{"id":7034678,"date":"2026-08-09T04:41:15","date_gmt":"2026-08-09T04:41:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/agriculture\/report-groundwater-challenges-for-californias-small-scale-farmers-expose-regulation-risks\/"},"modified":"2026-08-09T04:41:15","modified_gmt":"2026-08-09T04:41:15","slug":"report-groundwater-challenges-for-californias-small-scale-farmers-expose-regulation-risks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=7034678","title":{"rendered":"Report: Groundwater challenges for California\u2019s small-scale farmers expose regulation risks"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Report: Groundwater challenges for California\u2019s small-scale farmers expose regulation risks<\/span>
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Summer J Cortez<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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CAFF, UC ANR researchers recommend assistance for farmers who use limited groundwater to avert losing small farmers<\/span><\/em><\/h2>\n

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Small farms across the state may not be able to comply with groundwater regulations and stay in business, according to a new report analyzing the impact of California<\/span>\u2019<\/span>s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) on small-scale farms.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the first-ever assessment of small farmer consideration in California groundwater regulations, researchers at the University of California Small Farms Network and the Community Alliance with Family Farmers document the challenges facing small-scale farms with groundwater regulations.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\"Merced<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
A Merced County farmer prepares his harvest for sale at a farm stand. Photo by Lan Ngo, CAFF<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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The report \u201c<\/span>Managing Groundwater with Small Farms in Mind: Risks, Barriers and Opportunities in the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act<\/span><\/a>\u201d (PDF) warns that farmers need an approach that helps them understand and adapt to the new regulations \u2013 while safeguarding their ability to grow food for California consumers.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOur state\u2019s small-scale farmers face disproportionate risks and barriers with SGMA implementation,\u201d said Catherine Van Dyke, director of water policy at Community Alliance with Family Farmers, a nonprofit that aims to build sustainable food and farming systems. \u201cThe future of groundwater management in California will be measured not only by hydrologic indicators but also by whether California\u2019s agricultural communities remain viable and resilient long-term.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Based on three years of statewide outreach, surveys, policy document review and engagement with small farmers, the report highlights the value of small-scale farms in California\u2019s priority water basins located in the San Joaquin Valley, Sacramento Valley, Central Coast, North Coast and Southern California regions.<\/span><\/p>\n

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In these geographically and economically diverse regions, researchers identified farmers whose groundwater use is limited and contribution to basin-wide overdraft is minimal and therefore warrant reasonable accommodations in groundwater management policies. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\"Fresno<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
A Fresno County farmer repairs a leak in her irrigation line. Photo by Lan Ngo, CAFF<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Groundwater is a hidden resource that is key to small farms\u2019 survival. Farmers irrigate crops in winter months with surface water from the season\u2019s snowpack that reaches streams and rivers, then in summer months from wells that draw up groundwater from aquifers.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>In 2026, groundwater will be even more critical due to climate volatility and the extremely low snowpack from the Sierra Mountains. While surface reservoirs can be filled in a season, it takes decades or longer to replenish groundwater. Serious impacts from overpumping include the surface of land sinking (subsidence), water quality problems, vulnerability to seawater intrusion and risk of more wells going dry from lowering groundwater levels. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Although SGMA (passed in 2014) is a necessary step towards ending decades of unsustainable groundwater pumping, the research views the widespread loss of small farms as an emerging undesirable result not due exclusively to overdraft but also from lack of groundwater management tailored to the needs of small farms.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cMany small farmers are navigating volatile markets, rising costs, labor challenges and complex regulations,\u201d said Ngodoo Atume, SGMA small farms technical assistance coordinator with the UC Small Farms Network, a part of UC Agriculture and Natural Resources. \u201cNew groundwater restrictions and compliance costs could be the last straw, unintentionally putting these farmers at risk of going out of business because they often have fewer financial resources, less technical capacity and fewer options to adapt.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\"UC<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
UC ANR’s Small Farms Network community education specialists, assigned to regions across California, provide one-on-one support to farmers. Photo by Lan Ngo, CAFF<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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The report proposes 50 actionable recommendations to protect small farms while valuing these farms as part of long-term groundwater management. In addition, the authors identify four opportunities for action across state agencies:<\/span><\/p>\n

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