ADVOCACY REPORT
How LandFlex is Redefining California’s Water Management Water is the lifeblood of California — a state characterized as much by its sun-kissed beaches and sprawling vineyards as by its drought and extremely wet cycles. In partnership with the California Department of Water Resources, the Almond Alliance and Western United Dairies recently introduced LandFlex — a solutions-based program to safeguard rural water systems, enhance groundwater sustainability, and bolster climate resilience. What is Land Flex ? Developed in accordance with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), Land Flex is more than simply a water conservation initiative. It is a multi-pronged approach to address the pressing challenges posed by a rapidly changing climate, with its core foundation built on voluntary collaborations between Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) and our agricultural community. Backed by a $25 million grant from the California Department of Water Resources, the program leverages the temporary fallowing of agricultural lands in times of extreme drought and extreme flood to deliver immediate benefits to vulnerable domestic wells, protect rural communities and critical infrastructure, and achieve long-term groundwater sustainability. For each acre enrolled in the Land Flex program, farmers receive a series of financial incentives. These incentives serve three critical purposes: • Immediate Drought Relief: By encouraging farmers to follow their lands for one year temporarily, Land Flex provides immediate relief to drought-impacted communities.
• Overdraft/Sustainability Payment: This measure ensures groundwater basins aren't over-drafted, safeguarding long-term water availability. • Transition Aid: Financial incentives ensure that farming remains both sustainable and profitable. Land Flex ʼs Impact: More Than Just Numbers The initial results from the Land Flex program have been nothing short of commendable. Covering six GSAs across five Central California counties, the program's impact includes the following: •Land Flex immediately saved 16,161 domestic wells in the Central Valley. • 4,317 acres of land were enrolled in LandFlex, permanently reducing demand on California’s aquifers so they could remain available for flood protection, active groundwater recharge, and sustainable local farming. •Land Flex permanently saved water for 36,298 households annually in the Central Valley. •Land Flex provided immediate protection to drinking water wells for 52,459 households in underserved communities.
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ALMOND FACTS
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