California Water Management and Agriculture: Are We Biting the Hands that Feed Us?

80

Water is life here in California and nowhere is that truer than on the farm. California agriculture feeds the nation and the world, producing more than 400 crops and generating billions of dollars for the economy. But our hardworking farmers are facing enormous challenges and our state’s water laws are being tested like never before. California water management decisions must provide farmers with the tools to meet the requirements of SGMA in order to protect our unmatched agriculture industry. To be frank, it’s a matter of national security.

Challenge: Doing More with Less

Farmers are no strangers to adapting to the cyclical nature of water availability. If you don’t already know, farmers have been using drip irrigation, soil moisture sensors, and other water-saving tools for roughly three decades. But even the most efficient systems can’t make up for poor water management due to out-of-touch policies. Water management decisions made under state and federal law must recognize the essential role of agricultural communities and ensure farmers and farming communities have the resources they need to grow our food. The industry recognizes the need for sustainable groundwater management, but there must be a balance and an improved relationship between legislator and farmer.

Opportunity: Supporting Farmers

California’s farmers – who make up only 1% of the nation’s population – aren’t just growers, they are water wizards! It’s true. Many are leading the way on conservation, soil health, and groundwater sustainability. The way they can move water, use less, and pivot on a dime is remarkable. With the right policies and financial support, they can continue to innovate while protecting the land and water we all depend on. Laws like the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) are important in helping achieve groundwater sustainability. But there are secondary impacts, such as water supply cuts, land devaluation, fallowed farmland, and impacts to rural communities that could be minimized through smart policy and infrastructure investments. How can we better support our ag sector and the major changes farmers are adjusting to? Let’s prioritize incentives and better help our farmers thrive under new water realities.

The Blueprint recently issued a set of stakeholder priorities that could help address some of the shortfalls that have led to the Valley’s water supply crisis. Simple policy changes, such as updating Central Valley Project (CVP) and State Water Project (SWP) operational rules would improve the ability to capture and deliver up to an additional 1 million acre-feet of water without impacting the environment.

Accelerating permitting for storage and conveyance projects will help fast-track sensible surface and groundwater storage solutions. Improved conveyance will help increase recharge of depleted groundwater basins. And eliminating nonessential regulatory barriers that constrain water deliveries beyond legal obligations could aid in restoring an additional 300,000 acre-feet of water supply for the Valley

Make Common Sense Common Again

The future of California agriculture requires collaboration. That means giving farmers a seat at the table and trusting their on-the-ground experience. They truly are the backbone of our food system and rural economy. As the state continues to rewrite its water future, agriculture must be at the center of the conversation. Perhaps with common sense policies and a commitment to standing behind our farmers, we don’t have to choose between unnecessary water supply shortages and the farmers who grow our food.