Land repurposing Archives

December 17, 2025

District advances major land-repurposing initiative as water shortages force large-scale land fallowing across the San Joaquin Valley From Westlands Water...

SJV WATER: Growers eager for “lifeline” being offered by state farmland transition program

SJV Water

Groundwater News

December 3, 2025

By Lisa McEwen, SJV Water Farmers in the San Joaquin Valley faced with drastic cuts to the amount of groundwater...

CA AGRICULTURE: There’s a path forward in the San Joaquin Valley to benefit farmers, communities, and nature — but only if we plan . . . and plant

UC Ag and Natural Resources (UCANR)

Groundwater News

November 24, 2025

From California Agriculture: For most of its history, California treated groundwater and surface water as legally distinct. Unlike surface water...

EDF: New journal article highlights multibenefit land repurposing as an innovative approach to strengthen rural resilience

Environmental Defense Fund

Groundwater News

September 4, 2025

Madera County and the San Joaquin Valley serve as a case study of how to implement a more holistic water...

NOW AVAILABLE: New educational resources for the Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program

Press Release/Notice

ANNOUNCEMENTS Groundwater News

July 19, 2025

The California Department of Conservation’s Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program is an initiative aimed at addressing groundwater sustainability and supporting communities...

DWR highlights successful partnership with California’s farming community to protect groundwater supplies

Department of Water Resources (DWR)

Groundwater News

June 25, 2025

DWR’s LandFlex Pilot Program has saved over 100,000 acre-feet of groundwater and protected 16,500 drinking water wells in California’s frontline...

SJV WATER: Land conversion money available for Tulare County farmers, others, to cut groundwater use

SJV Water

Groundwater News

May 22, 2025

By Lisa McEwen, SJV Water Growers hoping for a lifeline as groundwater pumping restrictions tighten learned how to apply for...

SJV WATER: Madera County farmland conversion program gets underway with $10 million in state funds

SJV Water

Groundwater News

October 5, 2024

By Jesse Vad, SJV Water Land owners can now officially submit proposals to Madera County to convert their ag land...

DAN WALTERS: As California cracks down on groundwater, what will happen to fallowed farmland?

Cal Matters

Agriculture

April 30, 2024

California water regulators are cracking down on the overuse of groundwater by farmers. Enforcement could prompt them to idle thousands...

AG ALERT: Land-use bill taps farmland for solar sites

Ag Alert

Agriculture Policy and regulation

April 17, 2024

By Caleb Hampton, Ag Alert Proposed state legislation to modify California’s longstanding farmland conservation law could pave the way for...

SJV WATER: Report highlights strong interest in farmland transition funds

SJV Water

Groundwater News

April 11, 2024

By Jesse Vad, SJV Water There was no shortage of interest in the $90 million in state funding made available...

SJV WATER: World Ag Expo: Water seminar lands with a thud as speaker details “devastating” amount of acreage expected to go out of production

SJV Water

Groundwater News

February 14, 2024

By Lisa McEwen, SJV Water The sun was shining and blue skies reigned over the 57th World Ag Expo in...

SJV WATER: Tulare County land trust embarks on projects to protect groundwater and farming

SJV Water

Groundwater News

November 30, 2023

By Lisa McEwen, SJV Water A unique land trust in southwestern Tulare County that aims to preserve farming by strategically...

SJV WATER: Is the San Joaquin Valley ready for its post SGMA future? Not…quite…yet

SJV Water

Groundwater News

September 27, 2023

By Lisa McEwen, SJV Water In less than 20 years’ time, the San Joaquin Valley could become a patchwork of...

THE CENTER SQUARE: California Senator introduces voluntary agricultural land repurposing bill

The Center Square

Agriculture Policy and regulation

June 30, 2023

By Tom Joyce, The Center Square U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla, D-California, introduced a bill that he hopes will bolster water...