Turlock MLRP

Visit the Turlock MLRP Story Map: Re-Imagining Agricultural Working Lands in ETSGSA

Quick Links

Frequently Asked Questions

Turlock Multibenefit Agricultural Land Repurposing Plan - In development

Turlock MLRP Viewer tool

Demand Reduction Project Concept Form

MLRP Project Application - Coming soon!

What is the Turlock Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program (MLRP)?

The Turlock MLRP is a program being developed by the East Turlock Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Agency (ETSGSA) and funded through a $8.89 million grant from the California Department of Conservation (DOC) that aims to help achieve groundwater sustainability in the Turlock Subbasin Example through strategic, incentivized repurposing of agricultural lands to alternative high-value land uses that use less water and provide other benefits, including enhanced habitat, groundwater recharge, flood risk mitigation, soil health, and benefits to communities. This program aims to guide and prioritize locally developed projects that repurpose agricultural land to achieve multiple benefits in alignment with regional goals. The MLRP's collaborative approach involves multiple partners, including groundwater managers and planners, engineers and scientists, community outreach leaders, and local stakeholders, to ensure a comprehensive and inclusive approach.

The Turlock MLRP includes:

Development of a Multibenefit Agricultural Land Repurposing Plan (MALRP)
Outreach and Engagement with stakeholders
Development of tools and resources to assist interested parties in developing and implementing MLRP projects
Solicitation and prioritization of MLRP projects
Project implementation
Monitoring and reporting

Turlock MLRP Timeline

Repurposing Opportunities and Approaches

Multibenefit land repurposing projects convert irrigated crop lands to alternative uses that reduce groundwater demand and provide additional benefits to the environment and the community. The ETSGSA has developed a set of land repurposing practices that can be implemented individually or in combination as part of an MLRP project. Click on the links below to learn more about these practices, or scroll through the Turlock MLRP Story Map to explore the possibilities of a re-imagined agricultural landscape in ETSGSA.

Got an idea for a different type of multibenefit land repurposing project? No problem! Contact us at etsgsa-support@formationenv.com to share your ideas.

The Turlock MLRP Viewer tool is designed to assist landowners in exploring suitable land repurposing opportunities, providing them with information that they can then use to apply for MLRP.

Launch Turlock MLRP Viewer tool

How Multibenefit Land Repurposing Benefits the Turlock Subbasin

Consistent with statewide (DOC) guidance, the Turlock MLRP aims to achieve benefits for the Turlock Subbasin within four main benefit categories:

Groundwater Sustainability

Habitat

Disadvantaged Communities

Local Economy

Depending on the specific land repurposing alternative, potential broad-based benefits may include one or more of the following:

Water Conservation: Water savings is the primary benefit of multibenefit land repurposing, and all land repurposing alternatives contribute to water conservation by reducing irrigation needs or capturing water more effectively.
Groundwater Recharge: Alternatives like Recharge and Retention Basins and Floodflow Dispersal directly support groundwater recharge.
Habitat Creation and Biodiversity Enhancement: Orchard Swale Rewilding, Floodplain Reconnection, and Recharge and Retention Basins promote biodiversity through habitat creation for pollinators and other species.
Flood Risk Reduction: Floodflow Spreading, Floodplain Reconnection, Orchard Swale Rewilding, and Recharge and Retention Basins can help mitigate flood risks by managing excess water flows during wet periods.
Community Benefits: Agricultural Buffer Zones and other alternatives may provide direct benefits to communities by improving local environmental quality and reducing exposure to hazards. Other benefits listed here constitute indirect benefits to communities.
Climate Resilience: Water savings and drought-tolerant vegetation as a result of multibenefit land repurposing practices contributes to the region's ability to withstand climate-related weather extremes.

Benefits the Landowners Implementing MLRP Projects

Participation in the Turlock MLRP can also provide benefits to the landowners implementing MLRP projects on their land:

Incentive Payments: Using grant funds from the state, the ETSGSA will incentivize MLRP projects by providing incentive payments to participating landowners to implement and maintain their projects.
Soil Health Improvement: Cover cropping implemented as part of MLRP projects can improve soil health through reduced erosion and enhanced organic matter.
Pollinator Benefits: MLRP projects that involve repurposing to pollinator-friendly vegetative cover can boost pollinator and beneficial insect populations, providing benefits to adjacent cropped areas.
Water Security: Many MLRP alternatives result in more water staying on the land through retention on the surface, in the soil, and/or in the underlying groundwater.

Community Engagement & Participation

Community and public engagement is a key part of the MLRP planning process, and participation is open to all interested parties.

Outreach and Engagement Events

MLRP topics are frequently discussed at the following ETSGSA events, to which all participants are welcome:

ETSGSA Board of Directors meetings, open to the public - on the last Thursday of every month
ETSGSA Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) meetings, open to the public - on the second Tuesday of every month
ETSGSA MLRP Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC) meetings, open to the public - held quarterly
ETSGSA Grower Ad-Hoc Committee meetings, open by invitation (contact ETSGSA if interested in attending) - scheduled as needed

Outreach Meeting Materials

Get Involved

Fill out our Community Survey
Attend ETSGSA Board meetings, TAC meetings, and SAC meetings
Provide feedback through the Contact Us section below

MLRP Calendar

How it Works

The process to develop and implement a multibenefit land repurposing project under the Turlock MLRP is being developed, with a focus on providing useful guidance on implementation strategies, transparent information on incentives and requirements, and an inclusive planning process. Subject to refinement by the ETSGSA, the process as currently envisioned will involve the following steps:

Project proponent expresses interest - The Demand Reduction Project Concept Form is a simple form for project proponents (typically landowners) to share their land repurposing idea with the ETSGSA.
ETSGSA conducts initial project concept screening - The ETSGSA reviews the Project Concept submittal to assess if it aligns with MLRP goals, or if it is better suited for another ETSGSA program.
Project proponent refines project concept and completes an MLRP Project Application - For project concepts aligned with the ETSGSA MLRP goals, the project proponent uses guidance documents provided by the ETSGSA (e.g., Implementation Standards and mapping tools) to refine their project proposal and submits to the ETSGSA an MLRP Project Application in accordance with instructions and guidance.
ETSGSA reviews, scores, and prioritizes MLRP Applications - The ETSGSA applies an objective scoring framework followed by committee review to prioritize projects for funding.
ETSGSA conducts CEQA and permitting review - The ETSGSA conducts a CEQA analysis, including desktop and/or onsite surveys, and documents CEQA compliance. The CEQA analysis informs project permitting requirements. The project proponent is reponsible for obtaining permits and complying with all requirements under those permits and the CEQA documentation.
ETSGSA prepares Implementation Review packet and submits to DOC - The Department of Conservation (DOC) must review projects before grant funding is made available. The ETSGSA, in coordination with the project proponent, prepares the DOC Implementation Review packet based on the project Application and submits it to DOC for review.
ETSGSA and Project proponent enter into an Incentive Agreement - Once approved by DOC, the project is drafted into an Incentive Agreement that is executed by both the ETSGSA and the project proponent. Upon execution, the ETSGSA pays the project proponent a lump-sum incentive payment.
Project is implemented - The project proponent implements the project in accordance with the Incentive Agreement, applicable Implementation Standards requirements, and associated recommended best practices. Projects may be self-implemented, contractor-implemented, or a combination of the two.
Project monitoring - The project is monitored throughout the duration of the Incentive Agreement term (10 year minimum) in accordance with a Monitoring Plan to ensure that the desired outcomes are met.

Resources & Information

Statewide Program Documents

Turlock Subbasin Resources

Stakeholder Outreach and Engagement Plan
Turlock Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Plan
Turlock Subbasin MLRP Flyer (English)
Turlock Subbasin MLRP Flyer (Spanish)
MLRP Project Process Flowchart
Land Suitability and Yield Assessment for Multibenefit Land Repurposing in East Turlock Subbasin GSA
Multibenefit Agricultutral Land Repurposing Plan (MALRP) - in development

Information for Project Proponents

Demand Reduction Project Concept Form - use this to share your ideas for a land repurposing project with ETSGSA
MLRP Project Application Form & Instructions - in development
MLRP Alternatives Cut-sheets
ETSGSA Implementation Standards - in development
ETSGSA Incentive Payment Framework - in development