Sustainability
Groundwater Sustainability Measures
Reduce water use without changing land use: irrigation, cultural practices, stormwater, fallow, and dry farming.
Overview
Groundwater sustainability measures are grouped into categories and designed to reduce water use but do not involve changing land use. Alternative management systems designed to use less water and/or transition land to less intensive agriculture might employ one or more of these measures.
Categories
- Irrigation practices
- Cultural practices
- Stormwater prevention
Management
- Extending fallow periods
- Dry farming transition
California GSP Examples
Westlands
Low input forage on dewatered land, small livestock grazing, hay if enough biomass.
Tule
Cover cropping integrated into fallowing program.
Turlock
"Flex crop" replacement for mature orchard; forage, hay grazing or recharge.
Merced
Minimally irrigated wheat as a transition to fallowing program.
Quick Facts
Winegrapes are the highest acreage crop in the Basin (34,000+ acres).
Coastal winegrapes use less water than most crops due to intentional deficit irrigation.
Modern drip irrigation systems provide precise control, maximizing water efficiency.