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California Leopold Conservation Award Seeks Nominees

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2025 California Leopold Conservation Award®.

The award honors farmers, ranchers, and forestland owners who go above and beyond in their management of soil health, water quality and wildlife habitat on working land.

Sand County Foundation and national sponsor American Farmland Trust present Leopold Conservation Awards to private landowners in 28 states. In California the $10,000 award is presented with Sustainable Conservation and California Farm Bureau Federation.

Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the award recognizes landowners who inspire others to consider conservation opportunities on their land. In his influential 1949 book, “A Sand County Almanac,” Leopold advocated for “a land ethic,” an ethical relationship between people and the land they own and manage.

Award nominations may be submitted on behalf of a landowner, or landowners may apply themselves. The application can be found at www.sandcountyfoundation.org/ApplyLCA.

The application deadline date is July 18, 2025. Nominations must be emailed to CaliforniaLCA@sandcountyfoundation.org.

Nominations are reviewed by an independent panel of California agricultural and conservation leaders. Last year’s recipient was Bowles Farming Company of Los Banos. To view profiles of all past recipients, click here.

The 2025 California Leopold Conservation Award will be presented at the California Farm Bureau Federation’s Annual Meeting in December.

“Healthy working land benefits the water that flows through it, the food that grows out of it, and the people that depend on it,” said Ashley Boren, CEO of Sustainable Conservation, award co-sponsor since its California launch more than a decade ago. “California’s farmers, ranchers, and foresters are at the heart of our efforts to build climate resilience while nourishing communities across the nation. The Leopold Conservation Award recognizes the stewardship of these land managers who are helping pursue a future where thriving ecosystems and sustainable agriculture go hand in hand.”

“The Leopold Conservation Award provides outstanding recognition of farmers and ranchers who take steps every day to realize significant gains in managing their farms in a sustainable and profitable manner,” said Shannon Douglass, California Farm Bureau Federation President. “The awarded families are great examples of the generational appreciation farmers and ranchers have for their land. The stewardship they employ at their farms and ranches is reflective of California farmers’ and ranchers’ commitment to the environment.”

“Leopold Conservation Award recipients are examples of how Aldo Leopold’s land ethic is alive and well today,” said Kevin McAleese, Sand County Foundation President and CEO. “Their dedication to conservation is both an inspiration to their peers as well as a reminder to all how important thoughtful agriculture is to clean water, healthy soil, and wildlife habitat.”

“As the national sponsor for Sand County Foundation’s Leopold Conservation Award, American Farmland Trust celebrates the hard work and dedication of the award recipients,” said John Piotti, AFT President and CEO. “At AFT we believe that exemplary conservation involves the land itself, the practices employed on the land, and the people who steward it. This award recognizes the integral role of all three.”

The Leopold Conservation Award in California is made possible thanks to the generous support of American Farmland Trust, Sustainable Conservation, California Farm Bureau Federation, Sand County Foundation, The Harvey L. & Maud C. Sorensen Foundation, Farm Credit, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and California Leopold Conservation Award recipient alumni.

For more information on the award, visit www.leopoldconservationaward.org.

California Ag Today2025-02-05T16:01:35-08:00February 5th, 2025|

Alicia Rockwell New Board Chair for the Almond Board of California

Starts in new role Jan. 1, 2025.

The Almond Board of California’s Board of Directors elected Alicia Rockwell to be the new chair of the Board. Rockwell will take over the role on Jan. 1 from Alexi Rodriguez, who will begin a new role of her own on Jan. 1 as CEO of the Almond Alliance.

Rockwell is the Chief Government and Public Affairs Officer for Blue Diamond Growers. Brandon Rebiero, a co-founder of Gold Leaf Farming, was elected the Board’s vice chair.

“I’m honored to have the trust of my fellow board members,” said Rockwell. “The board is a strong group of experienced and impressive individuals who care deeply about our industry. Together, we will continue to address industry challenges and build a prosperous future for the California almond industry.”

The ABC Board sets policy and approves budgets in major areas, including global market development, production research, public relations and advertising, nutrition research, statistical reporting, quality control and food safety.

ABC is a Federal Marketing Order dedicated to promoting California almonds to domestic and international audiences through marketing efforts and by funding, ensuring food safety and promoting studies about almonds’ health benefits and state of the art agricultural practices to aid growers and to further the industry’s efforts in environmental stewardship.

California Ag Today2024-12-16T14:55:34-08:00December 16th, 2024|

California Table Grape Commission Hires Director of Community Service and Health Programs

Courtesy of the California Table Grape Commission

The California Table Grape Commission welcomes Jackie Nakashian as the director of community service and health programs.
Nakashian joins the commission in this new role to develop, implement, and manage community service programs such as the grower funded scholarship program, while creating partnerships with other community service organizations. In addition, she will manage the health outreach and research programs. Nakashian is a Registered Dietitian, earning her certificate of advanced study in dietetics from California State University, Fresno. She also holds bachelors’ degrees in political science and in human nutrition sciences – dietetics. Nakashian brings experience in community nutrition program development and expansion from her time as program manager with the Central California Food Bank, and experience in the agriculture industry from the California Apple Commission.

“We are very excited for Jackie to join the commission team,” said Ian LeMay, incoming president. “Jackie’s experience in developing and implementing food assistance programs and with her experience as a Registered Dietitian, will be a great benefit to commission and industry programs,” said LeMay

California Ag Today2024-12-13T12:11:32-08:00December 13th, 2024|

Bowles Farming Company Receives California Leopold Conservation Award

Bowles Farming Company of Los Banos is the 2024 California Leopold Conservation Award® recipient.

The $10,000 award honors farmers, ranchers, and forestland owners who go above and beyond in their management of soil health, water quality and wildlife habitat on working land.

Cannon Michael, Bowles Farming Company President, was presented with the award during the California Farm Bureau Federation’s Annual Meeting on December 9.

Sand County Foundation and national sponsor American Farmland Trust present Leopold Conservation Awards to private landowners in 28 states. In California, the award is presented with Sustainable Conservation and the California Farm Bureau Federation.

Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the award recognizes landowners who inspire others to consider conservation opportunities on their land. In his influential 1949 book, A Sand County Almanac, Leopold advocated for “a land ethic,” an ethical relationship between people and the land they own and manage.

Earlier this year, California landowners were encouraged to apply, or be nominated, for the award. Nominations were reviewed by an independent panel of agricultural and conservation leaders from California.

ABOUT BOWLES FARMING COMPANY

With more than 160 years of farming the same land, the importance of responsible agriculture is not lost on the Bowles and Lawrence families. Trends come and go, but sustainability and resilience have defined this family business for generations.

Bowles Farming Company’s roots trace back to when Henry Miller began farming in the San Joaquin Valley in 1858. Miller is also credited with establishing his ancestors’ commitment to conservation.

When Miller noticed that Tule elk were being erased from the landscape by hunters, he made an investment to protect the species. At a time when conservation wasn’t top of mind, Miller had horsemen round up the last remaining Tule elk and relocate them to a protected area. From these few dozen individuals, Tule elk now inhabit various areas within their historical range in California.

Miller’s ancestor, Cannon Michael, carries on that legacy by providing leadership on habitat protection, water conservation, soil health, sustainable farming, and sound farm and environmental policy as president of Bowles Farming Company. Michael leads the business that his grandfather formed with two siblings in 1965 with curiosity, open-mindedness, and genuine concern for the well-being of people and the planet.

Across the 11,200 acres under his management, Michael has embraced innovative conservation practices including cover crops and precision technology to optimize water and nutrient management. Bowles Farming Company participates in rigorous certification programs for its crops of tomatoes, corn, herbs, garlic, wheat, alfalfa, melons, carrots, almonds, and cotton.

With farmland adjacent to the San Joaquin River, key riparian corridors have been restored and 650 acres of wetlands dedicated in a federal easement provide critical habitat for migratory birds. Michael’s concern for California’s water resources stretches beyond his farm gate.

Michael is described as a natural convenor among farm, NGO, and water-user communities, who seeks lasting policy solutions. He regularly hosts large group dinners at his farm for agricultural and conservation leaders to build trust and identify areas of common ground on challenging water and land issues. As a member of the Environmental Defense Fund’s Ecosystem Committee, he helped shape its approach to water policy, climate-smart farming, and Endangered Species Act implementation.

Bowles Farming Company boasts a growing list of collaborations with state, federal, and NGO partners. With assistance from Pollinator Partnership, it established a 1.5-mile hedgerow around the perimeter of its managed wetlands. Michael credits Audubon Society biologists with helping him see how cropland can be managed to provide better bird habitat. In addition to conducting bird surveys, he invested time and resources into protecting raptors by trapping pests in crop fields instead of using poison to control them.

Michael’s openness to innovation led him to be an early adopter of installing solar arrays on his farm and utilizing composted green waste from nearby municipalities. The diversion of organic, green waste from landfills reduces methane emissions, which helps California meet its climate change goals.

Michael’s appreciation for the environmental benefits of native plants led to the creation of Great Valley Seed which uses his farming expertise to scale up the production of cost-effective native plants. It’s that sort of resilience that has always served as this farm’s cornerstone.

This Merced County landscape has witnessed a lot of changes over the past 165 growing seasons. Under the conservation-minded leadership of Cannon Michael, the Bowles Farming Company has found a way to a way to innovate, adapt, and thrive.

ACCOLADES

“We are honored to recognize the extraordinary efforts of California farmers and ranchers who go above and beyond in their stewardship of natural resources,” said Shannon Douglass, California Farm Bureau Federation President. “Bowles Farming Company has championed sustainable farming, habitat protection and so much more for decades. Their pioneering and innovative spirit demonstrates the ability of California farmers and ranchers to find solutions for environmental issues while continuing to grow crops to feed and clothe the world.”

“Bowles Farming Company exemplifies what a large operation can do to care for and better the land they manage,” said Ashley Boren, Sustainable Conservation CEO, which has co-sponsored the award since its launch in California in 2006. “Their attention to on-farm practices, community leadership, and partnership on statewide resource issues make an important difference for wildlife and people who rely on nutritious food, clean water, and green space to thrive.”

“These award recipients are examples of how Aldo Leopold’s land ethic is alive and well today,” said Kevin McAleese, Sand County Foundation President and CEO. “Their dedication to conservation is both an inspiration to their peers as well as a reminder to all how important thoughtful agriculture is to clean water, healthy soil, and wildlife habitat.”

“As the national sponsor for Sand County Foundation’s Leopold Conservation Award, American Farmland Trust celebrates the hard work and dedication of the award recipients,” said John Piotti, AFT President and CEO. “At AFT we believe that exemplary conservation involves the land itself, the practices employed on the land, and the people who steward it. This award recognizes the integral role of all three.”

Among the many outstanding California landowners nominated for the award were finalists: Hat Creek Grown of Hat Creek in Shasta County, and Stemple Creek Ranch of Tomales in Marin County.

The California Leopold Conservation Award is made possible thanks to generous contributions from American Farmland Trust, Sustainable Conservation, California Farm Bureau Federation, Sand County Foundation, The Harvey L. & Maud C. Sorenson Foundation, Farm Credit, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service of California, McDonald’s, and California Leopold Conservation Award alumni.

To view all past recipients of the California Leopold Conservation Award, visit: https://sandcountyfoundation.org/our-work/leopold-conservation-award/state/california

California Ag Today2024-12-09T14:32:53-08:00December 9th, 2024|

EPA Finalizes Herbicide Strategy to Protect Endangered Species

Courtesy of the Western Ag Processors Association

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released its final Herbicide Strategy to protect over 900 federally endangered and threatened (listed) species from the potential impacts of herbicides. EPA will use the strategy to identify measures to reduce the amount of herbicides exposure to these species when it registers new herbicides and when it reevaluates registered herbicides under a process called registration review. The final strategy incorporates a wide range of stakeholder input, ensuring EPA not only protects species but also preserves a wide range of pesticides for farmers and growers. The Herbicide Strategy identifies protections for hundreds of listed species up front and will apply to thousands of pesticide products as they go through registration or registration review, thus allowing EPA to protect listed species much faster. In response to comments on the initial draft, EPA made many improvements to the draft, with the primary changes falling into three categories:

Making the strategy easier to understand and incorporating up-to-date data and refined analyses;
Increasing flexibility for pesticide users to implement mitigation measures in the strategy; and,
Reducing the amount of additional mitigation that may be needed when users either have already adopted accepted practices to reduce pesticide runoff or apply herbicides in an area where runoff potential is lower.

The final strategy includes more options for mitigation measures compared to the draft, while still protecting listed species. The strategy also reduces the level of mitigation needed for applicators who have already implemented measures identified in the strategy to reduce pesticide movement from treated fields into habitats through pesticide spray drift and runoff from a field. The measures include cover crops, conservation tillage, windbreaks, and adjuvants. Further, some measures, such as berms, are enough to fully address runoff concerns. Growers who already use those measures will not need any other runoff measures. The final strategy also recognizes that applicators who work with a runoff/erosion specialist or participate in a conservation program are more likely to effectively implement mitigation measures. Geographic characteristics may also reduce the level of mitigation needed, such as farming in an area with flat lands, or with minimal rain such as western U.S. counties that are in the driest climates. As a result, in many of those counties, a grower may need to undertake few or no additional runoff mitigations for herbicides that are not very toxic to listed species. The final strategy uses the most updated information and processes to determine whether an herbicide will impact a listed species and identify protections to address any impacts. To determine impacts, the strategy considers where a species lives, what it needs to survive (for example for food or pollinators), where the pesticide will end up in the environment, and what kind of impacts the pesticide might have if it reaches the species. These refinements allow EPA to focus restrictions only in situations where they are needed. The final strategy itself does not impose any requirements or restrictions on pesticide use. Rather, EPA will use the strategy to inform mitigations for new active ingredient registrations and registration review of conventional herbicides. EPA is also developing a calculator that applicators can use to help determine what further mitigation measures, if any, they may need to take in light of mitigations they may already have in place.

California Ag Today2024-08-21T08:58:50-07:00August 21st, 2024|

FCFB Celebrates Agricultural Journalism Excellence

This evening, FCFB announced the winners of its 30th annual Journalism Awards.

Serving as judges this year were: California Fresh Fruit Association Director of Government and Public Policy Adam Borchard; public relations specialist Tanya Osegueda; and FCFB President Mark Thompson.

Award winners received the coveted FCFB Tractor Trophy, which was generously donated by Fresno Equipment Company.

The criteria for the awards were: thorough and objective coverage of issues, given time and space limitations; educational element for the agriculture industry or the consumer; and portraying the personal stories of those who make up the food and agriculture industry, making issues relevant to consumers and Valley residents.

Dozens of entries were received. First place in each of the categories are:

Audio

Patrick Cavanaugh, Ag Information Network, “Hurricane Hillary Devastates Central Valley Table Grapes,” September 2023

Farm Trade Print

Todd Fitchette, Western Farm Press, “California Tree Nuts Under Attack By New Beetle,” October 2023

General Print

Edward Smith, GV Wire, “Bipartisan Effort from Congress Wants to Lower Tariffs. What Does it Mean for California Ag?” February 2024

Video

Kassandra Gutierrez and Richard Harmelink, ABC30, “Heat Wave Impacts on Ag and How Employers are Protecting Employees,” July 2023

FCFB thanks all the journalists who submitted entries this year and congratulates the awardees.

California Ag Today2024-04-19T07:31:47-07:00April 19th, 2024|

Farm Tours Give Our Apprentices The Chance to Learn From Each Other

Courtesy of Center for Land-Based Learning

Apprentices explore sustainable ag on a large scale at River Garden Farms

Our Apprenticeship Program took a field trip to River Garden Farms in Knights Landing. Apprentice Javier Cervantes is working there and developing his skills in order to become a farm manager. Javier and his mentor Dominic Bruno led the other apprentices in a fun day exploring and learning about the historic 10,000+ acre operation.

Farm tours are a great opportunity for apprentices to learn from each other and gain exposure to different scales and practices in agriculture. Our favorite quote of the day: “I didn’t realize large-scale farmers faced the same challenges as small-scale farmers, just on a different level!”

Together they learned about the technical aspects and challenges of growing fresh market melons, rice, alfalfa, sunflowers, seed onions and more. River Garden Farms is a leader in sustainable farming innovation, including pollinator habitat that was planted by students in our SLEWS Program in 2020-21.

Thank you RD 108 for supporting our SLEWS Program with a new truck!

We are so grateful to the landowners and board of Reclamation District No. 108 for supporting our SLEWS Program! RD 108 is located along the western edge of the Sacramento River and delivers water to nearly 48,000 acres of farmland within Colusa and Yolo counties.

Our SLEWS Program has led restoration projects on many farms within the district, including River Garden Farms. So when our friends at RD 108 heard we were desperately seeking a reliable truck to help us haul the equipment we need, they came to the rescue. General Manager Lewis Bair explains why: “We really support what you guys do to educate people, and especially youth, about resource management.”

A bumper crop at Riverfront Farm

Riverfront Farm is CLBL’s own urban farm in West Sacramento’s Bridge District, and last week, our staff and volunteers there harvested a bounty of fresh veggies. Our Mobile Farmers Market Truck takes that fresh, hyper-local, affordable produce to West Sacramento neighborhoods and supports a healthy and more equitable food system.

Now Hiring: California Farm Academy Outreach Coordinator

Join our team and make an impact! We are seeking an Outreach Coordinator to lead outreach and recruitment for the California Farm Academy (CFA) programs. You’ll help us in our efforts to serve aspiring farmers with training and land access, demonstrate climate beneficial practices, and provide fresh food access in underserved urban areas.

Speakers Series will be back in August

Our monthly Speaker Series event is taking a summer break for the month of July. We hope to see you next month when our special guest will be Angela Laws of the Xerces Society. We have partnered with Xerces to plant habitat for beneficial insects here at our HQ. Angela will discuss how your farm or garden can support pollinators too.

Save the date!

Wednesday, August 16th • 4:30-7:30 pm

Angela Laws • Xerces Society

Woodfired Pizza • Networking • Inspiration

California Ag Today2023-07-13T08:40:05-07:00July 13th, 2023|

Farm Bill Proves to be Crucial Lifeline for Calif. Agriculture, National Food Security

By William Bourdeau

As we continue to navigate the complex challenges of the 21st century, one thing remains clear: our nation’s food security is paramount. This truth is particularly evident in California, a state renowned for its agricultural diversity and productivity. The current deliberations over the Farm Bill, a key piece of federal legislation that shapes our agricultural policy, present us with a critical opportunity to secure the future of our food system.

The Farm Bill’s comprehensive approach to agricultural policy impacts every facet of our food system – from the major commodity crops that feed our nation, to the specialty crops that diversify our diets and support local economies. In California, these specialty crops, such as fruits, vegetables, and nuts, form the backbone of our agricultural sector. But our growers face unique challenges, including crop-specific diseases and pests, that require flexible, robust support programs.

Moreover, despite our rich agricultural diversity, a disconcerting health crisis persists: most Americans do not meet recommended fruit, vegetable and nut intake, contributing to widespread obesity and metabolic health issues. Addressing these problems is not just a health imperative, but a call for diversified agricultural support in the Farm Bill, particularly for our specialty crop growers.

These producers face additional challenges – from the perishable nature of their products, to structural barriers that limit their participation in USDA conservation programs. To ensure a robust and healthy food system, the Farm Bill must tackle these issues head-on. By bolstering support for specialty crop growers, we can enhance their role in conservation efforts, broaden their access to international markets, and contribute to healthier dietary choices for Americans.

The Farm Bill also plays an indispensable role in sustaining our rural communities. It is vital that the Rural Development title within the bill continues its commitment to fostering growth and prosperity in these areas. By supporting initiatives for water storage infrastructure and providing emergency community grants following natural disasters, and fostering public-private partnerships to generate capital for rural businesses and communities, this legislation can fuel the engine of rural development.

Crop insurance and standing disaster programs like the Noninsured Crop Assistance Program, Livestock Indemnity Program, Livestock Forage Disaster Program, Tree Assistance Program, and Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program are vital for managing risk and recovering from unexpected disasters. These programs provide a safety net, helping farmers weather the storms of uncertainty inherent in farming.

In addition to these considerations, the 2023 Farm Bill conservation title programs must be administered efficiently and effectively, supporting projects like irrigation modernization that provide multiple, stacked benefits, rather than focusing solely on climate fixes. Working lands programs such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, which is widely used in California, should be enhanced to continue assisting growers achieve greater conservation goals. Conservation program management should emphasize a stronger role for state and local decision-making, reflecting the unique needs and conditions of different regions.

Furthermore, much of the water we use in California and the West originates on forested land managed by federal agencies. It’s essential to restore these dead and dying forest lands through active forest management, and to better quantify watershed health improvements associated with these and other water conservation actions. Agencies like the U.S. Forest Service need to better manage the land and tackle critical challenges like wildfire, insects, and disease on an expedited schedule.

The Farm Bill plays a pivotal role in maintaining our national food security. In an era marked by global turmoil, with escalating water supply regulatory constraints and other systemic challenges, a stable domestic food supply chain is more crucial than ever.

The economic implications of the Farm Bill extend far beyond our fields and pastures. The bill impacts international trade, affecting our ability to compete in global markets. Without the support mechanisms in the Farm Bill, our competitiveness on the global stage, our domestic food security, and the resilience of our agricultural sector could be threatened.

However, the benefits that the Farm Bill brings will only be realized if it is passed. Failure to do so could have dire consequences. From potential supply chain disruptions to reduced international competitiveness and an increased risk of food insecurity, the stakes are high.

As citizens, we have a role to play. We must raise our voices, reach out to our representatives, and express our support for the Farm Bill. This legislation is not just about supporting farmers and ranchers; it’s about safeguarding our nation’s food security, bolstering our economy, and ensuring a sustainable future for all.

Now is the time to act. For the sake of California’s agricultural sector, and for the future of our national food security, we must stand together in support of the Farm Bill.

California Ag Today2023-05-25T10:50:27-07:00May 25th, 2023|

USDA Forecasts Smaller Almond Crop

By Rick Kushman, Almond Board of California

The 2023 California Almond Subjective Forecast published Friday by the U. S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA-NASS) estimates that the crop harvested in 2023 will come in at 2.50 billion pounds, 3 percent below last year’s 2.57 billion pounds.

Forecasted yield is 1,810 pounds per acre, down 90 pounds from 2022 and the lowest since 2005.

“A lower crop estimate was not unexpected considering all that growers dealt with last year and during this year’s bloom,” said Richard Waycott, president and CEO of the Almond Board of California (ABC). “The cold, wet weather kept bees in their hives and reduced the hours they could pollinate orchards. In the past three years, growers have faced high costs, shipping issues, drought and more. But the water picture is better, at least for this year, shipping continues at record levels and global demand continues to grow. California’s almond farmers are prepared to meet that global demand.”

The report said: “Record rainfall and unprecedented stormy conditions impacted pollination. Limited bee flight hours were reported in all growing regions. There were reports of downed trees due to high winds and oversaturated soil. Yields are expected to be the lowest in years, with variation observed across varieties and orchard locations. Colder than normal temperatures continued through March and April, resulting in a delayed crop.”

The Subjective Forecast is the first of two production reports from USDA-NASS for the coming crop year. It is an estimate based on opinions from a survey conducted from April 19 to May 6 of 500 randomly selected California almond growers. The sample of growers, which changes every year, is spread across regions and different sized operations, and they had the option to report their data by mail, online or phone.

On July 7, USDA-NASS will release its second production estimate, the 2023 California Almond Objective Report, which is based on actual almond counts in nearly 1,000 orchards using a more statistically rigorous methodology to determine yield.

This Subjective Forecast comes two weeks after USDA-NASS released the 2022 California Almond Acreage Report which found total almond acreage had dropped in 2022 to 1.63 million, 1.2 percent down from 1.65 million in 2021. It also estimated 1.38 million bearing acres in 2023, up from 2022’s estimate of 1.35 million bearing acres.

USDA-NASS conducts the annual Subjective Forecast, Objective Report and Acreage Report to provide the California almond industry with the data needed to make informed business decisions. These reports are the official industry crop estimates.

California Ag Today2023-05-12T11:46:14-07:00May 12th, 2023|

Louder Voices, Bigger Investments Needed for California Water Security, Local Experts Say

By Alex Tavlian, San Joaquin Valley Sun

The California Water Alliance’s water forum tackled how best to fight for a stable, plentiful water supply for America’s breadbasket.

As the San Joaquin Valley yo-yos from drought to flooding, the region’s top water experts spent Thursday afternoon examining how to best approach the Valley’s long and short-term needs.

The viewpoints came amid the California Water Alliance’s third-annual water forum featuring the leaders of Friant Water Authority, Westlands Water District, farmer Cannon Michael, and Rep. John Duarte (R–Modesto).

Duarte hones in on twin crises: With the expected ‘Big Melt’ likely to increase flooding likelihoods across the San Joaquin Valley over the spring and summer, Duarte opened the forum by noting that he pressed the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to expedite permitting for channel flow improvements by water agencies.

“I would encourage anyone who can to move ambitiously on this opportunity. There may be some Federal grants available, but the diesel is going to be cheaper than the biologists later,” Duarte said. “So get busy.”

The freshman Republican congressman stressed that bringing California’s water security conversation to its urban hubs in the Bay Area, and particularly Southern California, should center around its ability to relieve housing affordability through the creation of new, available 50-year water supplies.
He added that the dream list of water projects – from proposed new dams to raising pre-existing reservoirs – would run the state roughly $12 billion.

“I’m in favor of the Federal government and the state government paying for it. California had $31 billion in unemployment fraud during COVID. California’s paying $120 billion for a bullet train nobody’s going to ride. It’s currently flooded, it’s a bullet boat. [Gov. Gavin Newsom’s] gonna go from Woke Moses to Woke Noah this summer,” Duarte said.

“The money’s there. There’s a definite sentiment in at least part of Congress, and I think it’s spreading. I think there’s a lot of urban legislators that are Democrats that are starting to wake up and find out that our water scarcity in California is really hurting working families up and down the state. Without water abundance we will never have affordable housing for working families in California again.”

Reality check needed: Michael, a member of a litany of water organizations and chairman of the San Luis-Delta Mendota Water Authority, pressed for an all-of-the-above approach to the state’s water fluctuations, acknowledging the need for groundwater recharge while boosting above ground water storage.

“It makes me nervous a little bit that some of the NGO community is highlighting groundwater recharge as strongly as they are. Not that I don’t think it’s valuable. But in some ways, it’s kind of a head fake. It’s this shiny object that’s going to solve these problems. It’s going to solve some problems, but [the Water Blueprint for the San Joaquin Valley] has done a great job of pointing out the deficit in the Valley of water and the only way out of that is from above ground storage.

Michael singled out Shasta Dam as the poster child for the tug of war.

“There’s this opposition to raising Shasta, which is just insane. It was designed to be bigger and it’s a key component of our system. That reservoir has essentially been hijacked,” Michael said. “That reservoir will never be drawn down below 1 million acre-feet any more. We saw that last year when the Settlement contractors, who were supposed to get 75 or 100 percent of their supply got 18 percent At the same time, there was 1 million acre-feet more of water in Shasta than in 1977.”

Embracing recharge: Freshly-minted Westlands Water District executive director Allison Febbo noted that the nation’s largest agricultural water district is focused on tackling water scarcity by leaning into efficiencies while rapidly embracing in groundwater recharge, a top priority of the district.

“What we need to do is be able to recharge and really squirrel away the water when we have this abundance of water that we’re seeing right now we need to be able to take that and save it for the future,” Febbo said.

“Westlands has gone from zero recharge to right now over 1600 acre feet a day of recharge, and we’re hoping to get to over 65,000 acre feet of recharge in the next month or two, possibly more.”

Febbo added that a collaborative approach was the route to strengthen water security in the Valley.

“This isn’t something that can be done by just one water district or one water agency or even one region, this is really a statewide solution where we need to be collaborating with each other, partnering with each other, and moving away from this ‘If I win, you lose’ or ‘If you win, I lose’ mentality,” she said. “We need to be collaborating together and finding multifaceted solutions for these problems.”

A call-to-action: Jason Phillips, the chief of the Friant Water Authority, laid bare the deficiencies in securing increased water supplies for central California, calling on farmers to utilize their voices for targeted investments.

“I would say that we need to understand something very clearly: we have failed miserably for 40-plus years at generating new water supplies and constructing anything. We’ve gotten nothing done for new storage. So, we need to be very careful when we say ‘We need to build new storage.’ We’ve been saying that for 40 years,” Phillips said.

“We failed with CALFED, which was a President Clinton and Governor Gray Davis joint proposal to build five new reservoirs, none of which happened. That was 23 years ago,” the Friant chief said. “[2014’s] Prop. 1 was a failure. It passed, but it has not been building any new storage.”

“When we talk about what we should be focusing on, the only people who should be focusing on storage is Congressman Duarte and others who can write into law that you are going to go get it done. Because the environmental community and the current people that run this government, they have our number. Checkmate it every time. They will make sure we don’t build it, no matter how smart or how good we think we’re going to get it done.”

“We need to get more sophisticated at how we can go and actually start building water supply. The most important infrastructure that we need is infrastructure of advocates and advocacy to be able to use our existing project facilities. The reason we failed for the last 40 years and depressing as it might sound we might fail for the next 40 is because we’re not able to sit up here and articulate quickly enough – because it’s so complicated in California – why we’ve lost so much water.”

“In 2008 and 2009 there was a biological opinion that was forced upon us by government employees – not Congress – that cost us more water than five Temperance Flat Reservoirs would have produced like that. Gone.”
Phillips turned the table on professional advocates, lawyers, and lobbyists working on behalf of water agencies and grower groups who have insufficiently fought onerous water cutbacks.

“Most of [the 2008/2009 biological opinions], you were all paying someone who agreed to it. That was our advocacy. You were paying somebody to agree to give up water on an order of magnitude that far exceeds any storage projects we’ve built,” Phillips said.

“The hardest thing is that the government employees using the Endangered Species Act and other laws to take our operation of existing projects and constantly tweak it to send more water out to the ocean – and it’s not instead of what they were sending, it’s always on top of that.

“We will have choices to make: do we want to advocate against that? Or do we want all of who you’re paying for to go sit at the table with the government to agree to give up more of our water?”

Rethinking the Calif. equation: Ryan Jacobsen, the Fresno County Farm Bureau boss, noted that the state needed a reality check to its once-simple water equation of 50-40-10, meaning 50 percent of water went to environment, 40 percent of water went to agriculture, and 10 percent to municipal and industrial water users.

“That’s no longer true. Today, those numbers are 80.5 percent of the water in the state of California goes toward environmental purposes now. Of that, 50 percent of that is uncaptured in the environment, 30.5 percent is captured and stored for the environment. Fifteen percent of the total supply is now going toward agriculture, and 4.5 percent is the urban share,” Jacobsen said, citing a new study from the California Farm Bureau Federation.

California Ag Today2023-05-11T15:10:38-07:00May 11th, 2023|