The Kroekers

Jay, left, and Brad Kroeker, with Starrh and Starrh Farms, stand in their field near McKittrick. In the background, about a quarter mile away, is one of Valley Water Management Co.’s percolation ponds. The facility is dormant but still permitted to dispose of oil-field produced water.

The groundwater in parts of western Kern County is salty and, generally, considered a bit crummy, longtime farmer Brad Kroeker admits.

But that doesn’t mean it should be abandoned to wholesale pollution as Kroeker believes will happen if a “de-designation” recently approved by the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board gains final approval from the state Water Resources Control Board.

Lois Henry is the CEO and editor of SJV Water, a nonprofit, independent online news publication dedicated to covering water issues in the San Joaquin Valley. She can be reached at lois.henry@sjvwater.org. The website is sjvwater.org.