It would be impossible to overstate the complexity of water supply management in California. Hundreds of federal, state and local agencies decree who or what is supplied with water, when and how much will be delivered, and the prices recipients must pay.
A billionaire couple was accused of withholding water that could help stop Los Angeles’ massive wildfires. Democratic leadership was blamed for fire hydrants running dry and for an empty reservoir. Firefighters were criticized for allegedly using “women’s handbags” to fight the fires.
To the long list of issues that demand a company’s attention, it’s time to add the state of our drinking water. Why? Because the quality of water impacts more than just public health—it can influence employee well-being, operational sustainability and a company’s reputation.
Federal standards for water safety haven’t significantly evolved since the Safe Drinking Water Act was enacted nearly 50 years ago, even as industrial and agricultural activities have introduced harmful contaminants to our water supply. As water quality has diminished, the bottled water industry has grown, creating a reliance on plastic. But this also poses potential health risks.
The San Diego County Farm Bureau (Farm Bureau) named third-generation avocado and citrus grower Warren Lyall of Pauma Valley as its 2023 Farmer of the Year. Lyall will be recognized for his achievement at the annual Farmer of the Year awards dinner on October 24.
The Farmer of the Year award is presented to an active or retired farmer who has had a positive impact on the agriculture industry, is active in the community beyond agriculture, and has represented the agricultural industry publicly on behalf of farming interests.
Warren Lyall’s family has been farming in Pauma Valley for three generations. Photo: Andy Lyall
This year’s award recognizes Lyall’s lifelong commitment to farming, leadership in agricultural organizations, and significant contributions to his community.
Lyall’s farming heritage started in 1931 when his grandparents moved to Pauma Valley from Montana, where they were cattle ranchers. He settled the family in Pauma Valley because it reminded him of home, and by 1933, they were living there full-time as citrus growers.
Lyall was immersed in the world of farming from a young age. He learned about citrus and avocado cultivation alongside his grandfather, Andrew Lyall.
His early experiences gave Lyall a profound appreciation for the dedication required to succeed in agriculture. He also recognized the need to rely on a deep faith to manage the many factors in agriculture that are out of the grower’s control.
Today, Warren Lyall and his two sons, Andy and Tim, operate Rancho Monte Vista, a 205-acre orchard in the Pauma Valley of San Diego County. The primary crop is oranges, but they have also been growing avocados for the last 18 years.
Managing both water and energy resources is vital to the success of Rancho Monte Vista, a 205-acre orchard in the Pauma Valley. Photo: Courtesy Cultivate California
Managing water use and tracking soil moisture throughout there is a key to the Lyalls’ success. They recently upgraded their sprinkler systems to maximize uniformity across their orange groves. Four full-time employees monitor water use during the summer irrigation season, checking every aspect of the irrigation systems to prevent and catch leaks. This diligence helped the Lyalls navigate recent drought years.
“There is a lot of art involved in the irrigation of trees. The way they demand water is different. Water for us is a precious resource. We can’t afford to waste it,” said Warren Lyall.
Andy and Warren Lyall operate Rancho Monte Vista along with Andy’s brother, Tim Lyall. Photo: Courtesy Cultivate California
The Lyalls also find ways to conserve energy use at Rancho Monte Vista. They recently installed a solar power plant on their ranch, providing 80 percent of the power needed for their irrigation pumps. Any excess energy produced is sold to the grid for use by San Diego Gas & Electric, adding to the long-term sustainability of their ranch.
Even in plentiful rain years, the ranch manages its water use. “We are careful to manage our irrigation (and other input resources) every year,” Lyall says. “It is part of our philosophy of stewardship that even if a resource is plentiful, we need to be careful not to waste it. It is all part of farming sustainably and efficiently in order to maximize our success.”
Warren Lyall is recognized for his leadership and community service. Photo: Courtesy Cultivate California
Lyall’s journey has been marked by exceptional leadership and service. He has made significant contributions as a Director for Villa Park Orchards Association, Sunkist Growers, Inc., and Fruit Growers Supply Company.
Lyall has also been active in community leadership. He has served as President of Pauma Municipal Water District, played a key role in forming the Upper San Luis Rey Groundwater Management Authority, and led the formation of the San Diego County Citrus Pest Control District, where he currently serves as President.
The San Diego County Farm Bureau is a non-profit organization supporting the more than 5,700 farms within the county. The mission of the Farm Bureau is to foster San Diego agriculture through education, public relations, and public policy advocacy in order to promote the economic viability, sustainability, and community building of agriculture. For more information, visit our website www.sdfarmbureau.org
The City of Escondido achieved an important milestone in its efforts to create a high-quality alternative water source to support its local agricultural growers in August.
The city and its partners, including the Filanc Brown and Caldwell (FBC) Joint Venture, dedicated the newly completed water reuse treatment plant at an August 28 event. The AgX Membrane Filtration Reverse Osmosis Facility for Agriculture (MFRO Facility) is a first-of-its-kind facility producing water for agricultural use in California.
The new $65 million facility completed construction in November 2023.
The exterior of the new AgX Membrane Filtration Reverse Osmosis Facility for Agriculture (MFRO Facility), a first-of-its-kind facility producing water for agricultural use in California. Photo: City of Escondido
The AgX MFRO Facility takes water redirected from an ocean outfall, which was reaching capacity and would have cost hundreds of millions of dollars to upsize. Water is now redirected to the MFRO Facility and treated for beneficial reuse by producing water with salinity (salt) levels ideal for agriculture, such as avocado growers.
Farmers benefit from paying lower water rates. With agricultural water use shifted to this new supply, potable water the farmers previously used is now available for other users, increasing local water resiliency.
This project is a rare win-win water solution for augmenting supply while alleviating demand. In an era of water scarcity, it provides a sustainable, local supply and a cost-effective alternative to potable water.
“This is an important milestone for Escondido’s recycled water system,” said Angela Morrow, City of Escondido Director of Utilities. “The MFRO Facility will provide a reliable, affordable, and high-quality water supply to our agricultural community for generations to come while beneficially reusing wastewater and reducing our reliance on imported water.”
Escondido Mayor Dane White at the ribbon cutting for the new AgX Membrane Filtration Reverse Osmosis Facility for Agriculture (MFRO Facility). Photo: City of Escondido
Funding for this project was provided in full or in part through an agreement with the State Water Resources Control Board and in part through agreements with the United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, and State of California, Department of Water Resources.
Headquartered in Escondido, Filanc is an award-winning general engineering and design-build contractor that solely constructs, renovates, and expands water and wastewater treatment, biosolids management, and waste-to-energy facilities throughout the Western United States.
Headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, Brown and Caldwell is a full-service environmental engineering and construction services firm with 50 offices and over 2,100 professionals across North America and the Pacific in operation for 75 years.
Valley Center Municipal Water District (“VCMWD” or “District”) has a long history of initiating and participating in various programs to assist and sustain agriculture in its services area.
District efforts have been coordinated with funding from the San Diego County Water Authority under its water use efficiency programs through the 1990s, 2000s, and through to today. VCMWD was also instrumental in helping to secure a $1.5 million Regional Conservation Participation Program Grant to fund water efficiency evaluations and access to on-farm improvement funding for our local growers through the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
It’s impossible to talk about water in Arizona without talking about the Colorado River.
It supplies water to 40 million people across the American West, including more than two dozen tribes, cities like Phoenix and Tucson, and agriculture. The river travels some 1,450 miles all told and drains into seven US states, including Arizona, and two in Mexico.
A proposed water rights settlement for three Native American tribes that carries a price tag larger than any such agreement enacted by Congress took a significant step forward late Monday with introduction in the Navajo Nation Council.
In a move set to transform regional agriculture, the Regional CropSWAP program, originally initiated by the Rancho California Water District, announced its expansion into neighboring counties with the partnership of Fallbrook Public Utility District, Rainbow Municipal Water District, city of Oceanside, Valley Center Municipal Water District and city of Escondido.
Governor Gavin Newsom, with the support of the Department of Water Resources (DWR) and other state agencies, signed into effect new developments for the California Water Plan which details water conservation efforts for the next five years.
Newsom said that the state has invested $9 billion in the last three years, and that “I want folks to know that we are not just victims of fate, that we recognize the world we’re living in.”
