central Valley-wide Salt and Nitrate Management Plan
        • As reviewed at 12 May 2016 CV-SALTS Executive Committee Meeting
        • As revised without Exec Committee review
      • Nitrate Implementation Measures Study (NIMS)
      • Strategic Salt Accumulation Land and Transport Study (SSALTS)
      • Draft Policy Documents:
        • Draft Nitrate Permitting Strategy (13 June 2016)
        • Draft Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level Policy (3 June 2016)
        • Draft AGR Salinity Policy (14 June 2016)
        • Draft Offsets Policy (3 June 2016)
        • Draft Exceptions Policy (8 June 2016)
        • Draft Management Zone Policy (10 June 2016)
        • Draft Drought Policy (3 June 2016)
    • Discussion Handouts:
      • Summary of CV-SALTS SNMP Elements
        • en Español
      • Nitrate Implementation Flowchart/Implementation Timeline
        • en Español
      • Glossary of Terms
        • en Español
      • Examples of Offsets
        • en Español


• Notice of Public Workshops and California Environmental Quality Act Public Scoping Meetings on the Development of a Central Valley Wide Salt and Nitrate Management Plan for Incorporation into the Sacramento-San Joaquin and Tulare Lake Basin Plans
  • CEQA Scoping Meetings October 2013
    • Notice
    • Information Document
    • Presentation
    • Recording of 10/10/13 Presentation in Modesto
    • Handouts:
      • Brochure
      • General Components of SNMP/Request for Public Input
      • Summary of Technical Tasks
    • Comment Letters:
      • California Farm Bureau Federation
      • California Urban Water Agencies
      • Central Valley Clean Water Association
      • City of Sacramento Department of Utilities
      • Contra Costa Water District
      • Leadership Counsel for Justice & Accountability
      • State Water Contractors