Major Tasks Completed

  • Demand Management
  • Development of land repurposing strategies
  • Land Repurposing
  • Community Outreach and Engagement
  • GSP Implementation
  • Annual Reports, model updates, and Periodic Evaluation

Turlock Subbasin SGMA Implementation Support

Client

Turlock Irrigation District and East Turlock Subbasin GSA

Location

Turlock, CA

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EKI has been providing technical support to the East Turlock Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Agency (ETSGSA) since 2022 to develop an alternative conceptual framework for allocating groundwater supplies to each of the GSAs in the Turlock Subbasin consistent with California’s groundwater and surface water rights structures.

In 2024, EKI was retained to lead the ETSGSA’s Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program (MLRP) development, including preparation of a comprehensive Multibenefit Agricultural Land Repurposing Plan (MALRP) to strategically repurpose up to 20,000 acres of irrigated agricultural land in the Basin to support the ETSGSA’s regional groundwater demand reduction goals. This project includes:

  • Development of land repurposing strategies, implementation standards, project application & scoring process, and incentive payment structures;
  • Preparation of a MALRP;
  • Development of MLRP pilot projects, in close coordination with landowners; and
  • Intensive outreach and engagement with growers and other community stakeholders.

The technical and strategic approaches and standards were developed with a focus on real-world implementability and community acceptance. EKI continues to work in close collaboration with ETSGSA, its Technical Advisory Committee and grower groups, and multiple MLRP partner entities to advance the ETSGSA’s MLRP and related demand management goals.

In 2025, EKI was selected to take over SGMA implementation in the Turlock Subbasin, including development of the Annual Reports, model updates, and Periodic Evaluation preparation. This involves providing comprehensive SGMA and GSP implementation support to both GSAs in the subbasin over the next several years.

Outcome

The ETSGSA MLRP aims to reduce groundwater demand while maintaining working lands and simultaneously delivering multifaceted benefits including groundwater recharge, habitat creation, enhancement of community health and economic wellbeing, improvement of water quality, flood protection, soil health, and/or bolstering climate resilience.