Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program

May 7, 2025

By Lisa McEwen, SJV Water Pressure is mounting to find new uses for an estimated 70,000 acres – or 20%...

SJV WATER: State proposes retroactive changes to farmland retirement program that some fear could pull rug out from ongoing projects

Groundwater News Policy and regulation

February 12, 2025

By Lisa McEwen, SJV Water A proposal to change the guidelines for California’s $90-million farmland retirement program has literally stopped...

SJV WATER: Madera County project aims to curb groundwater pull by paying farmers to find new uses for land

November 9, 2024

By Jesse Vad, SJV Water Residents and advocates in the small community of Fairmead have been working for years to...

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

October 5, 2024

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

SJV WATER: Report highlights strong interest in farmland transition funds

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

November 30, 2023

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

SoCAL WATER DIALOG: SGMA implementation in the San Joaquin Valley

Groundwater News Notebook News and Features

July 20, 2023

Groundwater is a critical resource, supplying nearly 40% of the state with water to support cities and farms. With droughts...

PRESS RELEASE: California Awards $35 Million to Four Regions to Improve Groundwater Sustainability

Department of Conservation

June 20, 2023

From the Department of Conservation: California’s latest drought-flood cycle has shown the need for local and regional strategies to manage and...

CA WATER COMMISSION: The Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program: Envisioning the social, economic, and environmental possibilities of fallowed lands

Groundwater News Notebook News and Features

March 2, 2023

At the January meeting of the California Water Commission, Keali’i Bright, Assistant Director of the Department of Conservation’s Division of...

SJV WATER: South valley groundwater managers to use $10 million to protect community water and look for ways to retire up to 100,000 acres of farmland

News articles

July 25, 2022

By Jesse Vad, SJV Water Three San Joaquin Valley water agencies are gearing up to spend $10 million each in...

SJV WATER: Vulnerable domestic wells will be focus of $10 million farmland retirement grant in Madera County

July 14, 2022

By Jesse Vad, SJV Water Three San Joaquin Valley water agencies are gearing up to spend $10 million each in...

SJV WATER: Will $10 million “make a dent” in Tulare County groundwater use?

July 7, 2022

By Lois Henry, SJV Water Three San Joaquin Valley water agencies are gearing up to spend $10 million each in...

SGMA FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program (MLRP) Guidelines and Solicitation Notice Released

ANNOUNCEMENTS

February 24, 2022

From the Department of Conservation: The Department of Conservation (DOC) is pleased to announce the release of the the 2022...

CA WATER COMMISSION: Department of Conservation previews SGMA multi-benefit land repurposing program, Sustainable Groundwater Management Act,