Bill,

I can't remember details, but I remember when I lived there Mom somehow found out that iodine deficiency was common there (she had had goiter when she was younger). About all I remember is that it somehow had to do with both the deep well water supply and also somehow with the fact that most of the soil in the area was worked out and depleted (Something Herbert Hoover noticed while working as a rod man on a survey crew while a student at Stanford -- whatever year that was. He commented on it in his autobiography, saying it would take two generations of better food to restore vitality to the region's population).

Good luck with the Kelp.

best, jcp