Historical water use data helps our clients sustain agricultural operations and plan for the future.

For landowners, farmers, and growers, water is essential for sustaining business operations and property values. Years of drought, potential pumping allocation schemes associated with implementing the California Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), and adjudication proceedings have emphasized the need for landowners to fully understand and document water use—current and historical.

Keep in mind:

• Groundwater pumping cutbacks are likely on the horizon, particularly in basins where there have been significant declines in water levels.
• Well-documented water use information will help justify an alternative pumping allocation if cutbacks are required.
• Property values suffer when water becomes scarce. Strong historical water use documentation will support higher property values, if you choose to sell.
• Predictability of crop yield and revenue is essential to business planning. Thorough water use documentation will give you valuable data that can help you plan for the future.

GSI's water use documentation services

We help our clients by conducting a detailed review of water production and use by crop type and by year, and document irrigated area by year, well production, and water levels, and irrigation systems that are in place. The resulting reports provide recommendations for improving water use efficiency, and can be updated as more information is collected in the future. When updated regularly, this information can help you to better understand the sustainability of well pumping, identify well efficiency problems, and foresee potential water production issues caused by declines in groundwater levels.