Pajaro Valley Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program (MLRP)
Welcome
The California Department of Conservation (DOC) established the Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program (MLRP) to support agricultural land transitions that address groundwater sustainability and create benefits to the environment and surrounding communities. PV Water received a $8.89 million block grant to develop and implement an MLRP program in the Pajaro Valley groundwater basin over three and a half years (September 2023 – March 2027).
The Pajaro Valley Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program (PV MLRP) offers a unique opportunity for landowners, communities, and other local interested parties to collaborate on a vision and strategy for beneficial ag land transitions with regional needs and considerations in mind. The Pajaro Valley faces unique challenges with seawater intrusion threatening our agricultural economy caused by groundwater overdraft. The PV MLRP represents an innovative approach to addressing these challenges while supporting our farming communities and preserving the environmental values unique to our coastal region.
PV MLRP Plan Public Comment Period: September 30 through November 6th, 2026
PV Water has released the public review draft of the Pajaro Valley Multibenefit Agricultural Land Repurposing Plan (the draft Plan). The draft Plan describes the work under way through the current block grant and presents the priorities and project selection process for future funding rounds. Input and comments are welcome from growers, landowners, residents, community organizations, and agencies before the draft Plan is finalized and submitted to the California Department of Conservation.
View or download the draft PV MLRP Plan (PDF)
Information and materials in Spanish are available on request. Email . / Hay información y materiales disponibles en español. Para solicitarlos, escriba a .
How to Comment
Online Comment Form
Submit written comments by Wednesday, November 6, 2026, using the online comment form. Questions and comments may also be sent by email to . Comments in Spanish are welcome.
Public Comment Workshops
PV Water and its partners are several public meetings to present the draft Plan, answer questions, and hear from the community.
Virtual Workshop:
Wednesday, October 14, 12 to 1 p.m. Video Recording; Slide Deck Presented
In-Person Workshop:
Tuesday, October 20, 4 to 6 p.m.
Civic Plaza Community Room, 4th floor, Watsonville Civic Center, 275 Main Street, Watsonville, CA 95076
Virtual Drop-In Q&A Session:
Wednesday, October 28, 12 to 1 p.m. : Join by Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87507225934?pwd=KawOFnCvOuyKz48TsDFDLqq1KoMpM1.1.
Open drop-in session to address questions with PV Water staff
About the Pajaro Valley MLRP
The Pajaro Valley Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program (PV MLRP) supports voluntary transitions of irrigated farmland to uses that reduce groundwater pumping while providing other benefits for the valley, such as flood protection, habitat, water supply, and community open space. The program is funded through the California Department of Conservation's Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program (MLRP). In September 2023, PV Water received an $8.89 million block grant to develop and implement the program in the Pajaro Valley groundwater basin through March 2028.
PV Water leads the program and works with partners including the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County, the Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County, Watsonville Wetlands Watch, and the Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency to carry out projects and community outreach.
The Draft PV MLRP Plan
The draft PV MLRP Plan is both a record of the current program and a framework for future funding rounds. It documents the projects funded under the current block grant, the community input that shaped the program's regional priorities, and the process PV Water and its partners will use to identify, evaluate, and select projects if future funding becomes available.
What happens next
After the comment period closes, PV Water and partners will review all comments and prepare a summary of the feedback and how it was considered and addressed. The PV MLRP Steering Committee will review the final draft before PV Water submits the Plan to the Department of Conservation for approval. The comment summary will be included with the final Plan.
Current Projects
The current PV MLRP block grant has funded six projects that are described below:
Pajaro Estuary Restoration Project
Lead partner: Land Trust of Santa Cruz County
Restores approximately 50 acres of former farmland in the Pajaro River estuary to estuary and wetland habitat for wildlife. The project reduces groundwater use, improves water quality, and lessens the damage sea level rise would cause to nearby infrastructure.
College Lake Project
Lead partner: Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency
Repurposes 136 acres of farmland at College Lake for water supply storage and delivery. The project will provide 1,800 to 2,300 acre-feet of surface water per year, reducing groundwater demand, while supporting habitat and protecting water quality.
Farmer-Led Land Transitions
Lead partner: Land Trust of Santa Cruz County
Acquires flood-prone farmland and establishes conservation easements to repurpose marginal farmland, preserving open space, reducing groundwater demand, and connecting habitat. The project has identified 170 acres of marginal farmland in areas prone to flooding and seawater intrusion.
Managed Stormwater Recharge / Recharge Net Metering Program
Lead partner: Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County
Restores hydrology and habitat on farmland to recharge the aquifer, expand habitat, improve water quality, and capture sediment. The project dedicates 2.5 acres of irrigated farmland to recharge and restores an additional 3 to 5 acres of habitat as part of the Recharge Net Metering (ReNeM) program.
Pajaro River Confluence Restoration Project
Lead partner: Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency
Increases flood capacity and restores river function on approximately 30 acres where Salsipuedes Creek meets the Pajaro River.
Mini Ranch Watsonville Slough
Lead partner: Land Trust of Santa Cruz County
Acquires approximately 62 acres of the Mini Ranch along the Watsonville Slough and restores about 40 acres of flood-prone farmland to coastal wetland habitat. The project reduces groundwater use, improves water quality, and strengthens flood protection for the City of Watsonville.
What is Multibenefit Land Repurposing?
Across California, an estimated 1,000,000 acres of irrigated farmland will need to be fallowed, retired, or repurposed to bring groundwater use into balance under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). Left unmanaged, fallowed fields can create dust, harbor weeds and pests, and harm farm economies, rural communities, and ecosystems. To support better alternatives, the California Department of Conservation (DOC) created the Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program. To date, DOC has awarded $81.5 million to eight regional block grantees, including PV Water, one tribal grantee, and a statewide support entity.
The 2024 Climate Bond (Proposition 4) allows up to $200 million in additional MLRP funding statewide. The draft PV MLRP Plan positions the Pajaro Valley to compete for that funding with a program framework and partnerships that align regional priorities with the statewide MLRP goals and objectives.
Contact
Email Marcus Mendiola at with questions or comments about the PV MLRP or draft Plan.
- Last updated on .
