An on-farm recharge project in California’s Central Valley. Photo Source: Modesto Bee
Sustainable Conservation and its partners are leading an innovative project to optimize the capture of floodwater on private lands to recharge depleted groundwater supplies. Together, they're putting into action and evaluating an affordable and promising water management practice that enables farmers and water managers to help move groundwater basins in the San Joaquin Valley toward a sustainable balance of pumping and replenishment.
Their solution mimics the natural floodplain process of rivers spreading seasonally across the valley to replenish the groundwater aquifers below while ensuring farmers have control over the timing and amount of water captured. The project enlists the support of farmers, industry groups, irrigation districts, researchers, policy makers and businesses to help ensure water supply continuity for agricultural production and community drinking water, improved groundwater quality, environmental flows, and flood protection for rural communities.
Project lead: Sustainable Conservation
Participating CWAC members: Bonneville Environmental Foundation | Campbell’s Soup Company | General Mills Foundation | MillerCoors | Olam | The Coca-Cola Company | The Nature Conservancy
Additional partners: Almond Board of California | Bank of America Foundation | California Department of Food and Agriculture | California Department of Water Resources | California State University, Fresno – California Water Institute | Kings River Conservation District | Laguna Irrigation District | Madera Irrigation District | San Joaquin Valley Greenprint – Fresno Council of Governments | The Battery Foundation | The Water Foundation | Tulare Irrigation District | University of California Cooperative Extension | University of California, Davis | Wells Fargo Foundation | William C. Bannerman Foundation
To learn more: Contact Daniel Mountjoy, Director of Resource Stewardship, Sustainable Conservation – DMountjoy@suscon.org.