As the floods begin to recede, agricultural leaders have a clearer picture of the damage caused when the Salinas River floods breached banks and levees and flooded farmlands along the Salinas River. Damage is estimated to be in the tens of millions of dollars.From the air, the damage can be seen for miles as thousands of acres of farmland are under water along the Salinas Valley. Part of that land belongs to farmer Wayne Gralte. According to the Monterey County Department of Agriculture, as many as 25,000 acres of farmland were flooded after the Salinas River burst its levees and banks. Initial estimates put the damage between $40 million and $50 million for him,” said Norm Groot, executive director of the Monterey County Department of Agriculture. However, Salinas says the growing season is expected to begin in two months in the Valley, and that could be delayed for farmers whose fields have been flooded. And before we can actually start planting again, we need various tests to show that it is clear, and the planning schedule will probably be affected,” Groot said. The water of the flood spilled over the nearby farmland. In doing so, it may have removed water pressure from the Salinas River and prevented more severe flooding downstream. But farmers are now forced to clean up and rebuild, including repairing breached private levees and infrastructure that makes agriculture the largest industry in Monterey County. “If we can fix the amount of the levy first, we might be able to take a closer look at the planting schedule and plant the crops in the ground,” Gularte said. It did more damage to industry and cut off the Salinas Valley from the Monterey Peninsula. But after that deluge, farmers were able to clear some of the invasive vegetation from the Salinas riverbed, Gularte said, allowing permission to clear a clearer path for the river to flow to the sea. This shows that clean river waterways can reduce these peaks by 15-20% in certain areas, making a big difference for many people and for many agriculture. may have been In addition to damage to the local agricultural industry, Monterey County leaders have reported about $30 million in damage to county roads, bridges and other infrastructure, although that number is also preliminary. and is expected to increase in the future.
As the floods begin to recede, agricultural leaders have a clearer picture of the damage caused when the Salinas River floods breach banks and levees, flooding farmlands along the Salinas River.
Damage is estimated at tens of millions of dollars.
From the air, the damage can be seen for miles as thousands of acres of farmland are under water along the Salinas Valley. Part of that land belongs to farmer Wayne Gralte.
“I still don’t know what I’m going to do,” Glarte said.
he is not alone. According to the Monterey County Department of Agriculture, as many as 25,000 acres of farmland were flooded after the Salinas River burst its levees and banks. Initial estimates put the damage between his $40 million and his $50 million.
“But once the fields are accessible and we can really start assessing the extent of the damage and what needs to be done to repair the levees, irrigation lines, other infrastructure, wellheads, etc. It will probably be higher,” said Norm Groot, executive director of the Monterey County Department of Agriculture.
Fortunately, most of the land is unproductive and farmers are still growing in the Yuma, Arizona area. But in the Salinas Valley, the growing season is set to begin in a few months, and that could be delayed for farmers whose fields have become soggy.
“Flooded fields have to go through protocols to test soil and water for pathogens, and then a variety of tests to show that the pathogens have been removed before we actually start planting again. , you have to plan your schedule, it will probably affect you,” Groot said.
Agricultural leaders said it was a “mixed blessing” that the floodwaters washed into nearby farmlands. In doing so, it may have removed water pressure from the Salinas River and prevented more severe flooding downstream. But farmers are now forced to clean up and rebuild, including repairing breached private levees and the infrastructure that makes agriculture the largest industry in Monterey County.
“Watch the weather and know there are a lot of levies out there and see which fields you really want to go back to. If you can fix the levies first, you’ll want to look at the planting schedule and put your crops in.” The ground,” said Gralte.
For farmers, this flood is not as severe as the 1995 flood. The 1995 floods did more damage to the agricultural industry and separated the Salinas Valley from the Monterey Peninsula. But after that deluge, farmers were able to get permission to clear some of the invasive vegetation on the Salinas riverbed, clearing a clearer path for the river to flow to the sea, Gularte said.
“Our research shows that having clean river channels reduces these peaks by 15 to 20 percent in certain areas. Something like that could make a big difference in many areas. People and a lot of farming, a lot of farming,” Gularte said.
In addition to damage to the local agricultural industry, Monterey County leaders have reported approximately $30 million in damage to county roads, bridges and other infrastructure, although that figure is also preliminary. and is expected to increase in the future.
