Groundwater recharge in an almond orchard
Groundwater recharge in an almond orchard. (Photo: Sustainable Conservation—SusCon.org)

By Scott Hamilton, President, Hamilton Resource Economics 

Proposition 4, authorizing $10 billion in bonds for safe drinking water, wildlife prevention, and protecting communities and natural lands from climate risks, was passed with 60% approval in the general election on November 5, 2024.  Of the total, $3.8 billion was designated for “safe drinking water, drought, flood and water resilience.”  

The San Joaquin Valley needs at least another 10,000 cubic feet per second of recharge capacity. That additional capacity provides the cheapest source of additional water – capturing high-flow local water that currently makes its way to the ocean – and is essential to keeping more irrigated land in production and reducing the impacts of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. It also serves to reduce flood impacts by recharging water that would otherwise flood farms and communities.  

Historically, much of the new local infrastructure was paid for by water districts, who passed their costs onto the landowners. Current low prices for most commodities produced in the Valley have made that option impractical. Proposition 4 funding provides much-needed help — $386 million for groundwater storage and banking, $200 million for multi-benefit land repurposing, $75 million for regional conveyance projects, $550 million for flood management projects, $100 million for Integrated Regional Water Management Projects, and $20 million for education. While those amounts seem large, there are many projects that will be competing for the same funds. Water managers in the Valley need to be organized early to access funds for projects that have already been identified. Projects with completed designs and permits are likely to be funded first.   

Many recharge projects have already been identified in Groundwater Sustainability Plans.  In Kern County, Friant contractors will likely be able to capture significant winter and spring flows from the San Joaquin River with additional new recharge facilities.  State Water Project districts could also benefit from state supplies not taken in wet years.   

The rules by which the money will be allocated are still being developed. The funds are being administered by a variety of state agencies, including the Department of Water Resources, the Department of Conservation, the State Water Resources Control Board, the California Water Commission, and the Natural Resources Agency.  

While there is a tendency to consider recharge projects to be the domain of the water districts, there is an increasing trend to incentivize on-farm recharge.  Paul Gosselin, DWR’s Deputy Director for Sustainable Groundwater Management suggested that, in areas where the geology is suitable, farmers might consider making dedicated on-farm recharge facilities a part of the standard farm operations. In districts where reduced water supplies are forcing some land out of production, creation of such facilities may make sense, particularly if water districts are incentivizing landowner recharge.  Such facilities need not be expensive — low berms on three sides of a gently sloping field. However, the berms do need to be designed and constructed appropriately to avoid breaches. Shallow ponds create warmer water which recharges more quickly. Variation in water depth provides habitat for a diversity of waterfowl. It is not necessary to keep the area clear of vegetation — root growth enhances recharge. And facilities that provide multiple benefits (groundwater recharge and wetland habitat) are likely to score higher and move up the priority list for funding.  

Groundwater recharge has the potential to provide many benefits: reduced pumping costs through higher groundwater levels, improved groundwater quality, reduced subsidence, reduced flood impacts, and the creation of wildlife habitat. The funds in Proposition 4 provide an opportunity for an expanded groundwater recharge network at a time when finances are stretched. 

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