The 2025 Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program (MLRP) Annual Report is now available, detailing program progress and regional activities. Prepared by the Statewide Support Entity with input from block grantees and Department of Conservation staff, it highlights the shift from planning to implementation. The report showcases collaborative efforts to advance groundwater sustainability while benefiting ecosystems, local economies, and communities. Key updates include outreach, planning, and implementation across eight block grant regions, summaries of 23 approved projects, and visual overviews of program-wide progress and engagement.
The Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program (MLRP) supports California’s groundwater sustainability by helping communities and growers transition less-viable irrigated agricultural lands to more beneficial uses. Through regional grants, the program fosters proactive, community-led strategies that reduce reliance on groundwater while promoting healthy ecosystems, resilient communities, equitable economies, and regional adaptability. MLRP empowers local planning and coordination to implement projects that balance environmental, economic, and social benefits.
The Statewide Support Entity provides guidance and resources to block grantees to advance regional land repurposing projects. It hosts monthly peer learning sessions, develops materials on permitting and project prioritization, and facilitates the MLRP Community of Practice—a forum for grantees and partners to collaborate, share resources, and address implementation challenges—promoting strategic, inclusive land repurposing across California.
The Department of Conservation (DOC) has approved 23 Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program (MLRP) implementation projects, including 13 approved in 2025, enrolling over 4,800 acres to date. These projects span six block grant regions: Pajaro Valley Subbasin, Madera County, Merced Subbasin, Tule Subbasin, Turlock Subbasin, and Kaweah Subbasin. They deliver diverse regional benefits, such as five projects with recharge or flood control basins, eleven that provide habitat or environmental enhancements, and five that promote sustainable working lands practices, such as transitioning to grazing or planting water-efficient cover crops.
In 2026, the first two rounds of grantees will continue planning and project implementation. California’s 2024 Climate Bond included $200 million for MLRP, with $32 million allocated for MLRP for FY 2025-26. The Department of Conservation will set the guidelines and solicit proposals for this initial round of Climate Bond-funded MLRP grants.
