It’s no secret that California’s water infrastructure is ill-equipped to support the needs of our continuously growing state. Already the nation’s fifth largest economy, California’s population is increasing by the day. Though many factors contribute to the rapid growth, it’s unacceptable to see rampant mismanagement of our most precious resource, water. There is one group that is regularly asked to rise to the occasion despite the many obstacles related to water shortages and that’s farmers.
No matter the current policies, weather, or political environment, farmers across the Valley work tirelessly to provide the food, fiber, and resources our state, even our nation, depend on. Over the past several decades, growers in this state have become increasingly water-efficient and it’s certainly not because they require less water. Rather, it is because they find it increasingly difficult to obtain the water they need and are simultaneously expected to reduce current usage.
For example, when the Federal Bureau of Reclamation releases dismal allocation numbers for irrigation districts that supply many farmers across the Central Valley, growers have to adapt their practices and potentially pump even more groundwater. With groundwater curtailments under the spotlight with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act in play, growers are getting hammered from every angle. Major legislative and environmental challenges impact the operations and livelihoods of our Valley’s farmers yet they’re still expected to produce at the same rate to feed our communities and our nation. San Joaquin Valley farmers are truly meeting challenges head on and constantly adapting. The resiliency ought to be recognized and admired by every single Californian and hopefully we’ll continue to find smart solutions to our water demands while better supporting our growers and agricultural communities.
