CAFF’s Water Program: Centering Family Farms and Equity in Water Access
As California faces the reality of low-to-no snowpacks to sustain our water use throughout the year, the water needs of family farmers are more pressing than ever. Climatic variability is now coupled with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), which is fundamentally changing water access in California.
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CAFF’s Water Program seeks to tangibly support family farmers around the state through assistance in adapting to water scarcity, engaging with the local groundwater agencies, and fighting at the state level to ensure that family farmers aren’t forgotten.
Advocacy
- Every year CAFF fights for water legislation that supports the success of family farmers.
Check out our current bill priorities here.
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- CAFF engages directly with state agencies like the Department of Water Resources, State Water Resources Control Board, Department of Conservation, and Department of Food and Agriculture. Our goal is to convey the issues, needs, and concerns of family farmers directly to the agencies creating and implementing water regulations.
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- CAFF also supports local organizing for groundwater sustainability. This includes meeting with Groundwater Sustainability Agencies to ensure they hear firsthand about the needs of family farmers in their subbasins.
Education
- SGMA – Funded by the Department of Water Resources URCTA Program and in partnership with UC ANR Small Farms Team, CAFF has a team of 7 outreach coordinators around the state to understand the impact of groundwater rules on their businesses. Our report on recommendations to support family farmers under SGMA is forthcoming! See more at caff.org/sgma.
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- Dry Farming – Funded by the Department of Water Resources and in collaboration with the California Sustainable Winegrowers Alliance, CAFF is supporting research and education of dry farming winegrapes in California.
Resources
- CAFF manages the website for California Ag Water Resources. This is a repository of practices, case studies, and resources of ag water stewardship specific to California. Reach out to us if you have more you’d like to add!
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- CAFF consistently seeks funding resources for farmers specific to water needs. Review our Farmer Funding Opportunities Database to see if there are any current funding opportunities.
Reach Out to Our Team
Have any questions about our water work or want to connect to the water policy team?
Catherine Van Dyke, CAFF’s Director of Water Policy, works on state-wide agricultural water policy with a focus on groundwater and supporting family farmers in adapting to the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). Prior to this role, Catherine was the Program Manager at The San Francisco Wholesale Produce Market and a Loan Officer for California FarmLink.Â
You can email Catherine at catherine[at]caff.org.
