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County updates board on SALC‑funded agricultural strategy and rolls out One Water framework
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Summary
County staff and consultants updated supervisors on a $500,000 SALC grant strategic initiative to preserve agricultural land and modernize land-use policy, and presented a One Water integrated water resources framework funded by ARPA that outlines governance, multi‑benefit projects and near‑term pilot concepts such as drainage maintenance, groundwater recharge and wastewater assessment.
Solano County officials and consultant teams briefed the Board of Supervisors on two connected planning efforts on Dec. 21: a Strategic Initiative for Agriculture funded by a $500,000 Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation (SALC) grant and an ARPA‑funded "One Water" integrated water resources framework intended to feed a utilities master plan.
Agricultural Commissioner Ed King and consultants from Valley Vision, Urban Rural Regional Strategies, The Hatamia Group and others summarized outreach to farmers, processors and local partners and outlined three parallel tracks: land‑use policy review (including transfer of development rights, ag reserve overlays and zoning modernization), an ag infrastructure assessment (food hubs, processing, cold chain and septic/wastewater needs) and economic development concepts (agritech incubation, cluster development around the Dixon Industrial Ag Services area and value‑added processing).
Consultants said the work has included steering committees, stakeholder interviews and technical reviews, and that recommendations and a final report are intended back before the board within a year. Presenters emphasized coordination with regional partners, UC ANR/UC Davis collaborations and funding opportunities.
In a linked presentation, Resource Management staff and Kennedy/Jenks consultants described the One Water framework — a holistic approach that treats supply, drainage, wastewater and stormwater as an integrated system and prioritizes multi‑benefit projects (flood protection, groundwater recharge, recycled water use, and nature‑based solutions). The framework highlights three geographic pilot foci (Suisun Valley vegetation/drainage maintenance, Dixon Ridge regional recharge coordination, and wastewater assessments) and recommends governance, data consolidation and pursuing state funding programs.
Public commenters from local growers and associations asked for more outreach and proposed on‑the‑ground tours of local water/wastewater systems before the county commits to further study; county staff said the framework will be open for public comment through Jan. 22 and that a final framework will be returned to the board in 2026.
