Abstract
AbstractIn this paper, we examine the implications of groundwater sustainability policies on agricultural land retirement and how retired land can be repurposed to minimize social, economic, and environmental harms, while maximizing potential benefits. Globally, as water resources are strained by increasing agricultural demand and biophysical factors, policies are enacted to restrict groundwater pumping for irrigated agriculture in order to stem social, economic, and environmental harm. However, little is known about the implications of land retirement on ecosystems and people, and how this land can be best repurposed. Using Kern County, CA, as a case study, we draw from 23 qualitative interviews with stakeholders in the agricultural, water, and conservation sectors to understand the impacts of sustainable groundwater management policy and options for land repurposing. Stakeholders in our study outlined both positive and negative impacts of such policies across the region, including increased financial costs of agricultural production, crop type switches to perennial crops such as trees and vines, and improved communication and collaboration among stakeholders. Stakeholders discussed options for land repurposing to maximize ecological, social, and economic benefits, including habitat restoration, installation of solar farms, grazing, groundwater recharge, temporary fallowing, and recreation and parks. Finally, we propose recommendations to maximize the benefits and minimize the harms from the retirement and repurposing of agricultural land: (1) increasing regional planning and cross-stakeholder communication for strategic land repurposing, (2) minimizing the burden of policies that may restrict land repurposing options, and (3) ensuring financial incentives exist for landowners to repurpose their land.
Funder
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
Global and Planetary Change
Reference52 articles.
1. Ayres A, Hanak E, Gray G, Sencan E, Bruno et al (2021) Priorities for California’s water. Public Policy Institute of California. https://www.ppic.org/publication/priorities-for-californias-water/. Accessed 1 June 2023
2. Beattie KC, Karberg JM, Omand KA, O’Dell DI (2017) Sheep grazing as a grassland management tool: lessons learned on Nantucket Island, Massachusetts. Northeast Nat 24:45–66
3. Bernard R (2018) Research methods in anthropology: qualitative and quantitative approaches, 6th addition. Rowman & Littlefield, Lanham, Maryland
4. Bostic D (2021) At risk: public supply well vulnerability under California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. Pacific Institute. https://pacinst.org/publication/at_risk_wells_SGMA. Accessed 1 June 2023
5. Bourque K, Schiller A, Angosto CL, McPhail L, Bagnasco W et al (2019) Balancing agricultural production, groundwater management, and biodiversity goals: a multi-benefit optimization model of agriculture in Kern County, California. Sci Total Environ 670:865–875. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.03.197
Cited by
3 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献