Multi-Benefit Land Repurposing in the Tule Subbasin

Our Goals

Advancing strategic land repurposing in California’s Central Valley to protect and restore habitat for migratory birds, strengthen community resilience, and support long-term economic sustainability.

What We’re Doing

Easing the economic impact of land retirement by helping landowners access funding and technical assistance to transform farmland into landscapes that conserve water, provide habitat, and benefit communities.

Irrigated Farmland, Central Valley, California. Photo: Anders Ericsson

Climate change is making California hotter and drier, with periods of disastrous flooding. Groundwater supply cannot keep up with demand, and irrigated farmland will need to be retired to avoid overdraft impacts.

The Multi-Benefit Land Repurposing Program (MLRP) eases the economic impact of land retirement by offering funding and technical assistance to transform farmland into purposeful landscapes that conserve water and provide benefits for landowners, communities, and nature.

Benefits of Land Repurposing for Birds & Communities

Slows groundwater overdraft by limiting pumping near groundwater-dependent wildlife areas.
Enhances wildlife habitats and creates refugia during drought.
Provides water on the landscape for waterfowl and shorebirds.

Offers educational opportunities through community science and conservation engagement.
Provides recharge for nearby communities and groundwater-dependent habitats.
By putting water back on the land, we create vital habitat for waterfowl and shorebirds—while also helping replenish groundwater supplies that support local communities, landowners, and nearby natural habitats.

Audubon's Unique Role and Support
Audubon California partners with MLRP to ensure ecological excellence in all projects and applications by...

Project Proposal Design Collaboration:

Working closely with landowners to maximize benefits for birds and wildlife.
Identifying innovative conservation opportunities tailored to each landscape.

Monitoring and Evaluation:

Collaborating with partners to assess project outcomes to ensure success in supporting biodiversity and bird populations.
Providing ongoing support and adjustments based on scientific findings.
Policy Advocacy: Audubon California focuses on advocating for environmental legislation and regulations that protect communities and birds, working to influence policies related to water conservation, land use, and climate change to create sustainable ecosystems across the state.

Land Repurposing Strategies with High Bird Benefits

A successful project involves the following:

Water on the landscape
Habitat connectivity (adjacent sites ideal)
Large acreage (25+ acres)
Long-term protection (easements, ideally perpetual)
Annual habitat value, in wet or dry years
Timed to bird migration and breeding needs

A successful project involves the following:

Uses drought-adapted native plants to create food and nesting habitat.
Low-water demand, improves air quality, and provides wildlife refugia.
Best when located near recharge or wet habitats.

A successful project should involve the following:

Restores riparian corridors and reconnected floodplains.
Provides recharge to support groundwater-dependent vegetation.
Offers climate refugia during drought years.

A successful project should involve the following:

Creates wetland-like habitat valuable during migration.
Effective only with water rights and access to surface conveyance.
Benefits birds when water is reliably available.

Additional design considerations:

Ideal: gentle slopes, rodent control, habitat islands, sediment filtration.
Basic: gentle slopes, vegetation perimeter, planted bottom for dry season.

This habitat type may not be the highest priority for birds, but it still plays an important role in California’s future. It can support healthier soils, help landowners stay economically viable, conserve water, and more. Since this approach will become increasingly common across the state, we’re working to ensure it’s as bird-friendly as possible by encouraging strategies like these:

Recharge potential to raise groundwater levels for groundwater-dependent vegetation that provides climate refugia during drought years.
Bird-friendly through practices like diverse vegetation and seasonal management.