California's Water Crisis Isn’t Waiting — But These Experts Have a Plan

Inside the Ag Center News Latest Water Round Table, Sponsored By Focus Investment Bank.

As summer unfolds across California’s Central Valley, one issue continues to dominate conversations in the ag industry: water. Not just the lack of it, but the growing complexity surrounding its use, management, and regulation.

On June 20th, The Ag Center News brought together farmers, district representatives, and regional water experts for a live Water Round Table Discussion featuring key influential professionals — Chase Hurley, Steve Jackson, Geoff Vanden Heuvel, and Austin Ewell — with one goal: cut through the noise and share real, workable strategies for navigating California’s increasingly restrictive water landscape.

The result was a timely discussion that pulled no punches — but also pointed toward hope through innovation, collaboration, and proactive planning.

“We’re Not Asking for a Free Pass. We’re Asking for a Path Forward.”

Panelists emphasized that growers are not avoiding responsibility — in fact, they’re often ahead of state mandates when it comes to stewardship. But with SGMA enforcement ramping up, groundwater pumping restrictions tightening, and surface water deliveries fluctuating wildly year to year, ag producers are left trying to manage uncertainty while feeding the nation.

Many growers said they’ve had to rethink how they plan for the long term, shifting crop choices, cutting back acreage, or investing in on-farm recharge or storage systems — all without much clarity on whether their efforts will be supported or penalized by future policy.

Practical Solutions from People in the Trenches

One of the event’s strengths was its emphasis on sharing replicable practices already in motion:

• On-farm recharge techniques, including use of idle ground in winter months to capture stormwater

• Conservation-focused irrigation upgrades, with a renewed emphasis on ROI given rising input costs

• The use of private capital and public grants to fund new water infrastructure at the farm level

  
  

The panelists discussed the red tape that often delays progress, from prolonged permitting for recharge projects to overlapping agency requirements that leave growers stuck between compliance and inaction.

Still, the group was united in their belief that the answers won’t come from Sacramento alone. “We need growers to stay engaged, not discouraged,” Steve Jackson said, urging attendees to get involved at the regional water board and GSA level.

From Compliance to Collaboration

While tensions remain high between growers and regulatory bodies, the round table also spotlighted examples of successful partnerships between ag operations and local water districts — especially where data sharing, transparency, and flexibility have built trust.

Several panelists expressed hope that groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) will take a more collaborative tone in the months ahead, emphasizing shared outcomes rather than punitive measures.

Chase Hurley warned, however, that “if the ag community doesn’t lead with solutions, someone else will write the rules for us.”

Watch the Full Event Now

The full discussion is available to stream on YouTube linked below, offering more than an hour of real-world insights, hard questions, and an honest look at the state of water in California ag.

Whether you’re a grower, consultant, policymaker, or industry partner, this round table offers valuable context on the immediate and long-term actions needed to survive and thrive in this regulatory climate.

Key Takeaways:

• Policy alignment and permitting reform are urgently needed

• Growers are investing in solutions but need more support and predictability

• On-farm recharge and regional cooperation show the most promise

• Grassroots advocacy will be key in shaping how SGMA is enforced

• The ag community must act with urgency — but also with unity

  
  

Final Thought

If one message resonated most, it’s this: California ag isn’t waiting around for ideal conditions. It’s adapting, innovating, and demanding a seat at the table. The Ag Center New’s Water Round Table wasn’t just a discussion — it was a call to action.

And from the sound of it, the industry is ready to answer.