Water Use Efficiency Assessment & Pilot in Santa Rosa Plain
To achieve and maintain sustainable groundwater conditions within the Santa Rosa Plain Subbasin we need to look at both water supply augmentation and demand reduction. One of the demand reduction programs the Santa Rosa Plain GSA is implementing through SGM grant funding is a Water Use Efficiency Assessment and Pilot Program.
The goal of this program is to reduce groundwater user demands through:
- Completing a parcel-specific spatial analysis of crop and landscape types;
- Assessing existing groundwater demand for agricultural, industrial, commercial, and rural residential users;
- Performing targeted outreach to specific groundwater users; and
- Identifying specific measures that could increase water use efficiency.
The results of this assessment will be used to develop a water use efficiency pilot program unique to the Santa Rosa Plain subbasin that will prioritize actions to reduce water demands for private well users. You can view the results of this assessment in the Technical Memo. An essential component to the water use efficiency program is making tools and incentives available to groundwater users in the subbasin that will be offered on a voluntary basis. The pilot program will be made available to groundwater users throughout the subbasin with a special focus on under-represented communities and small farmers.
