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Groundwater law begins reshaping Valley
groundwater law
Merced County farmer Rosie Burroughs stands at the site of an almond orchard she removed to conserve water. Burroughs planted non-irrigated cover crops such as mustard and safflower that bring little financial return but help suppress dust, preserve soil health and provide livestock forage (CALEB HAMPTON/AgAlert).
Earlier this spring, an excavator maneuvered through the rolling hills of eastern Merced County, stacking almond trees removed by farmer Rosie Burroughs. During the past couple years, Burroughs scrapped about 170 acres of almond and walnut trees. Another 140 acres are slated for removal, reducing the family’s acreage by about a fifth.