An English and Spanish video resource center for California growers and community members
CaliWaterAg was created by University of California Merced PhD Candidate, Vicky Espinoza. Her doctoral research analyzes the impacts of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) on agricultural land, and how these land-use changes could 
impact growers and vulnerable communities in the San Joaquin Valley. Her work is built on the principle that water and land-use decisions are best made when those impacted have a say in it! Her doctoral research aims to answer the following questions: 1) where would land use changes occur?, 2) where are the most vulnerable lands and dependent communities?, and 3) what are alternative land use changes, and what are their socioeconomic, water, energy and GHG emission implications. These questions will be answered through collaborative, engaged, participatory research, which consists of a land-use change model that incorporates the land-use preferences of those impacted most by land-use decisions—farmers and community members. She is simultaneously addressing a knowledge equity gap in the Valley through workshops in English and Spanish on SGMA and its implications on agricultural land and most recently her YouTube Channel CaliWaterAg.
CaliWaterAg is a channel that was developed for San Joaquin Valley growers and community members and all content is available in English and Spanish. There are tutorials available, which include: How to download and use Zoom on a computer and cell phone; how to find your GSA using the Department of Water Resource’s SGMA Portal; and for Spanish-speakers how to navigate the DWR website to find Spanish-translated materials in Spanish. Her latest video series is called “San Joaquin Valley Water and Land Use Series” that includes three 10-minute videos in English (playlist link: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3zWtXzGVCazPNbfiEnnvWnyok0tbjSmM) and Spanish (playlist link: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3zWtXzGVCaxXfdeDNzyVkbKfgVxELPTS):
- Part 1.1: Intro to SGMA, why it passed, and the six “sins” of SGMA to avoid
- Part 1.2: Local Management Under SGMA
- Part 1.3: Challenges and Opportunities of SGMA, and how YOU (a grower or community member) can become involved in informing groundwater sustainability plans
Stay tuned for more videos on an overview of some of the alternative land-uses on agricultural land that are being considered to help meet SGMA targets by 2040 and Zoom Focus Groups Espinoza will be hosting to answer any questions on the SGMA and land-use video series! Follow her on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube @CaliWaterAg to stay informed on new resources and feel free to email her at caliwaterag@gmail.com with questions or more information on how to become involved in her work.
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