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...

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...

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...

AG ALERT: Alternatives sought for farm fallowing amid dust worries

Ag Alert

Agriculture Groundwater News

August 3, 2022

By Christine Souza, Ag Alert As local groundwater sustainability agencies bring groundwater basins into balance under the Sustainable Groundwater Management...

COMMENTARY: We can help farmers by retiring some parched lands

Ag Alert

Commentary Groundwater News

November 10, 2021

By Jay Ziegler, director of policy for The Nature Conservancy, and Dan Vink, principal partner for Six-33 Solutions, for Ag...