Water is critical for California’s agriculture, reaching the state’s farmers and ranchers through snowpack-fed surface water, groundwater, and recycled sources all connected through extensive infrastructure. However, climate change is increasingly threatening both water supply and reliability. While California agriculture depends on secure, clean water, it can also support long-term water resilience through efficient use, groundwater recharge, ecosystem protection, and improved management. This chapter includes strategies that reduce demand, increase efficiency, secure groundwater quality and supplies, protect freshwater ecosystems, and build needed infrastructure to ensure long-term water resilience and continued support for farmers and ranchers.
Strategy 2.1 Bring aquifers into balance to ensure groundwater supply.
- 2.1.1 Increase and expand technical assistance support to help farmers understand SGMA regulations and navigate compliance.
- 2.1.2 Support monitoring capabilities to improve our understanding of drivers of change.
- 2.1.3 Coordinate across agencies to develop new groundwater use and recharge strategies.
- 2.1.4 Work with water users to assist with groundwater use and recharge.
Strategy 2.2 Build new water storage capacity and maintain conveyance infrastructure.
- 2.2.1 Support collaborative work between community groups, regulatory agencies, and project implementors for least-conflict siting and plans for new infrastructure.
- 2.2.2 Advance critical infrastructure projects for water conveyance.
Strategy 2.3 Improve watershed management and restore freshwater ecosystems.
- 2.3.1 Promote ecologically appropriate prescribed grazing designed to improve ecosystem health in headwater areas.
- 2.3.2 Expand implementation of riparian zone restoration practices in agricultural land.
- 2.3.3 Promote efficient nutrient management to reduce nutrient loading from agricultural land.
Strategy 2.4 Continue improving on-farm water use efficiency.
- 2.4.1 Upgrade equipment to be water efficient and conduct on-farm measurements to track water use.
- 2.4.2 Use nature-based solutions/healthy soils practices to improve water-holding capacity and percolation on farm and ranch lands.