Multi-Benefit Land Repurposing
An Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) sponsored a measure that would require the Department of Conservation to establish and administer a program named the “Multi-benefit Land Repurposing Incentive Program” to provide grants to groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs), counties, or others was introduced in the 2020 Legislative Session (AB 2642 by Rudy Salas, D-Bakersfield) and again in 2021 (AB 252 by Robert Rivas, D-Hollister). Farm Bureau worked with EDF on both measures to address concerns and amend the bills to benefit landowners impacted by the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). Both measures failed, so the Farm Bureau worked with the California Department of Food and Agriculture to help establish the program with an initial $500 million general fund allocation in the 2021-22 budget to assist voluntary landowners, farmers, and ranchers that have lost their ability to irrigated due to SGMA.
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- Department of Conservation MBLR Program information can be accessed here: https://www.conservation.ca.gov/dlrp/grant-programs/Pages/Multibenefit-Land-Repurposing-Program.aspx
- You may contact the Department with questions or for technical assistance with your application.
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