As Key Program Partners, California’s Dairy Farmers Celebrate Historic Achievement

SACRAMENTO, CA, June 24, 2025 – Western United Dairies (WUD) today thanked the Department of Water Resources (DWR) for their foresight, work and partnership on the LandFlex Grant Program, which invests in sustainable, long-term water supply and quality solutions for farmers. As critical collaborators in the development and implementation of the program, California’s dairy farmers are proud of the successes achieved in the first two phases.    

• • Total grant funding expended: $22.4 million
  • Total enrolled lands: 4,474 acres 
  • Total water saved: 103,643 acre-feet (AF)
    • Immediate well protection: 16,512 domestic wells
    • Evapotranspiration savings: 14,178 AF

• Permanently retired groundwater overdraft: 66,993 AF

• • Total water recharged: 22,471 AF

“As stewards of California’s agricultural and environmental resources, dairies applaud DWR’s thought and work on the sustainable path created by LandFlex,” said WUD CEO Anja Raudabaugh. “By improving drinking water quality, protecting infrastructure from subsidence and encouraging our farmers to adopt more sustainable practices, the program has provided the tools we need to improve our quality of life and local and regional economies.”

Highlighting the purpose of this program, during a historically significant rain year in 2023, vital underground aquifers were successfully recharged. The recharging of these groundwater basins plus a reduction in overall water usage is already helping water districts across the state comply with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). 

“LandFlex helped my family come into SGMA compliance overnight. We’ve got a lot of recharge in place because of it and we’re not worried about SGMA in the future” said Elijah Greidanus, Central Valley farmer and calf ranch operator. 

Improved drinking water quality and more sustainable farming practices will also assist in protecting vital infrastructure from land subsidence by utilizing enhanced groundwater management practices. The $25 million investment in LandFlex to date could provide the tools and tactics needed to protect hundreds of millions of dollars of canals, roads, pipelines, and other types of infrastructure.

“This is a uniquely successful program that really shows how DWR and others can meet their sustainability and water quality goals by partnering with the dairy farming community,” said Raudabaugh. “We look forward to the continued success of this program in bringing real and significant results to our local communities.”

About Western United Dairies 

Western United Dairies is a trade organization representing local dairy farmers across the state. Their mission is centered around promoting sound legislative and administrative policies and programs for both the industry and consumers, focusing on the general welfare and longevity of dairy producers. Learn more here.

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