Water, environment, and socioeconomic justice in California: A multi-benefit cropland repurposing framework

Angel Santiago Fernandez-Bou; José M Rodríguez-Flores; Alexander Guzman; J Pablo Ortiz-Partida; Leticia M Classen-Rodriguez; Pedro A Sánchez-Pérez; Jorge Valero-Fandiño; Chantelise Pells; Humberto Flores-Landeros; Samuel Sandoval-Solís; Gregory W Characklis; Thomas C Harmon; Michael McCullough; Josué Medellín-Azuara

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159963

Water, environment, and socioeconomic justice in California: A multi-benefit cropland repurposing framework

Sci Total Environ. 2023 Feb 1;858(Pt 3):159963. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159963. Epub 2022 Nov 5.

Authors

Angel Santiago Fernandez-Bou¹, José M Rodríguez-Flores², Alexander Guzman³, J Pablo Ortiz-Partida⁴, Leticia M Classen-Rodriguez⁵, Pedro A Sánchez-Pérez⁶, Jorge Valero-Fandiño⁷, Chantelise Pells⁸, Humberto Flores-Landeros⁹, Samuel Sandoval-Solís¹⁰, Gregory W Characklis¹¹, Thomas C Harmon¹², Michael McCullough¹³, Josué Medellín-Azuara¹⁴

Affiliations

¹ Water Systems Management Group, University of California Merced, 5200 North Lake Rd., Merced, CA 95343, USA; Sierra Nevada Research Institute, University of California Merced, Merced, CA 95343, USA; Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of California Merced, Merced, CA 95343, USA; SocioEnvironmental and Education Network, SEEN (seen.team, 4 Venir Inc.), Merced, CA 95340, USA. Electronic address: afernandezbou@ucmerced.edu.
² Water Systems Management Group, University of California Merced, 5200 North Lake Rd., Merced, CA 95343, USA; SocioEnvironmental and Education Network, SEEN (seen.team, 4 Venir Inc.), Merced, CA 95340, USA; Environmental Systems Graduate Program, University of California Merced, Merced, CA 95343, USA.
³ Water Systems Management Group, University of California Merced, 5200 North Lake Rd., Merced, CA 95343, USA; Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of California Merced, Merced, CA 95343, USA.
⁴ SocioEnvironmental and Education Network, SEEN (seen.team, 4 Venir Inc.), Merced, CA 95340, USA; Union of Concerned Scientists, 500 12th St., Suite 340, Oakland, CA 94607, USA.
⁵ Department of Biology and Voice for Change, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO 63104, USA; SocioEnvironmental and Education Network, SEEN (seen.team, 4 Venir Inc.), Merced, CA 95340, USA.
⁶ Environmental Systems Graduate Program, University of California Merced, Merced, CA 95343, USA.
⁷ Water Systems Management Group, University of California Merced, 5200 North Lake Rd., Merced, CA 95343, USA; Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of California Merced, Merced, CA 95343, USA; Environmental Systems Graduate Program, University of California Merced, Merced, CA 95343, USA.
⁸ Water Systems Management Group, University of California Merced, 5200 North Lake Rd., Merced, CA 95343, USA; SocioEnvironmental and Education Network, SEEN (seen.team, 4 Venir Inc.), Merced, CA 95340, USA.
⁹ Water Systems Management Group, University of California Merced, 5200 North Lake Rd., Merced, CA 95343, USA; Sierra Nevada Research Institute, University of California Merced, Merced, CA 95343, USA; SocioEnvironmental and Education Network, SEEN (seen.team, 4 Venir Inc.), Merced, CA 95340, USA; Environmental Systems Graduate Program, University of California Merced, Merced, CA 95343, USA.
¹⁰ University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
¹¹ University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 139 Rosenau Hall, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
¹² Sierra Nevada Research Institute, University of California Merced, Merced, CA 95343, USA; Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of California Merced, Merced, CA 95343, USA; Environmental Systems Graduate Program, University of California Merced, Merced, CA 95343, USA.
¹³ California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407, USA.
¹⁴ Water Systems Management Group, University of California Merced, 5200 North Lake Rd., Merced, CA 95343, USA; Sierra Nevada Research Institute, University of California Merced, Merced, CA 95343, USA; Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of California Merced, Merced, CA 95343, USA; Environmental Systems Graduate Program, University of California Merced, Merced, CA 95343, USA.

PMID: 36347290
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159963

Abstract

Low-income, rural frontline communities of California's Central Valley experience environmental and socioeconomic injustice, water insecurity, extremely poor air quality, and lack of fundamental infrastructure (sewage, green areas, health services), which makes them less resilient. Many communities depend financially on agriculture, while water scarcity and associated policy may trigger farmland retirement further hindering socioeconomic opportunities. Here we propose a multi-benefit framework to repurpose cropland in buffers inside and around (400-m and 1600-m buffers) 154 rural disadvantaged communities of the Central Valley to promote socioeconomic opportunities, environmental benefits, and business diversification. We estimate the potential for (1) reductions in water and pesticide use, nitrogen leaching, and nitrogen gas emissions, (2) managed aquifer recharge, and (3) economic and employment impacts associated with clean industries and solar energy. Retiring cropland within 1600-m buffers can result in reductions in water use of 2.18 km³/year, nitrate leaching into local aquifers of 105,500 t/year, greenhouse gas emissions of 2,232,000 t CO₂-equivalent/year, and 5388 t pesticides/year, with accompanying losses in agricultural revenue of US$4213 million/year and employment of 25,682 positions. Buffer repurposing investments of US$27 million/year per community for ten years show potential to generate US$101 million/year per community (total US$15,578 million/year) for 30 years and 407 new jobs/year (total 62,697 jobs/year) paying 67 % more than prior farmworker jobs. In the San Joaquin Valley (southern Central Valley), where groundwater overdraft averages 2.3 km³/year, potential water use reduction is 1.8 km³/year. We have identified 99 communities with surficial soils adequate for aquifer recharge and canals/rivers within 1600 m. This demonstrates the potential of managed aquifer recharge in buffered zones to substantially reduce overdraft. The buffers framework shows that well-planned land repurposing near disadvantaged communities can create multiple benefits for farmers and industry stakeholders, while improving quality of life in disadvantaged communities and producing positive externalities for society.

Keywords: Climate justice; Energy independence; Environmental buffers; Environmental justice; Frontline disadvantaged communities; Groundwater overdraft; Land use change; Sustainability.

MeSH terms

California
Nitrogen
Poverty
Quality of Life*
Water*

Substances

Water
Nitrogen