CropSWAP: Regional Agriculture Program Expands to San Diego and Riverside Counties

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April 29, 2024
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Media Contact:

Kimy Wall | 951-296-6933 | wallk@ranchowater.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 29, 2024

 

 

CropSWAP: Regional Agriculture Program Expands

to San Diego and Riverside Counties

 

San Diego County, Calif.— In a move set to transform regional agriculture, the Regional CropSWAP program, originally initiated by the Rancho California Water District (Rancho Water), announces its expansion into neighboring counties with the partnership of Fallbrook Public Utility District (FPUD), Rainbow Municipal Water District (Rainbow Water), City of Oceanside, Valley Center Municipal Water District (Valley Center MWD), and City of Escondido. This groundbreaking initiative offers significant financial incentives for implementation of sustainable practices, with the goal of empowering farmers to use water more efficiently while fostering a resilient agricultural economy.

 

CropSWAP, implemented in 2016 by Rancho Water, began as a response to severe drought conditions in the Temecula Valley and a struggling local agricultural economy.  The original program paid agricultural water users to swap-out high-water-use crops with lower-water-use varieties, improving water use efficiency, and bolstering the resiliency of local farms. With the support of federal, state, and local agencies, coupled with funding contributions from regional partners and a substantial $5 million grant from the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), the CropSWAP program now offers incentives for additional sustainable practices including irrigation system improvements, avocado tree stumping, rootstock replacements, and regenerative agricultural practices such as nutrient management and cover crops.

 

“Agriculture is a keystone to Southwest Riverside County. As stewards of our region's water resources, Rancho Water is proud to have spearheaded the expansion of the Regional CropSWAP program. This initiative not only empowers our farmers to thrive but also strengthens our commitment to sustainable agriculture and water resiliency," said Robert Grantham, Rancho Water General Manager.

 

“Fallbrook agriculture has experienced numerous challenges over the past decade, including high costs of imported water,” said Jack Bebee, general manager of Fallbrook Public Utility District. “This will help our local farmers get some of the resources they really need.”

 

According to Valley Center MWD General Manager Gary Arant, “Our District has a long history going back into the early 1990’s of assisting agriculture through seeking and securing over $156 million in wholesale ag water discounts, and helping growers to participate in various on-farm improvement programs through the San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA) and the Mission Resources Conservation District (MRCD). Now, we are very excited that our neighbor to the north, Rancho California Water District, has invited our agency, along with other San Diego County Water agencies, to participate in their expanded and extended CropSwap '2' Program. Building off of their original program, the new expanded program will provide state grant funding to help growers switch crops, rejuvenate existing orchards as well as improve horticultural and irrigation practices here in Valley Center and North County. We look forward to working with Robb Grantham and the Rancho Water staff to preserve and possibly expand commercial agriculture in Valley Center.”

 

“The innovative program will allow Rainbow Water to reinvest in our agricultural growers, a fabric of our community,” said Jake Wiley, Rainbow Water General Manager. “This is an exciting opportunity to partner as a region to focus on water use efficiency projects that help support sustainable water rates for all our customers.”

 

“The City of Escondido is excited to participate in this groundbreaking regional program initiated by Rancho Water, which will provide grant funding to our local agricultural customers,” said Angela Morrow, interim director of utilities for the City of Escondido. “Escondido is committed to supporting our agricultural community through emerging programs and innovative solutions.” 

 

Lindsay Leahy, water utilities director at the City of Oceanside said, “The City of Oceanside is excited to offer this program in support of our agriculture customers.  They are valued contributors to the history and diversity of our Oceanside community.”

 

For more information on how the Regional CropSWAP program is shaping the future of sustainable water for agricultural production, visit RegionalCropSWAP.com.

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About Rancho California Water District: The mission of Rancho Water is to deliver reliable, high-quality water, wastewater, and reclamation services to its customers and communities in a prudent and sustainable manner. Rancho Water is a local, independent Special District, organized on August 16, 1965, servicing approximately 150 square miles and more than 46,000 service connections in Temecula, Murrieta, and parts of unincorporated Riverside County.

 

About Escondido: Incorporated in 1888, Escondido is a vibrant community that more than 150,000 residents call home. Escondido prides itself on its numerous prosperous businesses and a wide range of cultural, educational, healthcare, tourism, and recreation amenities, making Escondido the City of Choice. Escondido supplies water to approximately 150,000 residential, commercial, and agricultural customers. Escondido’s water system is comprised of over 423 miles of pipelines, 50 pressure reducing stations, five pump stations, two open reservoirs, 11 storage tanks, and a water treatment plant.

 

About Fallbrook Public Utility District: Established in 1922, the Fallbrook Public Utility District provides imported water and sewer service to 35,000 residents living on 28,000 acres in Fallbrook. About 40% of the district’s water is used for agricultural purposes. The district also produces about one and a half million gallons of recycled water each day that is used to irrigate nurseries, playing fields, landscaped freeway medians, homeowners’ associations and common areas. 

 

About Rainbow Municipal Water District: The Rainbow Municipal Water District is celebrating 70 years of service to the community. Founded in 1953 and organized under Section 71000 of the California Water Code, Rainbow Water provides water and sanitation services to the unincorporated San Diego County communities of Rainbow, Bonsall, and portions of Vista, Oceanside, and Fallbrook. Rainbow Water maintains over 344 miles of water main, seven pump stations, four reservoirs, and 13 storage tanks to deliver safe and reliable water to its customers.

 

About Oceanside: The City of Oceanside is located in northern San Diego County with a population of approximately 174,000. Oceanside’s vibrant coastal community includes Mira Costa Community College, and the world-renowned 1,954-foot fishing pier and 1,000-slip public marina. Oceanside is located 83 miles south of the city of Los Angeles and just 35 miles north of the City of San Diego. The City of Oceanside offers outstanding public amenities such as a municipal airport, 30 city parks, four community recreation centers, two municipal swim centers, two senior centers, two city-owned golf courses and 3.5 miles of public beaches. More than 6,000 businesses operate within the City of Oceanside, including Genentech Pharmaceuticals, TE Connectivity, Hydranautics, Nitto Denko, Gilead Sciences, Hobie Cat and Tri-City Medical Center, as well as emerging craft and entrepreneurial ventures. For more information, visit www.ci.oceanside.ca.us. 

 

About Valley Center Municipal Water District: Located in north central San Diego County, VCMWD strives to “Ensure Customer Satisfaction at the Lowest Possible Cost.”  The District was formed in 1954 to provide the very rural and remote community of Valley Center access to Colorado River Water from the then recently completed 1st San Diego Aqueduct. With access to imported water, Valley Center transformed into one of the largest agricultural areas in San Diego County and at one time, the second largest water purchaser in the San Diego County Water Authority. Today, VCMWD serves 650 farms, 30,000 people with its 340 miles of pipe, 41 reservoirs, and two Water Reclamation Facilities spread over its 100 square mile service territory.

 

CropSWAP property in Temecula that has been converted from avocados to wine grapes

Contact:
Kimy Wall, Public Affairs Manager
wallk@ranchowater.com, (951) 296-6933