Press release from the Flood MAR Network:
The Flood-MAR Network, a community driven collaborative initiative aimed at advancing Flood-Managed Aquifer Recharge (Flood-MAR) projects in California, has launched its new interactive website, FloodMAR.org — a one-stop hub for individuals and organizations seeking information and support for Flood-MAR recharge project implementation statewide. The Flood-MAR Hub launch rings in the start of the new water year on October 1st and realizes an incredible volunteer-driven effort that intends to bring together local, state, federal and tribal entities, nonprofits, private consultants, academic institutions, and landowners to learn from each other and promote successful Flood-MAR implementation on FloodMAR.org.
Flood-MAR is Crucial for Water Resiliency
Flood-MAR is a sustainable water management strategy that diverts high flood flows onto agricultural land, managed floodplains, and other natural areas to allow the surface water to percolate through the ground to replenish underground aquifers. Strategically diverting water in this fashion can support working landscapes and sustain riparian and groundwater-dependent ecosystems, all while increasing the future viability of groundwater reserves for agricultural and community use. Furthermore, Flood-MAR also plays a crucial role in protecting communities from flooding during times of high flow by reducing the volume of water that can inundate and overwhelm downstream water infrastructure.
The Flood-MAR Network strives for diverse participation and decision-making in the greater water management landscape. This pursuit is rooted in the belief that the benefits of Flood-MAR must be accessible to and shared equitably among all California communities.
Hub Features and Utilities
The Hub hosts a crowd-sourced collection of recharge resources and project examples, and a growing repository of webinars and other pre-recorded videos that includes the Network’s highly successful Lunch-MAR webinar series. The Flood-MAR Hub continues to grow and add resources with increased community engagement as it harnesses the collective knowledge and enthusiasm of the growing Flood-MAR Network.
FloodMAR.org encourages all industry professionals, government agencies, tribes, nonprofits, and interested volunteers to join the dynamic Flood-MAR Network community, contribute resources to share on the Hub, and collaborate on projects that support sustainable water management in California. To learn more about Flood-MAR and to explore the Flood-MAR Network’s new website, please visit FloodMAR.org or join the mailing list.
The Flood-MAR Network would like to acknowledge the terrific volunteer effort of the following individuals who were instrumental in bringing the Hub to fruition:
● Yara Pasner, PhD Candidate, University of California, Davis
● Meredith Goebel, Research Scientist, Stanford University
● Jamie Cameron Harley, Environmental Scientist, Department of Water Resources
● Kirsten Ondris, PhD Student, University of California, Davis
● Aysha Massell, Director, Water for the Future, Sustainable Conservation
● Meagan Wylie, Senior Facilitator, Sacramento State
And a big thanks to the Flood-MAR Network’s volunteer website developer, Bob Hollis of Mobius Intelligent Systems.
Testimonials
“The Flood-MAR Hub is the realization of a long-held dream to have a central online clearinghouse of all things related to groundwater recharge in California. I am particularly excited about the crowd-sourced ‘Projects’ and ‘Resources’ pages, where anyone can upload materials they feel are relevant to the Flood-MAR world,” said Aysha Massell, director of the Water for the Future program at Sustainable Conservation.
“I contributed to the Hub to help create a public space where researchers, industry specialists, non-profits, governmental organizations, and stakeholders can openly collaborate on socially and environmentally responsible Flood-MAR projects throughout the State of California,” said Yara Pasner, graduate student of hydrologic management and policy at UC Davis.
“As someone who hopes to partner with others on Flood-MAR work, I found the website full of reat background information and even technical information and data that I can dive into,” said Cliff Feldheim, Fish and Wildlife Biologist Waterfowl Biologist at Ducks Unlimited. “It’s a comprehensive one-stop location for all things Flood-MAR. I think this will be a site I return to and provide to others often.”
“Managed aquifer recharge (MAR) is a critical tool to help address groundwater depletion in the Central Valley of California and elsewhere,” said Scott Bradford, Research Leader at the USDA Sustainable Agricultural Water Systems Unit. “One of the focus areas of our USDA research unit is on MAR, and the Flood-MAR Network website provides us with valuable information on the latest advances and activities in this area.”
“The 2023 Water Year brought a national focus to Flood-MAR, and the policy, science, and case studies for different applications of Flood-MAR are evolving rapidly,” said Michael Founds, Senior Ecohydrologist at CBEC Eco Engineering. “The Flood-MAR Hub is a much-needed space to learn about research and projects in real time and connect groups working on the same challenges.”
“Stormwater is a resource,” said Adam Hutchinson, Recharge Planning Manager for the Orange County Water District. “The capture and recharge of stormwater has been critical to sustainable groundwater management in Orange County. The Flood-MAR Hub is a great way to learn more about capturing and using stormwater for water supply and getting connected to those in the trenches. Check it out and come join the Network!”
“In the Central Valley groundwater system alone, there is enormous ‘space’ for storing additional water, amounting to more than three-times the total surface reservoir capacity of California,” said Graham Fogg, Professor Emeritus of Hydrogeology, University of California, Davis. “With the onset of more extreme droughts and floods, the time is nigh for maximizing implementation of Flood-MAR, to which FloodMAR.org is dedicated.”
