Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program Regional Board, Coalitions, and Landowner/Operators “What is...
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Transcript of Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program Regional Board, Coalitions, and Landowner/Operators “What is...
Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program
Regional Board, Coalitions, and Landowner/Operators
“What is this program about and where is it going?”
Introductions:
• Mark Larsen; General Manager– Kaweah Delta Water Conservation District– Manage the Kaweah River Sub-watershed of Coalition
• Dave Orth; General Manager – Kings River Conservation District– Chairman of the Steering Comm. of the Coalition
• Southern San Joaquin Valley Water Quality Coalition - Kings, Kaweah, Tule, and Kern Watersheds.
Mark
What is the Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program?
• California Water Code: …potential to discharge waste into waters of the state is allowed only under a permit.
• State Law (Porter-Cologne Water Quality Act) and Federal Clean Water Act granted a general exemption to irrigated agriculture.
• Exemption expired in 2001
Mark
New law in 1999
• Senate Bill 390 passed in 1999
• Regional Board authorized to “waive” requirements provided– Not against the public good– Waiver does not exceed 5 years– Waiver is Conditional
• Present “waiver” terminates in 2011.
What is a Discharge?Who is a Discharger?
• Discharge – Irrigation return flow– Tail water– Operational spills– Storm water runoff– Subsurface drainage
• Discharger – flows from discharge enter surface waters of the State
What is the current structure?
• Landowner/Operators can comply individually, or join Coalition.
– Individually; Waste Discharge Requirement permit.
– Coalition; coverage is for a region for management and cost effectiveness.
Mark
What are the Goals of the Program?
• Identify water quality impacts to surface water by Ag.
• Identify constituents causing the impact.
• Identify where wastes were discharged, lands that contributed.
• Implement Best Management Practices that will prevent impact.
Mark
Coalition Responsibilities
• Southern San Joaquin Valley Water Quality Coalition formed in 2002
• Approved by the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board.
• Coalition Monitoring and Reporting Plan approved by the Regional Board.
• Landowners enlisted for participation.• Surface waters monitored for impacts.• Reporting of conditions to RB. • Communicate and coordinate with Participants.
Dave
The Southern San Joaquin Valley Water Quality Coalition
•Kings River Conservation District
•Kings River Water Association
•Kaweah-Delta Water Conservation District
•Kaweah and St. Johns Rivers Association
•Tule River Association
•Kern County Water Association
Monitoring ResultsJuly 2004 – October 2009
• Number of Sites - 35• Number of Samples Taken - 310• Number of Exceedances - 90
– Algal – 48 (43 on Kings)– Sediment - 7– Other - 35
• Number of Management Plans – 2– Tule River @ Road 92– Kern River @ Main Drain
Landowner Responsibilities
• Evaluate lands.• Review options to comply with Program.
– No action– Individual Option – Waste Discharge Requirement– Coalition Option – must “knowingly elect” to
participate
• Reduce potential to discharge.
• Follow Best Management Practices.
• Coordinate with Coalition if issue arises.
Mark
What is the Future of the Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program
• Long-Term Program to replace Waiver when it expires in 2011
• Regional Board is conducting a CEQA analysis of 5 alternatives– Alt. I – no change– Alt. II – Coalitions (with Groundwater)– Alt. III – Individual Farm Mgt Plans (direct with RB or lead
agency)– Alt. IV – Individual WDR – regional monitoring– Alt. V - Individual WDR
Dave
Key Questions/Issues
• What is the point of Discharge into Groundwater?
• What level of GW Quality monitoring will be required?
• Will local GW Management Plans be permitted to meet RB requirements?
• Will Coalitions accept the expanded responsibility?
Conclusion
• Program strengths.
• Program concerns.
• Direction.
Dave