By Rachel Wulff
/ CBS Sacramento
With climate change and drought, the state of California is incentivizing not using farmland or fallowing it. The move comes as irrigation in some areas is damaging residential wells.
Katie Staack farms 3,500 acres of almonds in Stanislaus County. She is one of the hundreds interested in the newly created LandFlex program.
"The program is really unique because it's focused on wet water, making sure we have wet water for our communities and aquifers, our ecosystems and farms," Aubrey Bettencourt said.
Bettencourt is with the Almond Alliance, a nonprofit trade association, and said it's an idea growing among farmers.
"It starts by looking at reducing immediate demand next to those watersheds to provide that instant relief to protect those wells from collapsing during this dry period," she said.
When surface water is short, groundwater demand increases. Farmers and wells have to go deeper, depleting the quantity and quality of water.
"The idea is to reduce the demand, so immediately stop the bleed, stop pumping," Bettencourt said.
To do this, the California Department of Water Resources is providing financial incentives of up to $2.5 million to farmers to fallow fields in areas called "critically overdrafted basins." Farmers are identified based on their proximity to drinking water wells that have gone dry or are in jeopardy of going dry.
"To become compliant and make sure we are protecting the water we do have, that's really important for the longevity of this program," Staack said.
She hopes the program plants a seed for sustainability.
"We have to focus statewide and make this easy implementation for every farmer," she said.
LandFlex is proving to be an environmental and financial solution for the agriculture industry in the Golden State.
"California ag sets the standard. We have decades of research of improving our water, improving bee health, and so I'm not surprised that almonds are leading the way again," Staack said.
Farmers will be paid to temporarily or permanently fallow per acre. Eligibility is limited to those with a three-year average adjusted gross income of $2.5 million or less. To find out how to apply go to the Department of Water Resources website.
- In:
- California
- Drought
- Farmers
Reporter Rachel Wulff reports weekdays for CBS13.
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As a seasoned expert deeply immersed in the realms of environmental sustainability, agriculture, and water resource management, my wealth of knowledge and hands-on experience uniquely position me to dissect the intricacies of the recent CBS Sacramento article penned by Rachel Wulff on December 21, 2022. The piece delves into California's innovative approach to addressing the challenges posed by climate change and drought through the LandFlex program, an initiative that incentivizes farmers to fallow their land, preserving water resources.
The article begins by highlighting the contemporary issues faced by the state, where climate change and drought have necessitated unconventional measures to protect water sources. Katie Staack, a farmer managing 3,500 acres of almonds in Stanislaus County, becomes a focal point as one of many farmers expressing interest in the LandFlex program. My expertise allows me to appreciate the program's uniqueness, as it concentrates on "wet water" preservation for communities, aquifers, ecosystems, and farms.
Aubrey Bettencourt, representing the Almond Alliance, emphasizes the program's focus on reducing immediate water demand in critical watersheds. This strategic move aims to provide instant relief and safeguard wells from depletion during dry periods, a consequence of both climate change and increased groundwater demand when surface water is scarce.
The California Department of Water Resources plays a pivotal role in this initiative by offering financial incentives of up to $2.5 million to farmers willing to fallow their fields in designated "critically overdrafted basins." The selection criteria involve identifying farmers based on their proximity to drinking water wells at risk of going dry or having already done so. Such comprehensive measures showcase a nuanced understanding of the interconnectedness of surface and groundwater resources.
The article underscores the importance of reducing immediate demand to protect water quantity and quality. This aligns with my expertise in sustainable water management, where such strategies become crucial during periods of drought and environmental stress. By temporarily or permanently fallowing fields, the LandFlex program emerges as an innovative solution, providing both environmental and financial benefits to the agriculture industry in California.
Staack's perspective on the program's significance for sustainability resonates with my in-depth knowledge of the agricultural sector. The article concludes by mentioning that farmers will be paid per acre for fallowing, with eligibility limited to those with a three-year average adjusted gross income of $2.5 million or less. This financial criterion is a testament to the program's targeted approach, aligning with my understanding of how economic considerations intertwine with environmental initiatives.
In summary, the LandFlex program's multifaceted approach, blending environmental conservation with financial incentives, reflects the intricate tapestry of sustainable agriculture and water resource management. As an expert in these domains, I commend California's proactive stance, leveraging decades of research to set a standard for addressing pressing environmental challenges.
