New farmer-focused survey reveals barriers to sustainable groundwater

Ten years after the historic passing of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, the results of a new survey conducted by a cross-campus collaboration fostered by CSU-WATER (Water Advocacy Toward Education and Research) reveals patterns in how much San Joaquin Valley farmers know about the act and obstacles they face in implementing it. 

As the groundwater conversations move to fee structures, demand reduction and land repurposing strategies, CSU-WATER’s survey reveals challenges that remain in outreach and trust-building relationships.

The project was spearheaded by co-principal investigator Dr. Anita Chaudhry, a water economist at California State University, Chico. Chaudhry launched the survey in October 2023 spanning five counties: Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare and Kern. Data was collected over six months throughout 12 subbasins. The survey yielded 279 completed responses, all from farmers or farm managers.

Among the highlights of the survey, most respondents (92%) had heard of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, but 32% had not attended a Sustainable Groundwater Management Act-related event. Although a majority (70%) believe participation in the act is important, respondents cited barriers to participation that included logistical reasons and not feeling represented by their Groundwater Sustainability Agency.

When asked how well their interests were represented by their Groundwater Sustainability Agency, 32% of the respondents said poorly, while 26% said well-represented. Reasons include lack of trust between farmers and their agency as well as not receiving clear information. 

The survey also inquired about how farmers obtained information. Those operating inside irrigation districts rely more heavily on districts for information, but farmers in outlying areas rely more on neighbors and their community.

“The biggest challenge in [the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act] has been the outreach and timing of information for small-scale growers and ranchers,” said Arshdeep Singh of Punjabi American Growers Group. “After meeting hundreds of farmers in the San Joaquin Valley over the past two years, I’ve seen how these gaps left many unprepared, leading to financial strain, reduced water access and uncertainty about their future. The CSU-WATER team’s survey, which we’ve been part of since day one, reflected these concerns. Despite the challenges, their work was commendable, providing valuable insights to improve future outreach efforts.”

The act has been transformative in California’s water management, driving a shift toward responsible stewardship of groundwater resources. Local agencies are required to adopt groundwater sustainability plans with a goal for basins to reach sustainability within 20 years of implementing their plans. 

This CSU-WATER survey found that agencies need to focus on improved communication, building community trust and broader representation. The report found that agencies should think beyond a universal single-factor vulnerability to sustainability and instead consider factors such as: groundwater dependence, education and social networks. Overall, more granular knowledge is needed to understand the vulnerability and solution for farmers and communities.

For a link to the full webinar and survey results:

For more information, contact Steve Blumenshine at sblumens@mail.fresnostate.edu, or Anita Chaudhry at achaudhry@csuchico.edu.

CSU-WATER, located at Fresno State, operates on a mission of advancing water research, scholarship and advocacy across the 23 CSU campuses.

(Story by Soreath Hok)