Almond grower Don Cameron talks about groundwater recharge at a session on SGMA during The Almond Conference 2019 on “How to Make Lemonade Out of Groundwater Regulation".
Continued from Page 17 programs and weed control, as these activities can be hampered or negated by recharge if not coordinated properly. Though it takes planning, investment and adjustment, Efird said recharge is one of the most direct avenues for growers to find benefits. “One of the easiest and most awesome things we have is the ground to put the water out on,” he said. “Anything’s better than allowing it to go out to the ocean. We’ve got to do what we can to capture that.” Madera grower Tony Savant, after watching his water table drop about four feet annually over the past 26 years, was eager to figure out how to turn the tide. He’s been working with Madera Irrigation District, which offers several incentive programs, and because he operates several orchards in different locations, he’s assessed the soils and crops at each site so he always knows the best direction to direct extra water when it is available. He’s also installed solar panels to help reduce his energy costs for moving
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water. excess water when it’s available and to “It’s going to cost you a little money, let it recharge aquifers. but in the end, you’re going to get a betChoperena told growers, “If you’re ter product and it’s good for your crop,” interested in doing recharge on your Savant said. “I’d recommend recharge property, I really encourage you to start to anybody.” communicating with your districts Joe Choperena, director of Susand your Groundwater Sustainability tainable Conservation’s program for Agencies, and even state agencies, and encouraging recharge in the Central let them know you want to be part of Valley, works with growers to identhe solution.” tify, pursue and measure success of To learn more about the role of recharge, in hopes of sharing success Groundwater Sustainability Agencies stories and information that helps other and to determine which agency, or growers. He said he’s optimistic. agencies, represent your area, visit “There are about a dozen different Water.ca.gov/Programs/Groundwairrigation districts in the San Joater-Management/SGMA-Groundwaquin Valley that are already providing ter-Management/Groundwater-Susincentives to participate in recharge tainable-Agencies. See also “Multiyear programs,” Choperena said, adding UC Davis study shows little impact that the incentives can include direct from winter flooding, with best payments, discounted water prices, outcomes in sandy soils,” at https:// and pumping credits. “Those incennewsroom.almonds.com/content/ tives have helped spur more elaborate where-might-almonds-fit-into-groundand costly recharge projects, not just water-recharge. over-irrigation on cropland.” Those more complex projects include dedicated recharge basins, or Comments about this article? We want using existing borrow pits or unlined to hear from you. Feel free to email us at irrigation reservoirs as a place to store article@jcsmarketinginc.com