In times of drought, the benefits of Santa Clara County’s history of groundwater management are more evident than ever, especially for our local farmers and ranchers. Unlike many of their counterparts in the Central Valley, local growers are able to tap into a healthy aquifer for a minimal charge, despite the fact that we are now in our third consecutive dry year.
Santa Clara County Farm Bureau Executive Director Jennifer Scheer recently thanked the Santa Clara Valley Water District’s board of directors for its excellent track record of supporting agriculture and for providing farmers a reliable water supply. She noted that agricultural land rental values in our county increase when there is water shortage in the Central Valley, and tomato growers look for production land here.
Our strong partnership with local farmers and the Farm Bureau stems from our board’s policy of encouraging continued agricultural land use in Santa Clara County. More than 95 percent of agricultural water used in the county is pumped groundwater, and our local growers are in the advantageous position of knowing that they can continue to farm because the groundwater basin is being managed. Even though 2013 was the driest year on record, Santa Clara County started 2014 with groundwater storage well in the normal range due to the district’s ongoing basin replenishment with local and imported water.
This stands in stark contrast to the San Joaquin Valley, where groundwater overdraft and land subsidence—the gradual sinking of ground levels-is occurring and causing damage to canals, roads, wells and other infrastructure. Yet, many farmers in these areas are racing to drill ever-deeper wells because imported water is not available this year. In 2014, the federal Central Valley Project allocated no water—zero percent—to agricultural water service contractors, including the district. The State Water Project allocated just 5 percent, but deliveries can only be scheduled in the fall months, after the growing season. Nearly all agriculture in Santa Clara County is shielded from these dire statewide conditions because the district has maintained groundwater reserves to see us through multi-year droughts.
Local agriculture is shielded also from higher water costs related to the current drought. In some parts of the state, supplemental water is being transferred to maintain permanent crops at prices well in excess of $1,000 per acre-foot. Even in typical years, agricultural water users in other counties pay significantly more than they do here.
The water district’s “open space credit” has helped sustain agriculture. This financial credit recognizes that we all benefit from the preservation of agricultural land use in the county, including increases in home values, and support for flood protection, groundwater recharge and natural habitat for pollinators. The continuing existence of fields of red peppers or cherry orchards differentiates our region from the sprawling suburbs of southern California.
Despite starting the year with good groundwater conditions, we all must take steps to use water wisely this year. The water district board has set a water-use reduction target of 20 percent, and recently doubled many key water conservation rebates and substantially increased others. The district also offers growers a free irrigation system evaluation and irrigation efficiency services.
It should be noted that some local farmers are outside the groundwater management zone, and if the drought continues, they may experience impacts. Groundwater users at higher elevations above the perimeter of the valley floor may experience dropping water levels, higher pumping costs, and potentially even wells going dry.
A few agricultural water users also receive untreated surface water from the district. The district originally permitted these surface water deliveries decades ago as a supplemental and interruptible source of supply, but many have come to expect deliveries every year. This year, due to the extraordinary reductions in local and imported water, surface water must be conserved for other critical needs, including drinking water treatment plant supplies this summer and continuing minimal groundwater recharge in South County near the city of Morgan Hill. The district is working with agricultural permitees that normally receive untreated surface water to make sure that they have access to alternate sources of supply before discontinuing service. We understand that refurbishing old groundwater wells or other measures requires an investment, but one that is needed to increase reliability for their farming operations not only in this drought, but in future years.
Sustaining agriculture was the primary motivation for forming the valley’s first water conservation district, our predecessor agency, in 1929. At that time, groundwater levels were dropping, and wise farmers, engineers and business leaders came together to build local reservoirs and initiate the importation of water to replenish the groundwater basin. Even though much of the Valley of Heart’s Delight has since transformed into Silicon Valley, the Santa Clara Valley Water District is continuing the work of these early leaders to support the viability of agriculture and a healthy economy.
Beau Goldie is the chief executive officer of the Santa Clara Valley Water District.
