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