New economic data from California shows the state could face anywhere from $3-14 billion in water losses each year if no action is taken.
California has faced water supply challenges for years and is expected to shrink by 12-25% by 2050.
The data collected by researchers at UC Davis and UC Merced shows that without coordinated action, nearly three million acres of California farmland could be taken out of production.
That would mean a loss of 67,000 jobs, severely impacting rural communities.
The research supports the state’s Senate Bill 72, which proposes California’s first-ever water supply target to develop 9 million acre-feet of new water by 2040.
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Lawmakers and experts react to the Administration’s long-awaited announcement of “bridge” aid to stabilize farms and offset 2025 losses until expanded safety-net programs begin in 2026.
Read the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s official press release published on Monday, December 8, 2025.