The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) has publicly released the 2019 land use data set, which is available for viewing and download here. The 2019 mapping is a continuation of previous land use mapping conducted by Land IQ, which includes 2018, 2016, and 2014. The mapping categorizes nearly 15.4 million acres of land use into approximately 50 crop and land use types with 98.1% accuracy. Field by field classification resulted in over 440,000 individually classified polygons with a minimum field size of 0.5-2.0 acres depending on crop type.
Beginning with the 2018 dataset, land use mapping was conducted on a water year basis (October – September). Thus, the 2019 dataset is the first time two consecutive water years have been mapped statewide. Like 2018, this dataset includes up to four crop rotation patterns within each field in the areas of the state where multiple crops are grown on the same field in the same water year. The data set also includes the peak date of vegetative production for the field and percentage of the field cropped, if not fully planted. These attributes allow end users to estimate planting and harvest dates as well as refine crop water use estimates.
While the downloadable dataset contains up to 50 crop (e.g. alfalfa, almonds, citrus, tomatoes, lettuce/leafy greens, etc.) and land use classifications, the following table represents a combined summary of DWR master classes represented on DWR’s GIS Map Service.
Amongst its many uses, this statewide data resource has been developed to support the needs of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). The intent of this work is for all Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) to use this data as a consistent foundational land use layer in developing and implementing their groundwater sustainability plans (GSPs), groundwater modeling efforts, compliance monitoring, annual reporting, etc.
Land IQ looks forward to continuing this work with the DWR, to provide these valuable mapping data, on an ongoing basis. To date, Land IQ has also mapped 2020 and 2021, which are currently under review by DWR.
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