In the heart of Dunnigan, Yolo County, our community has witnessed the transformation of our beautiful rolling hillsides into vast plantations. These lands, which were once home to winter crops and animal husbandry, have been purchased over the past decade by corporate investment companies driven by profit rather than sustainability. This companies have converted thousands of acres into plantations of olives, almonds, pistachios, and grapes, exploiting groundwater resources.

The agricultural practices are water and energy intensive, relying solely on groundwater aquifers for irrigation. Under California water law, landowners have the right to extract as much groundwater as they want, unless their extractions are causing undesirable results. Like overdraft conditions and reduced water quality. Local government agencies and the Board of Supervisors have not seriously addressed this issue, despite knowing that there is no data to assess the overdraft impact on these historic non-irrigated lands.

It's disheartening to see these practices unfold, knowing that the unchecked extraction of deep water has led to the loss of drinking rural water wells and shallow wells used by small family farmers. This represents a long-term risk to our environment and the future generations who call this region home.

We're asking residents of Yolo County and beyond to take a stand against these unsustainable practices. By choosing not to purchase olive oil made from olives grown by multinational corporations in our county, we send a powerful message to the company and local authorities that our community prioritizes sustainable and responsible agricultural practices.

The call is simple yet powerful: let’s protect our precious resources and ensure a sustainable future for Yolo County. Support this petition by adding your signature and help us hold corporate entities and authorities accountable for their impact on our environment. Together, we can drive change towards a more responsible use of our land and water.