Westside Subbasin Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program

Background

The Westlands Water District (District) Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) has been awarded approximately $8.9 million through the California Department of Conservation’s (DOC) Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program (MLRP). This funding will support the District GSA, along with the Westside Subbasin (Westside) MLRP Partners, Collaborators, and Consultants, in developing a regional MLRP, create a Multibenefit Agricultural Land Repurposing Plan (MALRP) for the Westside Subbasin, and the implementation of projects that align with the MALRP’s goals and objectives.

Westside MLRP Partners include:

Westside MLRP Collaborators include, but are not limited to:

Fresno County GSA
City of Huron
City of Avenal
City of Firebaugh
UA Local 246

The Westside MLRP is guided by a Steering Committee, which advises the District GSA Board of Directors on decision-making for the program. An Outreach Advisory Committee also supports the effort by ensuring effective community engagement and outreach throughout the process.

The resulting MALRP will complement the Westside Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP). It will provide the framework to identify and prioritize strategic land repurposing options to reduce groundwater dependence while delivering regionally appropriate multibenefit outcomes, including improvements in community health, economic vitality, water supply reliability, flood resilience, habitat restoration, renewable energy, and climate adaptation.

How Can You Participate in the Westside MLRP?

You are invited to get involved by attending Steering and Outreach Advisory Committee meetings. The schedule for upcoming meetings is available on the District’s calendar.

Westside Multibenefit Agricultural Land Repurposing Plan (MALRP)

The public review and comment period for the Administrative Draft of the Westside MALRP closed on Friday, September 12, 2025.

The Administrative Draft of the Westside MALRP is available at the link below:
Administrative Draft of the Westside MALRP

Comments were requested by Thursday, September 11, 2025, and could be submitted by:

Email: westlandsmlrp@wwd.ca.gov
By Mail or In-Person Delivery:
Westlands Water District
Attn: Resources – MLRP
286 W Cromwell Avenue
Fresno, CA 93711

The District GSA sincerely appreciates the time and effort of all stakeholders who reviewed the Administrative Draft of the Westside MALRP and submitted comments. All feedback received will be carefully reviewed and, where appropriate, incorporated into the document. Comments received after September 12, 2025, will also be taken into consideration.

The District GSA anticipates completing the Final MALRP and presenting it to the District GSA Board of Directors at a Regular Fall 2026 Board Meeting.

What Is the Westside MLRP Project Process?

The Westside MLRP Project Process is now underway and will continue on a rolling basis until all available funds have been allocated. Project Concept Forms may be submitted at any time. However, full Project Proposal Applications submitted by Friday, January 30th, 2026, will be given priority consideration.

Once current DOC MLRP funding is fully committed, eligible projects may remain on the Westside MLRP Project List for potential consideration as future funding becomes available. At this time, all projects must be fully implemented by December 31, 2026.

What is the Westside Subbasin MLRP Project Process?

Step 1: Project Eligibility Screening

Does the Project answer “yes” to all FIVE Questions below? If yes, please contact the Westside MLRP Manager at westlandsmlrp@wwd.ca.gov or 559-241-6228 to request a Project Concept Form.

Refer to Figure 1: DAC and SDAC Communities within the Westside Subbasin for boundary details.

Eligible project types include, but not limited to:

Groundwater recharge
Renewable energy
Farming without irrigation
Land dedicated for public use
Land purchase by the District
Transition to less water intensive crops
Habitat
Floodplain management
Creation of parks or community recreation areas
Cultural or traditional uses by Native Tribes

The Westside Subbasin GSP’s objective is to reduce potential socioeconomic impacts while improving groundwater conditions and avoid undesirable results typically associated with the lack of sustainable management and groundwater overdraft.

Groundwater sustainability
Public health improvements
Economic development or wellbeing
Habitat enhancement
Flood management
Renewable energy generation
Climate resilience

TBD

Figure 1: DAC and SDAC Communities within the Westside Subbasin (PDF)Download

Step 2: Complete & Submit the Project Concept Form to the District GSA

Submitted Project Concept Forms will be reviewed by the Westside MLRP Manager and listed as “Step 2” on the Westside MLRP Project List.

The District GSA will notify landowners within the Westside Subbasin each month to review the Westside MLRP Project List for potential opportunities.

Step 3: Project Proposal Development

Eligible Project Concept Forms with a willing Westside Subbasin landowner will proceed to the Project Proposal Application phase for further development.

Step 4: Project Selection Process

Completed Project Proposal Application(s) will be scored by the Steering Committee.

Top-scoring projects will be considered for advancement, and the Westside MLRP Manager will collaborate with project applicants to prepare a Project Implementation Review Packet for projects that will be submitted to DOC for funding.

Step 5: Project Review and Approval

DOC will review submitted Project Implementation Review Packets for approval.

Once approved by DOC, the Westside MLRP Manager and staff will present the project to the District GSA Board of Directors for final approval.

Step 6: Contracting

Approved projects will move forward into the contracting phase with the District GSA.

Westside MLRP Project List

Westside MLRP Project List.

Step 2

Contact Name	Phone Number	Email Address	Project Type	General Project Location	Project Description	Anticipated Benefits	Project Status
Nataly Escobedo Garcia	805-407-9800	ngarcia@leadershipcounsel.org	Transition to less intensive water crops, Publicly accessible open spaces, Creation of parks or community recreation areas	Cantua Creek	An approximately 5-acre public park in Cantua Creek featuring walking paths, outdoor exercise equipment, lighting, and a recharge pond	Meaningful benefits to Disadvantaged Community (DAC/SDAC), reduce groundwater use, increase groundwater recharge achieved	Conceptual; Requires a landowner to commit land to Project

Step 3

Contact Name	Phone Number	Email Address	Project Type	General Project Location	Project Description	Anticipated Benefits	Project Status

Step 4

Contact Name	Phone Number	Email Address	Project Type	General Project Location	Project Description	Anticipated Benefits	Project Status
Westlands Water District	559-241-6288	westlandsmlrp@wwd.ca.gov	Solar farm	South west of the City of Mendota	Transition row crops to a solar farm	Groundwater sustainability, sustainable renewable energy, reduce groundwater use	Advancing to complete a Project Implementation Packet (Alternate Project)
Westlands Water District	559-241-6288	westlandsmlrp@wwd.ca.gov	Creation of a multi-benefit groundwater recharge area, Flood risk reduction	Near the City of Mendota and along Panoche Creek	To acquire land and develop a multi-purpose groundwater recharge facility that protects downstream users from flooding	Increase groundwater recharge achieved, replicability and scalability, mitigate flood risk, increase in community outreach, involvement, and education, incorporate participation from multiple partners, collaborators, and funding sources, and execute agreements to accomplish prioritized opportunities	Advancing to complete a Project Implementation Packet (Alternate Project)
Westlands Water District	559-241-6288	westlandsmlrp@wwd.ca.gov	Creation of a multi-benefit groundwater recharge area, Planting cover crops or conservative cover	South east of I-5 and Manning Avenue	Transition of almond orchard to a groundwater recharge project	Increase groundwater recharge achieved, replicability and scalability, mitigate flood risk, reduce groundwater use, and transition of land to less water intensive, regenerative uses while maintaining natural and working lands	Advancing to complete a Project Implementation Packet (Alternate Project)

Step 5

Contact Name	Phone Number	Email Address	Project Type	General Project Location	Project Description	Anticipated Benefits	Project Status

Step 6

Contact Name	Phone Number	Email Address	Project Type	General Project Location	Project Description	Anticipated Benefits	Project Status
Westlands Water District	559-241-6288	westlandsmlrp@wwd.ca.gov	Creation of a multi-benefit groundwater recharge area, Flood risk reduction	Near the City of Huron	To develop a multi-benefit groundwater recharge area to replenish local aquifers and expand on Phase 1 and serve as a land repurposing model	Increase groundwater recharge achieved, replicability and scalability, mitigate flood risk, increase in community outreach, involvement, and education, incorporate participation from multiple partners, collaborators, and funding sources, and execute agreements to accomplish prioritized opportunities	DOC and Westlands Board of Director’s approved; Contracting in progress
Westlands Water District	559-241-6288	westlandsmlrp@wwd.ca.gov	Clean renewable energy, Land dedicated to public use, Zero-water-use community resilience infrastructure	Five Points, California	Transition irrigable land to a clean renewable use to power a Community Center during climate emergencies	Increase community outreach, involvement, and education, integrated benefits to disadvantaged communities, incorporated participation from multiple partners, collaborators, and funding sources, sustainable renewable energy, conducted on land least viable for irrigated agriculture, and reduce groundwater use	DOC and Westlands Board of Director’s approved; Contracting in progress
Westlands Water District	559-241-6288	westlandsmlrp@wwd.ca.gov	Creation of a multi-benefit groundwater recharge area, Flood risk reduction	South of the City of Huron	To develop a multi-benefit groundwater recharge area to replenish local aquifers	Increase groundwater recharge achieved, replicability and scalability, mitigate flood risk, increase in community outreach, involvement, and education, incorporate participation from multiple partners, collaborators, and funding sources, execute agreements to accomplish prioritized opportunities, reduce groundwater use	DOC and Westlands Board of Director’s approved; Contracting in progress
Westlands Water District	559-241-6288	westlandsmlrp@wwd.ca.gov	Creation of a multi-benefit groundwater recharge area, Flood risk reduction, Removal of crops	North west of the City of Huron	Transition irrigated land to a multi-benefit groundwater recharge project	Increase groundwater recharge achieved, replicability and scalability, mitigate flood risk, increase in community outreach, involvement, and education, reduce groundwater use, and transition of land to less water intensive, regenerative uses while maintaining natural and working lands	DOC and Westlands Board of Director’s approved; Contracting in progress

List last updated 08/11/2026