State will pay some valley farmers not to farm in attempt to save groundwater
More state money is flowing to the valley to take land out of production in an attempt to ease demand on groundwater. The state Department of Water Resources (DWR) is starting a new program called LandFlex which will pay up to $25 million in incentives to farmers to fallow crops. On February 23, DWR announced three grants from the program, all of which are going to San Joaquin Valley groundwater agencies. Madera County groundwater sustainability agency (GSA) will receive $9.3 million, Greater Kaweah GSA will receive $7 million and Eastern Tule GSA will receive $7 million.