Important gains have been made in water use efficiency, and we support and encourage this work. In addition, however, we face a need for new strategies that augment and complement existing strategies such as improved irrigation technology or new infrastructure. For small and mid-size farmers in particular, the sometimes costly investments associated with technology-based solutions may not be feasible or practical. Additional strategies that are “solutions multipliers” with economic, social, and environmental benefits are called for. In short, there is a need for more
advanced research, education, policies, and collaborations that focus on sustainable or ecological farming techniques that conserve water.
Arising from our commitment to assuring an economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable agriculture system, we have applied these general concepts to the challenge of water stewardship. We propose that the following set of principles guide ongoing development of an action plan and policy for on-farm practices, collaborations, and policy.
- Founded in an ecological, not strictly a technological, framework
Does the initiative provide multiple benefits, and can it be implemented without undue reliance on expensive technology or infrastructure? In a whole systems approach, solutions are designed to solve more than one problem. In the case of water stewardship, maximizing soil organic matter, for example, improves water retention, thereby conserving water. It also supports the growth of healthier, more pest- and disease-resistant crops. Over time, this also has the potential to reduce reliance on inputs such as energy and fertilizer, offering cost savings and environmental benefits. - Financially feasible for farmers
Does the proposed initiative consider the economic viability of all scales of farms and/or provide financial incentive for existing and new farmers to adopt water stewardship practices? Farmers are under considerable economic pressure from all directions, and cannot be expected to adopt water conserving practices just because it is “the right thing to do.”
There must be economic incentives, subsidies, and other supports to facilitate the transition to improved water stewardship practices. - Preserves farmland and a sustainable economic base for rural areas
Does the initiative protect farmland from becoming idle or developed? Does it protect against a reduction in rural employment opportunities? Does it improve agricultural
productivity? Too often, policies put in place for the benefit of the environment or urban development have had the unintended consequence of making farming so unprofitable that farmers idle land or move it out of production altogether. This
has been a particular risk of water marketing rules that have made water sales more profitable than farming for some farmers. - Results in measurable water savings
Is the initiative expected to enhance and improve water quality and/or quantity?
While we understand that the quantification of improvements in water usage is challenging and subject to variability over time and place, we believe that it is impor-
tant to attempt to estimate the impact that a given solution or initiative is expected to make on water use patterns in order to evaluate the most efficacious options. - Regionally appropriate and flexible
Can the proposed initiative be adapted and modified for application to various diverse regions and circumstances across California? California’s agricultural context is extraordinarily diverse in terms of geography, crop patterns, water availability
and cost, and other factors. For instance, water availability, management practices, and needs are considerably different along California’s north coast than in the southern Central Valley. Water stewardship solutions must necessarily be adaptable to various conditions, and must avoid a one-size-fits-all approach. We believe that the watershed scale is the most appropriate organizational unit to use in organizing,
collaborating, and planning most water stewardship initiatives. - Benefits to agriculture, the environment, and urban constituents outweigh the costs
Does the proposed initiative address the needs and constraints of multiple sectors such that the aggregate benefits exceed the costs? None of these sectors can be considered in isolation when it comes to water needs; they are all interrelated and
interdependent. As water needs increase and water supply diminishes, we must assure that competition between the sectors is reduced in favor of initiatives that are cooperative and mutually beneficial. - Protects water quality for rural communities
Does the initiative protect agricultural worker health and safety and ensure access to safe and adequate supplies of drinking water for farms and farm worker communities? Does it ensure that marginalized and low-income communities are not disproportionately impacted? For farm workers and other rural residents, agricultural
pollutants, such as nitrates, frequently exceed safe limits in drinking water, with potentially significant health and economic impacts. Central Valley farm workers report spending up to 10 percent of their household income on bottled water
when nitrate levels exceed legal limits.18 Water stewardship initiatives should ameliorate existing unsafe conditions for farm workers and guard against creating new problems. - Wise reallocation of conserved water
Is the water saved by agriculture wisely reallocated to benefit the highest needs of the environment, farmers, and urban constituents? It is important that water use reductions in agriculture are not reallocated to enable either unsustainable urban sprawl or unsustainable agricultural production. - Strategic and achievable
Is the proposed initiative likely to garner significant support and engagement among farmers and other stakeholders, inspiring them to implement it? Agricultural water management strategies and initiatives must strike a balance between realism and ambitiousness. Given the limitations of time, focus, and finances, they must also be prioritized in terms of which initiatives are most likely to succeed and have the greatest impact. We would also like to see a complementary application of strategies
that are achievable in the short, mid, and long term.
