California’s LandFlex program had a successful Phase 2, announced the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) July 24, culminating in over $16.7 million in grants to bolster grower contracts within three groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) in critically overdrafted basins.
LandFlex is a voluntary program in which growers in certain GSA territories can fallow land and receive compensation for the unused water. It is designed to alleviate the pressure on communities with strained water systems while simultaneously encouraging mutual sustainability in the residential and agricultural communities.
The three GSAs to receive the funds are:
- Lower Tule Irrigation District GSA: $7.7 million
- Pixley Irrigation District GSA: $5 million
- Westlands Water District GSA: $4 million
Among the program’s notable accomplishments is the reduction of agricultural water demand that rapidly alleviated the pressure on drinking water wells that cater to over 34,000 households in underserved communities.
LandFlex also allow growers time to plan for the future of their operations, including enhancing sustainability practices, compliance with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), and any additional long-term infrastructure resiliency goals.
“LandFlex’s success rests upon the voluntary participation of committed growers,” said Aubrey Bettencourt, president and chief executive officer of the Almond Alliance, in a recent news release.
The program is the result of collaboration among farmers, government, and local communities to find an immediate solution to protect groundwater for underserved communities.
To learn more, visit LandFlex.org
Main photo: Almond orchard in California’s San Joaquin Valley.
Photo: California Department of Water Services
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