McMullin On-Farm Flood Capture Expansion Project
The McMullin Area Groundwater Sustainability Agency (MAGSA) has been awarded a $10 million grant by the State Water Resources Control Board through the Prop 1 Stormwater Grant Program to expand the existing McMullin On-Farm Recharge Project located near Helm in Fresno County. The Project is identified in MAGSA’s Groundwater Sustainability Plan and is a key element in a vision developed by MAGSA to achieve groundwater sustainability under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act through innovative approaches in groundwater banking and crediting.
The infrastructure development resulting from this project will:
Read more about the McMullin On-Farm Flood Capture Expansion project
Public Scoping Meeting
The McMullin On-Farm Flood Capture Expansion project was described in more detail at a public scoping meeting on June 30 at 6 pm on Zoom. Members of the public were given the opportunity to comment on the proposed project at the event.
Members of the public can still comment through July 30, 2021. Read below for more information.
MAGSA, through its contractor Tetra Tech, are preparing the required environmental analysis and documentation.
There will be several opportunities for the public to be involved in the environmental review and construction of these projects. A draft California Environmental Quality Assessment (CEQA) document is expected to be available for public review and comment during the Fall of 2021. A draft National Environmental Policy Assessment (NEPA) document is expected to be available for public review and comment during the Winter of 2021-22.
The McMullin Expansion Project represent a large-scale project for improved and more integrated groundwater and surface waters.
How to Provide Comments
During the 30-day public scoping period, which begins June 30 and ends July 30, there will be several ways the public can provide comments.
Email comments to comments@mcmullinarea.org, hand deliver or mail to MAGSA’s office at 275 S. Madera Avenue, Suite 301, Kerman, CA 93630. Comments were also accepted at the June 30 webinar.
On-Farm Recharge Webinar: Pecans & Other Nuts
MAGSA hosted an educational webinar on July 22 to share how integrating on-farm recharge practices into farm operations can be a practical and cost-effective way to increase water supply for pecans and other nuts.
This webinar included a presentation by Sandra Bachand, Bachand & Associates on her recent on-farm recharge study on pecans. UC Davis Associate Professor Helen Dahlke also presented on issues related to on-farm recharge on almonds.
A grower panel that included Don Cameron, Terranova Ranch, Mark McKean, McKean Farms, and Ben King, Pacific Gold Agriculture shared their experiences with practicing on-farm recharge on their fields. The panel was moderated by Mohammad Yaghmour, Area Orchard Systems Advisor for Cooperative Extension Kern County.