Collaboration, Conservation, and Courage: Key Takeaways from the AGC Water Roundtable

At a time when water issues in California are reaching a critical juncture, the AGC Water Roundtable—hosted by FOCUS Investment Banking—brought together some of the most experienced voices in agriculture, water policy, and environmental stewardship. Moderated by Chase Hurley, the panel featured in-depth commentary and open discussion from Geof Vanden Heuvel, Austin Ewell, and Steve Jackson—each bringing decades of experience from the fields, boardrooms, and government offices shaping the water landscape.

The Big Picture: Urgency and Opportunity

From the outset, the roundtable underscored the stark realities facing California’s water users: the full implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) could push up to 20% of San Joaquin Valley farmland out of production. Yet despite the gravity of the situation, the panelists echoed a shared optimism rooted in adaptability, partnership, and innovation.

Themes That Emerged:

• Cross-Sector Collaboration: The Water Blueprint for the San Joaquin Valley and the Delta farmer-to-farmer initiative are showing early promise in uniting traditionally divided stakeholders—growers, environmental groups, municipalities, and even fisheries—around shared water priorities.
• Policy Momentum: Austin Ewell pointed to recent federal and state executive orders that explicitly prioritize California water solutions. While challenges remain—such as the limited use of Prop 1 water storage funding—there’s increasing alignment between Washington, Sacramento, and Valley interests.
• Creative Solutions in Practice: From groundwater recharge to long-term water banking partnerships with urban water agencies, new strategies are emerging to increase resilience and resource sharing across regions.
• A Call for Flexibility and Funding: Jeff Vanden Heuvel emphasized the need for practical policy and financial investment—pointing out that while SGMA imposed dramatic changes on agriculture, state support has been minimal. Flexibility, he argued, will be essential to managing manure, feed sourcing, and shifting land uses in the evolving agricultural economy.

Looking Ahead

The conversation closed with out-of-the-box ideas ranging from repurposing undervalued farmland to leveraging partnerships with Southern California water agencies. As Chase Hurley noted, the time is now to rethink conveyance, storage, and inter-basin collaboration to ensure we don’t lose precious supply in future wet years.

Ultimately, the roundtable wasn’t just about water—it was about resilience, relationships, and reimagining California agriculture in a time of scarcity. FOCUS Investment Banking was proud to help bring these voices together to push the conversation forward.

Interested in speaking with a FOCUS professional about water resource investment or agribusiness strategy? Contact us today.