Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program (MLRP)
Forecasted
Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program (MLRP) supports regional partners and tribes in repurposing agricultural land to reduce groundwater reliance and deliver community, habitat, water supply, and climate benefits.
Funder: California Department of Conservation
Due Dates (Anticipated): March 2027 (Application deadline) | March 2027 (Tribal rolling application final deadline)
Funding Amounts: Up to $200 million authorized for Climate Bond funding; Round 2 block grants up to $8.89 million
Summary: Supports regional agricultural land repurposing that reduces groundwater reliance and delivers community, habitat, water supply, and climate benefits.
Key Information: Regional block applicants other than GSAs or eligible tribes must partner with a Groundwater Sustainability Agency.
Description
The Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program (MLRP), administered by the California Department of Conservation’s Division of Land Resource Protection, supports regional efforts to transition agricultural land to less water-intensive uses. Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) and their partners coordinate local and regional land repurposing strategies, then develop and implement projects aligned with those plans. The program connects groundwater sustainability with community health, economic wellbeing, wildlife habitat, water supply, and climate benefits.
MLRP prioritizes benefits to disadvantaged communities and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, while supporting resilient land-based economies. Funded strategies include habitat restoration, multibenefit recharge areas, floodplain restoration, dryland farming, tribal land uses, recreation areas, and renewable energy projects with net greenhouse-gas reductions. Block grants can also support research and demonstrations testing innovative land repurposing strategies relevant to regional grantees.
