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Sustainable Conservation has been partnering with growers on field trials to accelerate groundwater recharge on agricultural lands in the San Joaquin Valley. For more than 20 years, the Almond Board has funded several research projects to understand water movement in the soil, and preserve and improve groundwater quality.
“Leveraging almond acreage for groundwater recharge has the potential to benefit the entire Central Valley,” said Ashley Boren, executive director of Sustainable Conservation.
“Once a farmer utilizes his or her land to return water to the aquifer, it serves the greater community, not just that farmer,” Boren continued. “Maximizing the capture of excess flood flows during wet years replenishes groundwater supplies for use during dry years, while also reducing downstream flood risk.”
While the ongoing drought continues to impact everyone across California, the almond industry has focused decades of investment in research and improved production practices to protect California's valuable natural resources.
“Groundwater has always been a vital resource for all Californians, and has played a critical role in maintaining California's economic and environmental sustainability through the years,” said Richard Waycott, president and chief executive officer of the Almond Board. “The Almond Board will identify farmers who are already using or are interested in trying groundwater recharge to join the Sustainable Conservation program.”
Waycott says the groundwater recharge efforts are part of a large ABC-funded research by the University of California to understand the orchard health impact of applying excess water to almond trees.”
