MILR Program
Multi-Benefit Irrigated Land Repurposing Program of the Paso Robles Area Groundwater Subbasin
This guidebook provides a comprehensive overview of measures designed to support sustainable groundwater management. It is divided into four key sections to help you navigate through sustainability practices, land repurposing options, and evaluation criteria.
Groundwater Sustainability
Measures designed to reduce water use without changing land use, including irrigation and cultural practices.
- Irrigation practices
- Cultural practices
- Dry farming
Land Repurposing
Options for changing land use from agricultural to other beneficial uses like habitat or renewable energy.
- Conservation cover
- Habitat restoration
- Renewable energy
Evaluation Criteria
Factors used to evaluate suitability, including farm, environmental, and basin-wide considerations.
- Farm & Soil factors
- Suitability criteria
- Program alignment
Regenerative Alignment
How MILR measures align with California's definition of regenerative agriculture and other farming systems.
- CDFA definitions
- Principle comparison
- System alignment
Summary of Measures
A starting point for reducing groundwater demand
| Measure | Description | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Groundwater Sustainability Measures | ||
| Cultural practices | Use management practices that improve water use efficiency and conserve water, such as mulching and managed cover cropping. | Details |
| Dry Farming | Change to crops that do not require irrigation. Convert established cropped fields to non-irrigated management. | Details |
| Extended fallow | Extend fallow periods between removing and replanting a perennial crop or between annual crop rotations. | Details |
| Irrigation practices | Improve irrigation application efficiency and/or crop water use efficiency; reduce non-beneficial consumptive use. | Details |
| Stormwater runoff | Prevent the generation of runoff at its source on agricultural lands to increase rainfall infiltration. | Details |
| Land Repurposing Measures | ||
| Conservation Cover | Cover crop planted to stabilize soil rather than for production purposes. | Details |
| Habitat | Convert cropped fields to natural habitat for native species. | Details |
| Managed Rangeland | Convert cultivated agricultural land to non-irrigated grassland that can be grazed by livestock. | Details |
| Recharge | Convert less productive areas of cropped fields to areas for stormwater and rainwater recharge. | Details |
| Renewable energy | Convert cropped fields to sites for solar or wind energy generation. | Details |
| Recreation | Convert cropped fields to parks, trails, or undeveloped areas for public access. | Details |
What is MILR?
Learn about the program's voluntary enrollment and core framework.
Program Goals
Explore how we target pumping reduction and protect vulnerable wells.
All measures in this guidebook are suggestions and a starting point for reducing demand for groundwater on agricultural land; the list does not include every measure a landowner could or should use.