An annual groundwater conference is being moved this year from downtown Sacramento to Clovis in an attempt to reach those most affected by the state’s new groundwater law – farmers.

The conference, “Faces of SGMA Implementation Summit” put on by the Groundwater Resources Association will be held June 2-3 at the Clovis Veterans Memorial Building.

“I am trying to make it more accessible to the people who are living and breathing SGMA implementation,” said organizer Trelawney Buillis.

She referred to the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, which requires water managers and farmers to bring overdrafted aquifers into balance by 2040. That will likely require up to 1 million acres to be fallowed in the San Joaquin Valley, a severe economic hit.

The Groundwater Resources Association’s mission is to help improve groundwater supply by fostering greater education.

To that end, this year’s conference will feature large and small growers who will give examples of how they’ve modified their operations under SGMA.

The SGMA Scenario Lab

Panels will build upon each other over the two-day event, culminating in an interactive workshop led by Tulare Irrigation District manager Aaron Fukuda titled “ Drop by Drop Decisions: The SGMA Scenario Lab.”

“People will put on their ‘boots’ and we will let them see how it feels,” to navigate real-time water use and trading decisions under SGMA’s constraints, Bullis said.

In an era when water conferences are a dime a dozen, Bullis said she has high hopes.

“What we’ve learned from this event is that key players from (the Department of Water Resources) and the state (Water Resources Control Board) attend, take notes and follow up on those notes,” she said. “To have growers there to share their stories will move the needle in the right direction in a setting that’s more comfortable.”

Shifting From Grievances to Collaboration

She is hopeful the conference will help bridge the gap between those “in charge” of SGMA and growers and water agencies that are shifting mindsets and operations to comply with reduced groundwater allocations.

“This is not just another place to air your grievances but where collaboration and meaningful talk can happen to make the future of SGMA better for everyone,” she said. “In this era, it’s no longer ‘go turn on the water and forget about it.’”

Bullis, a water and geographic information systems manager at AC Foods, first attended the Groundwater Resources Association conference about five years ago.

She noticed consultants, advocacy organizations and representatives from DWR and the Water Board speaking on panels but the viewpoint of growers was missing. She spoke up, and people listened. A few years ago, she was asked to be on the board. Then she was asked to organize the summit.

The change in location to reach more farmers had another benefit, cutting the cost from more than $800 to $250. Review the agenda and find information here: Groundwater Resources Association.

About the Reporter

SJV Water Reporter Lisa McEwen grew up in Tulare County. She has reported on agriculture and other issues for a wide variety of publications, including, Ag Alert, Visalia Times-Delta, the Fresno Bee and the Tulare and Kings counties farm bureau publications.

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