Limited Economic-Ecological Trade-Offs in a Shifting Agricultural Landscape: A Case Study From Kern County, California

Wartenberg, Ariani C.; Moanga, Diana; Potts, Matthew D.; Butsic, Van

doi:10.3389/fsufs.2021.650727

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 55 publications

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“…In 2018, the almost 3.3 million acres of farmland produced over $7.4 billion dollars in agricultural commodities (Kern County, 2019). The major crops include grapes, almonds, pistachios, and citrus (Kern County, 2019;Wartenberg et al, 2021). Agriculture in Kern County is acutely dependent on both surface and groundwater (Elias et al, 2015), with prolonged and recurring drought affecting water availability.…”

Section: Kern County: Groundwater and The Sustainable Groundwater Man...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Policy interventions to address water security impacted by climate change: Adaptation strategies of three case studies across different geographic regions

et al. 2022

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Water shortage in terms of both physical and economic water scarcity is still a major issue globally. The looming climate change threat has increased the adverse threats to water security in different regions. However, policy solutions to water security vary in different geographical regions and at different scales (local, regional, national, etc.). Understanding the successes and challenges of different policy solutions is critical to scaling-up successful policies and addressing water security holistically. This paper aims to explore the effects of implementing policies at different scales in three different case study contexts: 1. two Counties in California in the USA, 2. the City of Cape Town in South Africa and 3. the Country of Bangladesh. These case studies highlight various implemented policies and their effectiveness in each context. We reviewed relevant research papers consisting of peer-reviewed journal articles, conference proceedings and gray literature using a content analysis approach based on keywords such as water scarcity, water shortage, climate change, policies, interventions and solutions. Based on this cross-case analysis, we present key strategies moving forward, including: reallocation of water based on different community and sector needs, the importance of stakeholders engagement and public awareness, and a need to implement both short and long-term management plans. There is no one-size fits all policy solution to water scarcity. Understanding the context, scale, and cultural environment will be a key to future water security-focused interventions and policies.

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Section: Kern County: Groundwater and The Sustainable Groundwater Man...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Policy interventions to address water security impacted by climate change: Adaptation strategies of three case studies across different geographic regions

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Sustainable groundwater management and its implications for agricultural land repurposing

Quandt,

Larsen,

Bartel

et al. 2023

Reg Environ Change

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In this paper, we examine the implications of groundwater sustainability policies on agricultural land retirement and how retired land can be repurposed to minimize social, economic, and environmental harms, while maximizing potential benefits. Globally, as water resources are strained by increasing agricultural demand and biophysical factors, policies are enacted to restrict groundwater pumping for irrigated agriculture in order to stem social, economic, and environmental harm. However, little is known about the implications of land retirement on ecosystems and people, and how this land can be best repurposed. Using Kern County, CA, as a case study, we draw from 23 qualitative interviews with stakeholders in the agricultural, water, and conservation sectors to understand the impacts of sustainable groundwater management policy and options for land repurposing. Stakeholders in our study outlined both positive and negative impacts of such policies across the region, including increased financial costs of agricultural production, crop type switches to perennial crops such as trees and vines, and improved communication and collaboration among stakeholders. Stakeholders discussed options for land repurposing to maximize ecological, social, and economic benefits, including habitat restoration, installation of solar farms, grazing, groundwater recharge, temporary fallowing, and recreation and parks. Finally, we propose recommendations to maximize the benefits and minimize the harms from the retirement and repurposing of agricultural land: (1) increasing regional planning and cross-stakeholder communication for strategic land repurposing, (2) minimizing the burden of policies that may restrict land repurposing options, and (3) ensuring financial incentives exist for landowners to repurpose their land.

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Identifying drivers of change and predicting future land-use impacts in established farmlands

Wartenberg

Moanga

Butsic

2021

Journal of Land Use Science

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Limited Economic-Ecological Trade-Offs in a Shifting Agricultural Landscape: A Case Study From Kern County, California

Cited by 3 publications

References 55 publications

Policy interventions to address water security impacted by climate change: Adaptation strategies of three case studies across different geographic regions

Policy interventions to address water security impacted by climate change: Adaptation strategies of three case studies across different geographic regions

Sustainable groundwater management and its implications for agricultural land repurposing

Identifying drivers of change and predicting future land-use impacts in established farmlands

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