Where Is California Leadership on Ag Water Conservation?

Groundwater used to flood rice fields in Yuba County, CA: Whether it’s a wet or dry year, California uses more water than is naturally available. And as climate change brings longer, more frequent droughts, rising sea levels, and floods (or even leads to near failures of our outdated water infrastructure like we recently saw at Oroville Dam), it’s critical that we prepare for the water challenges looming ahead.

Since farms use 80% of our water, it’s absolutely essential that we figure out how to make real and lasting changes that will save water. The state’s latest water conservation plan is a necessary next step to move the state toward a more sustainable water future, but it has at least one glaring flaw—it fails to include real changes that would conserve more water in agriculture, California’s largest water user.

This is like turning off the faucet when you brush your teeth but continuing to water the lawn around your uncovered junior Olympic-sized swimming pool every single day. It simply makes no sense.

While Gov. Brown has demonstrated strong leadership when it comes to reducing the water used in our homes and businesses, there’s more work to do to help […]

Full article: Where Is California Leadership on Ag Water Conservation?