How We Grow

2019 May/June How We Grow

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11 water-scarce years, with the intent of growing more flexible annual crops on those acres in years with sufficient water. Growers should also pay close attention to decisions being made now by Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs), the local regulatory entities created by SGMA. GSAs are charged to create Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSPs) that assess how to reach a balance between the amount of water pumped and the amount recharged to the aquifer. In the most threatened aquifers — designated as high- or medium- priority basins in "critically overdrafted" areas — GSPs must be delivered to the state for approval by Jan. 31, 2020, with a strategy to balance groundwater pumping and groundwater replenishment by 2040. Other high- and medium-priority basins have until 2022 to submit plans and until 2042 to reach sustainable management. GSAs are making decisions about how to distribute water cutbacks through programs such as water trading. They are also deciding to what extent they will restrict local pumping, as well as potential avenues to increase water supplies, including options such as on-farm and basin recharge programs. Therefore, attending GSA meetings and reviewing proposed plans offers growers valuable information about what future water resources might look like and provides them with a place to voice their opinions on these matters. "We recommend that growers talk with their local irrigation districts about participating in their recharge programs and that they participate in their GSAs," said Roseman. Continued on Page 12 The majority of California Central Valley counties are classified as "high and medium priority" basins, with South Valley counties in "critically overdrafted basins." (Source: Department of Water Resources SGMA Basin Prioritization Dashboard) To view an online version of this map and other SGMA materials, visit Almonds.com/Irrigation/ Water-Supply.

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