Flood-MAR (Flood-Managed Aquifer Recharge) is an approach that captures and redirects excess water from high-flow events or intentional on-farm flooding onto agricultural lands, working landscapes, and managed natural areas so it can soak into the ground and replenish underground aquifers.

By putting floodwater to work, Flood-MAR helps strengthen California’s water resilience. It can improve groundwater supplies, support rivers and groundwater-dependent ecosystems, reduce flood risk, sustain agricultural productivity, and provide a range of additional environmental and community benefits.

As California faces increasingly intense floods, prolonged droughts, and other climate-driven extremes, Flood-MAR offers an important adaptation strategy that helps communities prepare for an uncertain water future.

Successful, large-scale implementation of Flood-MAR depends on collaboration and equitable partnerships among communities, landowners, Tribes, water managers, researchers, nonprofits, and public agencies working together toward shared water management goals.