Erosion control and habitat restoration of retired farmland in the Anza-Borrego desert

Improving agricultural water management in response to diminishing groundwater resources is crucial for sustainable land use. In Borrego Springs, California, state-mandated water reductions are prompting farmers to retire or fallow their farms permanently. However, without proper management, retired farmlands are vulnerable to wind erosion and dust emissions, which hinder restoration efforts and pose risks to human health. Our team conducted a study where we implemented four different erosion control treatments in two blocks of permanently retired citrus orchards. The treatments included (1) rows of mulch (the standard practice), (2) felled citrus trees scattered across the site, (3) fences made from felled citrus trees, and (4) commercial sand fences, each consisting of ten rows oriented to face the dominant wind direction. Preliminary results show average dust control efficiencies of 93% and 94% for the Scattered Trees and Tree Fences, respectively, implying that most dust emissions a..., , # Rehabilitating retired farmland in the Anza-Borrego Desert (2025)

Dataset DOI: [10.5061/dryad.nvx0k6f45](10.5061/dryad.nvx0k6f45)

## Description of the data and file structure

The desert community of Borrego Springs is a groundwater-dependent community in San Diego County that is overdrafting its aquifer. As a result, the community is required to heavily reduce its water use by the year 2040. 70% of its water is used for agriculture and, as a result, most of the farmland will need to be retired. This study analyzes the use of dead orchard trees on retired farmland as a way of controlling wind erosion and also looks into the possibility of restoring native vegetation to the land. Data collected includes a seedbank study, a pilot seeding study, soil salinity analysis, wind measurements, two methods of erosion analysis, and treatment porosity analysis. The associated 2025 manuscript, *Erosion Control and Habitat Restoration in the Anza-Borrego Desert* (a Master's in Conservation and R...,