California Farmers Boost Groundwater by Flooding Fields in Wet Season

Facing years of drought and declining aquifers, California farmers are employing “managed aquifer recharge” strategies, flooding fields with excess surface water to replenish groundwater. Stanford researchers identified prime infiltration zones in the Central Valley, showing farmers where to direct seasonal floodwaters. By letting water seep into the ground through permeable soils, they effectively store it underground for future droughts. This approach also saves farmland from being permanently fallowed. Early pilots have been promising, with farmland infiltration raising aquifer levels while also providing habitat for beneficial wildlife. The method underscores a shift from simply pumping groundwater to actively recharging it—a potential model for other drought-prone regions.