Land Retirement

Extensive tracts of formerly productive farmland on the western side of the San Joaquin Valley are characterized by elevated groundwater levels and high selenium. Irrigating these lands has resulted in the accumulation of poor-quality drainwater. The elimination of this drainwater is problematic and costly, and has become a point of serious environmental concern. Land retirement (i.e., the removal of land from agricultural production) is a means by which drainwater accumulation can be substantially reduced.

To date, approximately 70,000 acres have been retired from agricultural production (highlighted in yellow). Two restoration research areas have been established under the auspices of the LRDP: one near the town of Tranquillity, and the other at the town of Alpaugh ("Atwell Island").