Between August and December 2025, the GSAs conducted a joint survey of agricultural groundwater users to better understand priorities, concerns, and opportunities related to groundwater sustainability. The 21-question survey received 82 responses. Responses were well distributed across the basins: 46% from Santa Rosa Plain, 20.5% from Petaluma Valley, 17% from Sonoma Valley, and 22% marked ‘not applicable’.
Who Participated?
The majority of respondents (75%) identified as owners of agricultural property. Others included lessees (11.25%), agricultural support professionals (6.25%), staff of agricultural companies (3.75%), and representatives of governmental agencies or nonprofits working with agricultural operators (5%).
Farm sizes varied:
- 34% operate on less than 5 acres
- 23% farm between 10–50 acres
- 22% manage more than 50 acres
- 11% operate between 5–10 acres
- 10% selected not applicable
Agricultural production is diverse. Nearly half (45%) identified grapes or vineyards as a primary product. Other operations include specialty crops (31.25%), livestock/dairy/poultry (27.5%), orchards (18.75%), diversified agriculture (12.5%), and other uses such as native habitats, sheep wool fiber, hay, and grain (11.25%).
Ninety-two percent of respondents reported using groundwater.
Awareness and Engagement
Thirty-eight percent of respondents operate under a farm plan, certification, or permit program, including LandSmart, Fish Friendly Farming, and Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing. This presents a ready-made pathway for integrating groundwater sustainability actions into existing frameworks.
When asked whether they would support adding voluntary groundwater sustainability measures—such as monitoring or metering—into existing farm plans:
- 36% said yes
- 36% said no
- 27% were unsure
Preferred Strategies
Respondents clearly prioritized voluntary, incentive-based approaches over mandates.
Top-ranked strategies included:
- Stormwater capture for groundwater recharge (clear #1)
- Conservation and water-use efficiency incentives
- Expanded recycled water availability
Mandatory metering—either basin-wide or for users pumping more than 2 acre-feet per year—consistently ranked near the bottom. Preferences skew toward voluntary metering or targeted metering in distressed areas. While a minority expressed opposition to any metering, privacy emerged as an important consideration; support increased when data would not be attributed to individual users.
What Motivates Action?
Key motivators for adopting groundwater sustainability practices include:
- Better understanding of groundwater conditions on their property
- Direct financial incentives
- Cost savings, particularly reduced energy costs for pumping
- Hands-on installation assistance
- Practical, “how-to” education
With adequate support, respondents indicated strong willingness to implement:
- Compost and mulch applications (66%)
- Irrigation equipment upgrades (65%)
- Cover crops (61%)
- On-farm recharge projects (41%)
- Consultations with technical experts (41%)
Barriers to Implementation
Participants identified several challenges to implementing new practices. Ranked from most significant to least, these include:
- Cost of implementation
- Fear of additional regulation
- Permitting challenges
- Concerns about sharing groundwater information with agencies
- Limited capacity to implement changes
- Perception that existing systems are already water efficient
- Lack of technical knowledge
- Time constraints
- Lack of property ownership
- Need for leadership approvals
Next Steps
Staff will continue analyzing the survey results alongside broader basin data to identify trends and actionable recommendations. A summary memorandum will be developed outlining key findings and potential next steps to inform future outreach, incentives, and program design.
The survey results underscore both the agricultural community’s strong interest in practical, incentive-based solutions and the opportunity to strengthen partnerships that support long-term groundwater sustainability across Sonoma County’s basins.
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