Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Madera County Farmland Conversion Program Begins With $10 Million in State Funds
SJV-Water
By SJV Water
Published 1 month ago on
October 12, 2024

Madera County launches $10 million program to convert farmland to less water-intensive uses, funded by state's Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program. (Shutterstock)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Land owners can now officially submit proposals to Madera County to convert their ag land to less water intensive uses under a new program adopted by the Board of Supervisors on Oct. 1 using $10 million in state funds.

Author Profile Picture

Jesse Vad

SJV Water

The money comes from the state’s Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program, which aims to reduce reliance on groundwater by putting cropland to other uses such as solar energy, water recharge basins, wildlife habitat and recreation, to name a few.

Any landowners in Madera County can submit proposals since this state funding came to the county, not the county’s groundwater sustainability agency. Interested landowners can submit pre-application proposals here.

Separate From County’s Groundwater Plan

The program adopted Tuesday is separate from a farmland repurposing program under the county’s groundwater plan. That program has been delayed due to a lawsuit and temporary injunction, which has stymied the county groundwater agency’s ability to collect fees to fund the program.

Madera County was also part of a third farmland conversion program called LandFlex, launched by the state Department of Water Resources. LandFlex was created as a response to the last drought, but it fell flat, according to county officials.

“Turned out no one was interested, which is a total bummer,” said Stephanie Anagnoson, director of water and natural resources for Madera County.

Because of the lack of interest, the state never ended up sending the money from LandFlex to Madera County, said Anagnoson.

Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program

Part of the problem with LandFlex was that it rolled out very quickly in 2023 when there was plenty of water, said Anagnoson. People had already committed to irrigating so it was difficult for them to change course at that point, she added.

The Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program comes through the state Department of Conservation. It has a three-year process and is heavy on engagement with community members, said Anagnoson.

“LandFlex was sort of like going to the supermarket and buying a cake. The cake is made. There’s a little bit of choice, but you have whatever they have,” said Anagnoson. “And then the Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program is more like someone says, ‘Okay, you need to make a dessert.’ I have lots of choices now. But also more freedom takes more time, and everybody has an opinion.”

Pre-application proposals are being accepted until November 22. Then, county staff will work with landowners to develop their projects until final proposals are due in February, 2025. The projects will be scored by county staff and, hopefully, approved, said Anagnoson.

The program is currently in its second round of funding, according to a spokesperson from the Department of Conservation. Madera County was selected in the first round.

So far, the program has doled out $85 million, according to the spokesperson. That money has gone to Pixley Irrigation District groundwater sustainability agency (GSA,) Kaweah Delta Water Conservation District, California Marine Sanctuary Foundation, Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency, Merced Subbasin GSA, Westlands Water District GSA and East Turlock Subbasin GSA.

“I’m trying to remain hopeful with it,” said Christina Beckstead of Madera County’s $10 million from the Multipurpose Land Repurposing Program. Beckstead is the executive director of the Madera County Farm Bureau, which is one of county’s program partners. “I don’t think we’re going to get anything huge accomplished out of it.”

About $3 million of the grant goes to administrative needs, leaving roughly $7 million for the repurposing projects, said Beckstead. That’s not enough to get very far on projects, she added.

Still, she thinks the program could be useful for growers who want to put their operations on hold and potentially return to ag in the future when more groundwater solutions are in place. And there are growers who have ideas about shifting to less water intensive crops, she said.

Pilot Project in La Vina

Beckstead and county staff are working on yet another pilot repurposing project which is gearing up to start. It will be partially funded by the $10 million grant.

The project will take out about five acres of orchards directly next to the small community of La Vina. The land will then be converted into pollinator habitat. The project should lead to some water savings and improved air quality, said Beckstead. So far, the cost is unknown and hasn’t been finalized, she added.

Beckstead said the contract for the project will hopefully be finalized next week but work won’t begin until harvest is over.

“This has been a very collaborative effort,” said Beckstead. “We wanted to make sure that whatever came out of this still afforded farmers the opportunity in the future to be able to maybe come back and farm that land instead of a program that says, ‘Sorry, you’re out of luck.'”

About the Author

SJV Water Reporter Jesse Vad was born and raised in the Bay Area. He is a multimedia journalist and graduate of the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at City University of New York.

About SJV Water

SJV Water is an independent, nonprofit news site covering water in the San Joaquin Valley, www.sjvwater.org. Email us at sjvwater@sjvwater.org

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Top War-Crimes Court Issues Arrest Warrants for Netanyahu and Hamas Officials

DON'T MISS

With or Without Lockridge, Can Bulldogs Get Out of Their Own Way to Become Bowl Eligible?

DON'T MISS

Classes for Cannabis? UC Merced Extension Launching Weed Workforce Training

DON'T MISS

This Kitty Seeks a Quiet Home to Call Her Own

DON'T MISS

‘Woke’ Terminology Not Commonly Used by Americans: YouGov Survey

DON'T MISS

FBI Arrested a Man Who’s Been Charged With Planning an Attack on the New York Stock Exchange

DON'T MISS

Shoppers Flock to Clovis for Vallarta’s Grand Opening

DON'T MISS

Thousands of University of California Workers Go on 2-Day Strike Over Wages, Staff Shortages

DON'T MISS

Madera County Shooting Strikes K-9, Investigation Ongoing

DON'T MISS

Republicans on House Ethics Reject for Now Releasing Report on Matt Gaetz

UP NEXT

This Kitty Seeks a Quiet Home to Call Her Own

UP NEXT

Madera County Shooting Strikes K-9, Investigation Ongoing

UP NEXT

When Will the Rain Arrive in Fresno? (Hint: Turn Off Your Sprinklers)

UP NEXT

Looking for a Night Out? Bill Burr, Ralph Barbosa and West Coast Takeover Are Up Next

UP NEXT

Visalia’s Stephen Vogt Voted AL Manager of the Year

UP NEXT

Merced’s Undocumented Brace for Trump Immigration Policies Amid Mass Deportation Fears

UP NEXT

Reedley College Celebrates Opening of Gleaming New Performing Arts Center

UP NEXT

Fresno Repeat DUI Offender Gets 15 Years to Life for Murder

UP NEXT

Portland, Oregon Added to List of Direct Flights from Fresno Airport

UP NEXT

Fresno County Sent Out Wrong Ballots. Will Errors Affect Close Races?

This Kitty Seeks a Quiet Home to Call Her Own

4 hours ago

‘Woke’ Terminology Not Commonly Used by Americans: YouGov Survey

4 hours ago

FBI Arrested a Man Who’s Been Charged With Planning an Attack on the New York Stock Exchange

15 hours ago

Shoppers Flock to Clovis for Vallarta’s Grand Opening

15 hours ago

Thousands of University of California Workers Go on 2-Day Strike Over Wages, Staff Shortages

15 hours ago

Madera County Shooting Strikes K-9, Investigation Ongoing

16 hours ago

Republicans on House Ethics Reject for Now Releasing Report on Matt Gaetz

16 hours ago

Demography Drives Destiny and Right Now California Is Losing

16 hours ago

Hate Your Instagram Feed? New Reset Feature Enhances User Control

17 hours ago

Senate to Vote on Sanders’ Resolution to Block Arms Sales to Israel

17 hours ago

Top War-Crimes Court Issues Arrest Warrants for Netanyahu and Hamas Officials

THE HAGUE — The world’s top war-crimes court issued arrest warrants Thursday for the leaders of Israel and Hamas, including Israeli Prime Mi...

20 minutes ago

20 minutes ago

Top War-Crimes Court Issues Arrest Warrants for Netanyahu and Hamas Officials

4 hours ago

With or Without Lockridge, Can Bulldogs Get Out of Their Own Way to Become Bowl Eligible?

4 hours ago

Classes for Cannabis? UC Merced Extension Launching Weed Workforce Training

4 hours ago

This Kitty Seeks a Quiet Home to Call Her Own

4 hours ago

‘Woke’ Terminology Not Commonly Used by Americans: YouGov Survey

15 hours ago

FBI Arrested a Man Who’s Been Charged With Planning an Attack on the New York Stock Exchange

Vallarta Supermarkets in Clovis. November 20, 2024. (GV Wire/Jahz Tello)
15 hours ago

Shoppers Flock to Clovis for Vallarta’s Grand Opening

15 hours ago

Thousands of University of California Workers Go on 2-Day Strike Over Wages, Staff Shortages

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend