![Flooding Farms, Restoring Groundwater](https://cole-mswmag.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mswmag.com%2Fuploads%2Fimages%2F20160119_modesto_orchard001_171030_135652.jpg?crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=620&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=75&w=1024&s=1a38b9cff8f414fd6b50930905872d24)
The Central Valley sky was a never-ending expanse of gray. Not a single pixel of blue in sight. Under it, UC Davis scientists were flooding a Modesto, California, almond orchard with half a foot of water. On purpose. In the pouring rain.
Yet what they were doing could play a...