Re-Imagining Agricultural Landscape in ETSGSA
MLRP • June 2024
ETSGSA
Location and Overview
- > 90,000 acres of high value ag land
- Little surface water available
- Productive aquifers, low recharge
- Declining groundwater levels
- Groundwater demand exceeds sustainable yield by ~96,000 AFY
- Estimated 40% net demand reduction needed
Groundwater Management Framework
- Implement a phased groundwater use reduction and fee program
- Prioritize demand reduction
- Fees will fund incentivized land repurposing to non-irrigated use
- 22,000 acres are planned to be repurposed or retired
- Land use changes at this scale need adequate planning to maximize benefits and minimize impacts
Re-imagine integrated agricultural land use planning:
- Build a multi-benefit strategy around sustainable groundwater resource management.
- Focus on a strategy that preserves high value agricultural land for the benefit of the local communities, local economies, and the environment.
- Integrate land repurposing into working agricultural operations and landscapes.
- Prioritize strategies that provide high-value water resources, community and environmental benefits.
- Promote grower-implemented solutions for increased ROI and long-term success.
Goal: Incentivize new, high-value land uses and habitat that can be integrated into a working landscape
>17,000 irrigated acres suitable for MLRP
Growers and scientists gathered for an MLRP farm tour on June 13th and 14th.
1,708 irrigated acres suitable for on-farm recharge & runoff storage ponds
A retention pond located in East Turlock Subbasin GSA.
4,166 irrigated acres are suitable for orchard swale re-wilding
A photograph example of orchard swale in East Turlock Subbasin GSA.
1,647 irrigated acres are suitable for repurposing as buffer zones around schools
3,484 irrigated acres suitable for floodplain reconnection and flood flow dispersal
Flood flow dispersal bordering farmland within East Turlock Subbasin GSA.
6,107 irrigated orchard acres are suitable for rotational fallowing in any given year
Photograph of implemented rotational fallowing.
Orchard Swale Re-wilding Before and After
SUSTAINABILITY & RESPONSIBLE INVESTING REPORT 2022
Explore ETSGSA
Use this map to explore a re-imagined agricultural landscape in ETSGSA. Use the legend in the bottom left corner to see the repurposed land designation.
