Working with Nature to Protect California's Agricultural Regions:

This is a condensed, online version of the guide. For all figures, references, and the full text, please download the full guide PDF.

What Are Nature-Based Solutions?

Traditional infrastructure is insufficient to address the interconnected challenges in California's agricultural regions: unsustainable water use, extreme heat, flooding, air pollution, and economic instability. Nature-based solutions work with natural systems offering powerful, transdisciplinary approaches to tackle these issues, creating economic opportunities and reducing negative impacts on the environment and public health.

Cropland repurposing projects can use nature-based solutions to improve agricultural landscapes benefiting farmers, communities, Indigenous peoples, and the environment (Fernandez-Bou et al. 2025; Penny et al. 2025). For example, restored wetlands can filter pollutants, recharge groundwater supplies, reduce flood risk, provide habitat for native species, and offer green spaces for recreation.

Leveraging available public funding, nature-based solutions can help California agricultural regions balance water use and create multiple benefits on repurposed cropland.

Nature-Based Solutions for California's Agricultural Regions

Options for nature-based solutions projects are broad, but local priorities guided by community, environmental, and groundwater needs can provide a meaningful focus to achieve multiple benefits (Table 1). Possible projects include native habitat restoration that creates wildlife corridors and recreation near communities, ecovoltaic systems that combine solar energy with environmental enhancement, floodplain restoration that offers flood protection and educational opportunities, and multibenefit managed aquifer recharge that increases water security for communities, agriculture, and the environment.

Water Management Projects

Multibenefit Managed Aquifer Recharge

Multibenefit managed aquifer recharge (MAR) replenishes groundwater storage areas while incorporating other benefits (Case Study 1). These include reducing flood risk, improving drinking water and water for agriculture, introducing habitat elements that provide multiple ecosystem services, and supporting local recreation. For example:

• Dedicated recharge systems: Multibenefit recharge basins can be planted with native vegetation and create pollinator habitats.

• Agricultural integration: On-farm recharge can be implemented during tree dormancy in wet years in perennial orchards or on annual cropland between growing seasons. Erosion can be controlled using native plants as cover crops or modifying the soil with berms. Recharge near agricultural canals can incorporate native riparian vegetation to enhance infiltration and provide habitat benefits.

• Community benefits: Replenishing community aquifers with clean water can improve water quality and access, and projects can create community amenities such as accessible trails with interpretive features and educational opportunities for local schools.

• Coastal aquifer protection: In strategic coastal sites, aquifer recharge can create freshwater barriers that address seawater intrusion.

Site Selection Criteria

• Clean soils near disadvantaged communities that lack water security, particularly those communities that cannot physically or financially consolidate with other water systems

• Clean soils with adequate permeability and suitability for groundwater storage

• Sites near canals, creeks, or rivers for water conveyance

• Critically overdrafted groundwater basins and coastal areas vulnerable to seawater intrusion

• Agricultural lands before trees break winter dormancy or between annual crops growing seasons

For more recommendations about managed aquifer recharge, see this table of advantages, risks, and solutions and best practices, and this factsheet about Managed Aquifer Recharge Policy Recommendations.

Floodplain Restoration

Floodplain restoration reestablishes the natural connections of rivers with their historical floodplains (Figure 2). As a result, natural river processes safely accommodate floods while infiltrating water to replenish aquifers and maintain steadier river flows over extended periods (Case Study 2).

These restored floodplains are natural overflow areas that allow water to spread across landscapes during high flows. In contrast, levees and channelized infrastructure confine water to narrow channels, which increases flood risks by creating faster-moving water that can overwhelm downstream communities and infrastructure---for example, the catastrophic levee failure in California's Pajaro River in March 2023. Confinement also prevents groundwater recharge and reduces habitat for wildlife.

Riparian and wetland systems offer versatile, nature-based solutions for addressing multiple challenges, from cleaning polluted water to providing suitable habitat. Wetlands can yield significant benefits for the environment and public health, and they contribute to agricultural sustainability and broader community well-being. For example:

• Floodplain reconnection: Removing or setting back levees and implementing flood bypass systems to allow controlled overflow during peak flows gives rivers more room to spread naturally across landscapes. These approaches decrease water velocity and height at peak flows, protecting downstream communities from flooding while providing recharge and other benefits.

• Riparian and seasonal wetland restoration: Restoring riparian forests and seasonal wetlands provides habitat for native species and increases floodplain capacity and connectivity. Such projects vary by location, from seasonal wetlands supporting migratory waterfowl along the Pacific Flyway to perennial wetlands that support diverse native species. Other possibilities include expanding major wetland complexes such as the Central Valley's Grassland Ecological Area, or National Wildlife Refuges such as the Pixley, Kern, Merced, Sacramento, and San Luis.

• Vernal pool restoration: Restoring vernal pool ecosystems that fill with winter rains and dry up during the summer supports highly specialized and often endangered species, including the fairy shrimp and native amphibian plants.

• Coastal wetland restoration: Restoring tidally influenced coastal wetlands in areas like Monterey Bay provides natural protection from storm surge and rising sea levels.

• Cultural preservation: Incorporating tribal perspectives and protecting sacred lands of high cultural significance, such as Pa'ashi (Tulare Lake), helps ensure that restoration efforts honor Indigenous connections to these landscapes.

Site Selection Criteria

• Historical floodplains and wetland areas

• Sites where frequent flooding damages operations

• Near or upstream from communities that are vulnerable to flood damage

• Sites with potential to improve habitat by maintaining or restoring connections between surface water and groundwater

Stormwater Systems

Nature-based stormwater systems address multiple infrastructure needs in urban and residential areas while providing essential services to disadvantaged locationsthat lack adequate drainage and green spaces (Figure 4 and Case Study 3). These systems manage rainfall and runoff naturally and improve the quality of life and environmental health. For example:

• Bioswales: Green infrastructure designed to harvest stormwater and convey it safely, remove debris and pollutants, and create green areas with local cooling effect.

• Rain gardens: Landscapes designed to capture stormwater runoff and filter pollutants while creating green areas and infiltrating water into the ground.

• Dual-purpose stormwater basins: Green areas can be designed for recreation during dry periods (e.g., soccer fields, parks) and to collect excess stormwater during wet periods.

• Infrastructure retrofits: Existing infrastructure can be upgraded with drains, retention ponds, bioswales, permeable surfaces, and vegetated infrastructure.

• Permeable surfaces: Parking areas and public spaces with permeable surfaces can allow water to penetrate the soil instead of becoming runoff.

• Off-channel flood storage basins: Outside urban areas, storage basins on low-permeability soils can capture stormwater and slowly release water when needed. This can supplement water supplies, improve flood protection, and increase water quality and sediment settling.

Site Selection Criteria

• Towns and cities with aging stormwater infrastructure or permit requirements related to water discharge or pollutant loads

• Areas that flood during storms

• Public spaces that need improved green infrastructure

• Communities interested in managing stormwater sustainably

Constructed Wetlands for Water Treatment and Habitat

Constructed wetlands can be engineered to become water treatment systems that create habitat and deliver additional community benefits. In these systems, natural processes filter contaminants and nutrients, support biodiversity, and provide green spaces. Such projects can create excellent educational and research opportunities, demonstrating how infrastructure can serve multiple community needs (Figure 6). For example:

• Community wastewater treatment: Constructed wetlands can serve communities lacking wastewater infrastructure or enhance current water treatment facilities, while creating safe, sustainable green areas and contributing to habitat and recreation.

• Agricultural runoff treatment: Constructed wetlands can filter nutrients and contaminants from agricultural drainage, preventing water quality degradation while creating wildlife habitat. In coastal regions, treatment wetlands can be designed as systems that use natural tidal cycles to enhance treatment processes.

Site Selection Criteria

• Disadvantaged communities that need wastewater treatment solutions

• Sites with potential to accommodate water treatment and create habitat

• Downstream from agricultural drainage, with careful consideration of contaminant levels to avoid creating ecological traps (sites that attract wildlife but expose them to harmful pollution)

Community Infrastructure

Buffer and Revitalization Zones for Communities and Sensitive Environments

Transition zones between agricultural operations and communities or between agricultural operations and sensitive ecosystems provide benefits for farmers, residents, and ecosystems (Fernandez-Bou et al., 2023) (Figure 7). At the same time, they promote collaborative approaches and build understanding among people with different land use priorities (Case Study 4). These projects protect communities and sensitive ecosystems from exposures to some harmful agronomic practices (e.g., pesticide spraying or dust from tillage and farm operations). For example:

• Community buffer zones: Pesticide-free zones and rewilded areas around disadvantaged communities adjacent to agricultural lands reduce exposure to drifting pesticides, improve local air quality, and provide cooling effects. They also serve as physical barriers that protect residents from the harmful impacts of intensive agricultural operations.

• Green belts and riparian corridors: Native vegetation buffers can protect communities and sensitive environmental areas along waterways and irrigation systems located near agricultural operations. These buffers can filter agricultural runoff, separate communities from industrial farming, and create connected pathways for wildlife movement and community recreation.

• Public greenways: Safe walking and recreation spaces connecting rural communities.

• Beneficial insect pathways: Natural habitat corridors can connect pollinator populations across agricultural landscapes and help with pest management through beneficial insects.

Site Selection Criteria

• Revitalization zones up to one mile around disadvantaged communities and schools

• Buffer zones along waterways (e.g., rivers, wetlands) and other sensitive environments

• Agricultural lands near communities willing to transition to pesticide-free, ecofriendly farming

Creating Green Spaces and Living Infrastructure

Multifunctional landscapes that integrate nature into built environments can provide underserved communities with recreational opportunities, access to natural and cultural resources, flood control, beautification, and climate cooling. These multibenefit community assets combine native vegetation, urban farming, and green building technologies to result in cooler, healthier, and more resilient communities. At the same time, they reduce maintenance costs and water demand. For example:

• Community gardens: Community safe spaces can combine the production of culturally relevant crops with native habitat. As gathering places, they strengthen social connections and provide fresh food and educational opportunities.

• Cultural preservation: Projects that support traditional farming knowledge and practices can be integrated with modern sustainable technologies in safe, community-based educational environments that preserve cultural identity and build climate resilience.

• Green roofs and walls on buildings: These approaches to construction provide insulation, reduce energy costs, and improve air quality while providing beautification.

• Green streets: Bioswales, permeable surfaces, and street trees can help manage runoff, reduce urban heat, and make neighborhoods more livable.

Site Selection Criteria

• Communities lacking green spaces

• Communities experiencing extreme heat, dust, flooding, or bad air quality

Agricultural Practices

Sustainable agricultural practices can reduce water use, improve environmental conditions for disadvantaged communities and ecosystems, and provide economic benefits for farmers. These multibenefit approaches can replace conventional, resource-intensive agricultural practices; instead, agriculture can work with natural processes to address unsustainable water use, pollution, and habitat loss, while maintaining agricultural productivity and improving conditions for farmworkers. For example:

• Natural drainage systems: These include vegetated ditches with native sedges and rushes, two-stage systems with integrated floodplains, and farm-integrated wetlands that filter agricultural runoff.

• Wildlife-friendly farming: Native hedgerows and intercropping can support pollinators, provide raptor perches for natural pest control, and create wildlife corridors that connect preserved habitats across farmland.

• Soil health practices: No-till farming and cover cropping preserve soil structure, reduce erosion, increase water retention, improve soil fertility, and provide habitat for beneficial insects---all while decreasing input costs.

• Compost and organic waste programs: Local organic waste can yield nutrient-rich soil amendments that improve soil health, reduce synthetic fertilizer needs, and support circular waste-management systems.

• Tree integration systems: Agroforestry and silvopasture are practices that combine trees with crops or livestock to provide shade, windbreaks, diversified income sources, carbon sequestration, and improved water infiltration.

• Agroecological practices: Agricultural practices inspired by agroecology align with nature-based solutions and contribute to social, environmental, and economic sustainability for agricultural regions. They improve the quality of life, the environment, and the nutritional quality of the food produced.

Site Selection Criteria

• Farms experiencing runoff

• Operations interested in reducing input costs and diversifying income

• Agricultural areas needing habitat connectivity

• Pollinator-dependent ecosystems

• Farms on marginal soils or transitioning from intensive practices

Energy Integration and Infrastructure Corridors

Integrating renewable energy production with agricultural activities (agrivoltaics) or with habitat restoration (ecovoltaics) maximizes land use benefits while creating diverse economic opportunities for rural communities (Fernandez-Bou et al., 2024) (Figure 10). Energy transmission is a necessity, but the land for its infrastructure can be used simultaneously for other purposes. For example, wildlife habitat can support biodiversity near transmission lines, even potentially reducing maintenance costs. For example:

• Ecovoltaics: Solar installations are compatible with native pollinator habitat, upland habitat, and wildlife-friendly fencing.

• Agrivoltaics: Combining solar with shade-tolerant crops reduces water and energy costs, while maintaining crop productivity.

• Community solar: Projects on retired agricultural land can provide local energy security and jobs.

• Aquifer recharge and solar: Solar can be combined with managed aquifer recharge systems.

• Green infrastructure corridors: Some examples are establishing habitats along power line rights-of-way, integrating utility needs and conservation, and creating wind breaks that protect infrastructure, wildlife, and agriculture.

Site Selection Criteria

• Under transmission lines: Sites that allow habitat and energy connectivity, optimizing costs and maximizing environmental benefits

• Energy sovereignty projects: Energy projects that guarantee energy security to nearby communities

• Agrivoltaics: Any farm that can grow shade-tolerant crops or livestock to offset electricity bills or sell electricity; for projects selling electricity, sites near transmission lines are more suitable

• Ecovoltaics: Any solar energy facility. Ideally, projects enhance energy security for local disadvantaged communities and provide other benefits. For wildlife corridors, sites can include existing utility rights-of-way needing vegetation management, new renewable energy transmission corridors, and areas where infrastructure development has fragmented habitat connectivity.

Habitat Restoration

Habitat restoration can be a critical investment that provides essential ecosystem services and multiple other benefits, including carbon sequestration, improved water quality, flood control, local economic benefits, and recreational opportunities. Habitat restoration projects create system-level benefits while helping conserve native species through connected landscapes that support biodiversity and ecosystem resilience (Butterfield et al., 2017). Restoration projects can also support local community needs, offer tourism opportunities for birdwatching and recreation, and create opportunities for employment, especially near disadvantaged agricultural communities undergoing cropland repurposing. For example:

• Wetland and riparian habitat: Protection for the valley elderberry longhorn beetle and giant garter snake habitat along Central Valley waterways or for the California red-legged frog in Central Coast agricultural areas can also provide flood control, recreation, and educational opportunities.

• Upland and desert scrub habitat: Restoring habitats can create low-water systems compatible with arid conditions and agricultural landscapes. Two examples are habitats for the blunt-nosed leopard lizard on marginal Central Valley agricultural lands and California gnatcatcher coastal sage scrub restoration in Southern California agricultural areas.

• Grassland and grazing habitat: Restoring habitats for the Tipton kangaroo rat and restoring native coastal prairie can be compatible with grazing.

• Endangered species recovery habitat: Restoring San Joaquin kit fox habitat corridors in the Central Valley and steelhead trout riparian restoration along Central Coast watersheds can help connect fragmented populations across agricultural landscapes.

• Landscape connectivity and integration: Coordinating restoration across multiple habitat types can minimize fragmentation, maximize habitat investment benefits, and integrate with other nature-based solutions to create comprehensive ecosystem networks.

Site Selection Criteria

• Areas designated as critical habitat under California and federal endangered species legislation

• Sites identified in species-recovery plans as critical for population recovery

• Agricultural land retirement areas with suitable habitat conditions

• Sites where restoration can provide connectivity between existing preserves

This is a condensed, online version of the guide. For all figures, references, and the full text, please download the full guide PDF.