Abstract Groundwater is a critical resource for agriculture, ecosystems, and communities in California. However, unsustainable large‐scale agricultural pumping has depleted aquifers in many areas, causing well failure in disadvantaged communities and for small farmers, threatening habitat, and causing subsidence. Fairmead—an unincorporated disadvantaged community in California's San Joaquin Valley—exemplifies how excessive groundwater pumping impacts vulnerable communities. California is currently incentivizing the strategic repurposing of irrigated cropland to less water‐intensive uses, a process known as multibenefit land repurposing that aims to produce multiple social and ecological benefits. New land uses can include less water‐demanding crops such as agave and pasture, and alternative uses such as groundwater recharge basins and community parks. This study presents the Fairmead Groundwater Resilience Project, which engages residents and farmers to codevelop sustainable water management solutions. Our team facilitated discussions between the community residents and farmers to collaboratively identify the most pressing community issues, the best uses for the land to achieve multibenefit solutions, and landowners willing to change their land use practices. Our collaborative process resulted in a partnership with a willing farming family to transition their completely groundwater‐dependent high‐water‐use crop (almonds) into a multibenefit project. This project will include a stormwater basin to provide flood risk reduction and incidental groundwater recharge, native vegetation for habitat improvement, and a walking path to create recreational space for the community. This community‐centered approach offers a replicable model for promoting groundwater sustainability across California while advancing environmental justice.
Katrak-Adefowora et al. (Mon,) studied this question.