Round 1
May 25, 2022 - The California Department of Conservation announced the award of more than $40 million to regional organizations working to reduce groundwater reliance and create local environmental and economic opportunities through land-use changes. These organizations, which operate in five important agricultural counties, are the first recipients of funding from the Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program, part of Governor Newsom’s multi-faceted response to the ongoing drought. The Department also awarded $2 million to Self-Help Enterprises to support community engagement and collaboration statewide.
Round 2
June 16, 2023 - SACRAMENTO – California’s latest drought-flood cycle has shown the need for local and regional strategies to manage and store floodwaters in wet periods to help ensure stable water supplies during times of drought.
The California Department of Conservation’s Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program awarded $35 million to regions that are adapting land use to improve sustainability of groundwater basins. Across Santa Cruz, Merced, Stanislaus, Kings, San Benito, Monterey, and Fresno counties, four regional organizations will receive grants to increase regional capacity to repurpose agricultural land, thereby reducing reliance on groundwater and increasing groundwater sustainability.
