Board authorizes agricultural leases on Metropolitan-owned land to cultivate rice, address subsidence and support vital ecosystems
To improve sustainability in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California this week secured agricultural partners to cultivate rice on two district-owned islands in the Delta – the heart of California’s water supply system and one of the state’s most vital ecosystems.
In two separate actions, Metropolitan’s 38-member board on Tuesday (Aug. 19) approved two lease agreements to convert current agricultural lands to rice farming on Webb Tract in California’s Contra Costa County and on Bacon Island in San Joaquin County. The conversion to rice can help address land subsidence, improve carbon sequestration, and support habitat for migratory birds and other Delta species. In addition to supporting these environmental goals, the new long-term leases will generate revenue for Metropolitan and increase the land’s market value.
“These leases support our science-based approach to land management, rooted in sustainability,” said Metropolitan board Chair Adán Ortega, Jr. “They build on Metropolitan’s decades of investment in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, recognizing that addressing subsidence and protecting native species are essential to ensuring long-term resilience and ecological health in the region.”
Webb Tract: Restoration in Progress
To grow rice on Webb Tract, Metropolitan’s board selected Bouldin Farming Company following a competitive selection process. Bouldin Farming has over 30 years of experience in the Delta and a deep understanding of Webb Tract’s unique conditions. A grant of up to $4 million awarded to Metropolitan from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy will help offset land leveling costs necessary to adapt about 1,500 acres on the island for rice production.
Owned by Metropolitan since 2016, Webb Tract is one of four islands Metropolitan owns in the Delta that is impacted by land subsidence, with some areas as much as 24 feet below sea level. With support from state grants and collaborative partnerships, the district is working to transform the island into a multi-benefit landscape that strengthens the Delta’s ecological and water management future.
Metropolitan is also leading a project to restore wetlands on Webb Tract. That parallel project is also moving ahead with the support of approximately $16 million in funding from the Delta Conservancy grant. Now at 65% design completion, the project will convert approximately 2,400 acres on the property into impounded seasonal wetlands that mimic the Delta’s historic ecological conditions.
Bacon Island: Partnering with a Leader in Regenerative Agriculture
On Bacon Island, Metropolitan’s board has authorized staff to enter into a lease agreement with Lundberg Family Farms. The lease agreement, which is expected to be finalized in the coming months, will transition approximately 5,000 acres to rice cultivation.
The project includes deploying advanced rice farming techniques compatible with the Delta’s unique soils, creating wildlife-friendly habitats, and potentially generating carbon credits to enhance long-term land stewardship.
Both leases will support Metropolitan’s climate and sustainability goals.
“The collaboration with these two farming partners leverages the land Metropolitan owns in the Delta to reimagine what is possible in this region and serve as a model for how agriculture, restoration, and resilience can coexist in one of California’s most vital ecosystems,” said Metropolitan General Manager Deven Upadhyay. “This step allows us to move from planning to on-the-ground action.
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is a state-established cooperative that, along with its 26 cities and retail suppliers, provides water for 19 million people in six counties. The district imports water from the Colorado River and Northern California to supplement local supplies, and helps its members to develop increased water conservation, recycling, storage and other resource-management programs.
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