• Sustainable Conservation

*A Groundwater Recharge Guide for Vineyards* (June 2026) helps California winegrape growers assess whether managed aquifer recharge is suitable for their property and identify approaches that fit their vineyard operations. Prepared by Sustainable Conservation on behalf of the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance, with funding from the California Department of Water Resources, the guide combines groundwater recharge expertise with sustainable winegrowing practices. It provides practical, science-based guidance for evaluating opportunities and outlining a recharge project with local technical assistance.

The guide introduces managed aquifer recharge and explains its potential to improve groundwater sustainability, support community water supplies and groundwater-dependent habitats, and reduce flood risk. Planning sections cover California’s groundwater management framework, water rights and regulatory considerations, potential water sources, delivery infrastructure, topography, soils, subsurface geology, and water quality. A decision tree helps growers determine whether to pursue vineyard recharge or explore other approaches.

Vineyard-specific guidance addresses vine and rootstock health, disease concerns, seasonal timing, water application rates, and dry-down periods. It also explains how to prepare fields using berms, furrows, and cover crops; manage and monitor recharge events; and measure and record applied water. For properties where flooding vineyard rows is less feasible, the guide explores alternatives such as recharge basins, subsurface systems, swales, flow-through basins, and recharge on fallow fields. It also discusses groundwater demand reduction through in-lieu recharge and dry farming.

Financial sections outline costs and potential incentives, while examples from Sonoma County pilot projects and a grower near Lodi illustrate practical experiences and implementation challenges. Decision-support questions throughout the guide connect to a companion worksheet that helps growers outline a customized recharge plan. Additional resources include a technical assistance provider directory, a recharge data sheet, instructions for assessing soils using Web Soil Survey, a pesticide reference list, and a glossary.

The guide is intended primarily for California winegrape growers, vineyard owners, and managers. It also supports technical assistance providers, resource conservation districts, groundwater sustainability agencies, and irrigation districts working with growers. Its planning tools help users prepare for consultation with local experts to develop a detailed, site-specific groundwater recharge plan.

• Crop System Suitability
• Land Use Planning and Management
• Soils, Geology, and Aquifer Characterization