Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program Kaweah Basin Area Grower Membership Enrollment Workshop Enrollment Workshop

Visalia Elks Lodge

July 10, 2014 Donald Ikemiya Donald Ikemiya

www.kaweahbasin.org

Who is the Water Board?

California Regional Water Quality Control Board

• State of California

State of California Agency

• Central Valley Region 5
• Central Valley Region 5

meetings held in Rancho Cordova Rancho Cordova

• Fresno Office

Who is the Kaweah Basin WQA?

• Not a part of the State or Water Board
• Non‐Profit mutual benefit corporation
• Approved to represent growers as a Third Party

Group (Coalition) on February 7, 2014

• Nine member volunteer board of directors

(local farmers)

• Like a grower co‐op

Like a grower co op

• Petition (lawsuit) against the Water Board

Why Do I Have to Do This?

State of California Regulations

1969 S L i l d h

• 1969 State Legislature enacted the Porter‐

Cologne Water Quality Control Act

• Water quality problems found in waterways

and in groundwater (pesticides, fertilizers, salts, pathogens, and sediment)

• 2003 ‐ Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program

g g y g (ILRP) to protect surface waters

• Sept 2013 ‐ General Order Permit replaced the
• Sept. 2013 General Order Permit replaced the

waiver and added groundwater

Region 5 – Central Valley Water Board

Region 5 Water Board

Water Board

Farm Statistics:

• ~ 7 million irrigated acres

g

• ~ 35,000 growers

Adopted General Orders p

1 Eastern San Joaquin Watershed

• 1. Eastern San Joaquin Watershed
• 2. Tulare Lake Basin Area (Kaweah)

3 S i i h d

• 3. Western San Joaquin River Watershed
• 4. Western Tulare Lake Basin Area (Westlands)
• 5. Rice Growers within the Sacramento Valley

6 San Joaquin County and Delta Area

• 6. San Joaquin County and Delta Area
• 7. Sacramento River Watershed

Tulare Lake Basin General Order

Water Board Statistics:

Kings River

• ~ 2.89 million irrigated acres
• ~ 10,700 growers

Kaweah Basin Kings River

• ~ 350,000 acres Dairy G.O.
• ~10,600 linear miles of

Tule Basin

surface water courses

Tule Basin Cawelo Westside (Kern) Buena Vista Kern River Cawelo Kern River

Kaweah Boundaries

KBWQA S i i Statistics:

• ~200,000

irrigated acres irrigated acres

• ~1,300+

growers

• 125,000 acres

i d signed up

• 800 growers

signed up g p

Growers Who Must Comply

• Irrigated lands

Nurseries and privately and publicly managed –Nurseries, and privately and publicly‐managed wetlands Any type of irrigation system –Any type of irrigation system –Any type of water supply (district or well) Any size farm –Any size farm

• Producing crops or pasture for commercial

purposes

–Includes commercial crops that are not yet p y marketable (i.e. vineyards and tree crops)

ILRP Exempt p

• Does not apply to non‐irrigated rangelands or

Does not apply to non irrigated rangelands or

• ther non‐irrigated lands (i.e. fallow fields, dry

land farming) land farming)

• Does not apply to lands covered by other
• Does not apply to lands covered by other

General Orders, such as dairies or individual discharge permits (e g food processors) discharge permits (e.g. food processors)

Enrollment Notification

• June 30, 2014 – The Water Board sent out a

Final Notice letter to all landowners with assumed irrigated parcels not yet enrolled in the KBWQA

• Landowners may have received multiple

Landowners may have received multiple letters

• They included the KBWQA membership sign‐
• They included the KBWQA membership sign‐

up forms

Enrollment Notification

What Are My Options? y p

Option 1 KBWQA Membership Option 2 Individual Option 3 Do Nothing Water Board (559) 488-4396 Water Board Will Contact You Option 1 - KBWQA Membership Deadline August 6, 2014

Option 1 Who Can Join the Kaweah? Who Can Join the Kaweah?

• Any landowner or operator with parcels

Any landowner or operator with parcels within the boundaries of the Kaweah Basin WQA can join and enroll parcels WQA can join and enroll parcels

• Important that all irrigated acres be covered

Ei h h l d f h

• Either the landowner of the operator must

enroll the irrigated parcels, but not both

Option 1 Who Can be the Member?

• The designated “Member” will be the

Who Can be the Member?

• The designated Member will be the

contact person for compliance with the G l O d General Order

–The other associated entities (landowners and/or operators) can also be responsible for compliance with the General Order, but not be the contact person

Option 1 Benefits of Membership

• Provides the ability for growers to work together as a

Benefits of Membership

group and to share resources to minimize redundant efforts and reduce costs

• Outreach and education
• Prepare grower templates (Farm Evaluation,

Ni M Pl ) Nitrogen Management Plan)

• Eliminates member having to work with and file

t di tl t th W t B d reports directly to the Water Board

• Protects growers to keep most of their personal

farming operation information private farming operation information private

• Cost effective and efficient approach

Option 1 KBWQA Responsibilities KBWQA Responsibilities

• Prepare and submit annual reports to the

W B d Water Board

• Monitoring & Reporting of surface water sites
• Prepare Groundwater Quality Assessment

Report (GAR) p ( )

– Identify high vulnerability areas – Determine priorities Determine priorities

• Prepare numerous technical reports and

studies studies

Option 1 KBWQA Responsibilities

• Advocacy on water quality issues in various

KBWQA Responsibilities

Advocacy on water quality issues in various forums

• Work to ease any unnecessary requirements
• Work to ease any unnecessary requirements
• Develop and implement economical and

i ifi ll lid li i i scientifically valid water quality monitoring programs

• Develop a Management Practices Evaluation

Program

KBWQA Application Forms

KBWQA Application Forms

Irrigated Acreage Worksheet

Member Responsibilities

• 1. Maintain a copy of the General Order at your

place of business (digital or hard copy) and be familiar with its contents

• 2. Participate in member outreach events
• 3. Cooperate in requested assistance for
• 3. Cooperate in requested assistance for

groundwater quality monitoring (testing from ag wells) ag wells)

• 4. Assistance in development of management

plans for pesticide exceedances plans for pesticide exceedances

Member Responsibilities

5 Implement best management practices that

• 5. Implement best management practices that

are protective of surface and groundwater quality quality

• 6. Maintain annual Third‐Party membership

7 F E l i Pl

• 7. Farm Evaluation Plan
• 8. Nitrogen Management Plan
• 9. Sediment and Erosion Control Plan (if

applicable) pp )

Member Responsibilities

D il d G M b R ibili i

• Detailed Grower Member Responsibilities

sheet available at our table

After the August 6 Deadline

• Beginning August 7, 2014 – You can no

l di l j i h K h

g

longer directly join the Kaweah

• Growers can only join the Kaweah by

y j y applying to the Water Board (NOI and paying additional fees) paying additional fees)

• September 4, 2014 – List of KBWQA

b l d ll b members, parcels, and acres will be submitted to the Water Board

Option 2 – Individual Permit p

Option 1 KBWQA Membership Option 2 Individual Option 3 Do Nothing Water Board (559) 488-4396 Water Board Will Contact You Option 1 - KBWQA Membership Deadline August 6, 2014

Option 2 – Individual Permit

• Almost all Option 1 requirements are the

responsibility of the individual grower

• The individual grower must interact directly

g y with the Water Board for most everything

• Submittals and reports must be sent directly

Submittals and reports must be sent directly to the Water Board and are of public record

• Higher fees higher direct costs
• Higher fees, higher direct costs

Option 3 – Do Nothing p 3 g

Option 1 KBWQA Membership Option 2 Individual Option 3 Do Nothing Water Board (559) 488-4396 Water Board Will Contact You Option 1 - KBWQA Membership Deadline August 6, 2014

Option 3 – Do Nothing

• 1. Fall 2014 ‐ The Water Board will begin Ag

g g parcel field inspections 2 Parcels confirmed to be irrigated

• 2. Parcels confirmed to be irrigated

commercial ag, to receive Water Code 13260 Di i 13260 Directives

• 3. Notice of Violations
• 4. Pre‐fine (Pre‐ACL) letters

( ) d & ll l

• 5. Fines (ACL) issued & must still comply

Option 3 – Do Nothing

www.krwca.org

Option 1 ‐ Next Steps

The following will be required for membership:

• Complete Membership Application, to include:

– Member contact information Member contact information – Irrigated acres – Landowner contact information – Landowner contact information – APNs to be enrolled

P l b hi f d f

• Pay an annual membership fee and acreage fee
• Confirm your APNs!

Option 1 ‐ Next Steps

Parcel Third‐Party enrollment deadlines

• Kaweah Basin Water Quality Association

– By August 6, 2014 y g ,

Sign‐up Stations

Kaweah & Tule Tables are set up to:

• Answer questions pertaining to your

parcels and property p p p y

• Answer questions about existing and new

membership membership

• Answer questions about your applications

A t l t d li ti d

• Accept completed applications and

payments

Common Grower Questions Q

Common Grower Questions

• Is joining a Third‐Party Group

Q mandatory?

N j i i i l t – No ‐ joining is voluntary – Compliance with the General Order is Compliance with the General Order is mandatory

Common Grower Questions

• Do I report APN acres or irrigated

Q acres?

R t i i t d ithi h – Report irrigated acres within each parcel – Not your house, shed, roads, etc.

Common Grower Questions Q

60 acres

• 5 acres
• 5 acres

55 acres

Common Grower Questions

• Is the Third‐Party a branch of the

Q Water Board?

N j t lik t t i t – No ‐ just like your accountant is not a branch of the IRS – Third‐Party Groups/Coalitions t (lik ) represent growers (like a co‐op)

Common Grower Questions

• Can I join any Third‐Party?

Q

– No – Your parcel must be within the geographic boundary of the Third geographic boundary of the Third‐ Party – You could have multiple parcels, each belonging to a different Third Party belonging to a different Third‐Party

Common Grower Questions

• What are my options if I don’t join a

Q Third‐Party?

• Can comply as an individual grower
• Can comply as an individual grower
• Not join or obtain individual coverage; then

subject to up to $1,000/day fines

Common Grower Questions

• Why are the per acre fees different

Q between the Third‐Parties?

E h Thi d P t i i – Each Third‐Party is unique

Common Grower Questions

• Kaweah Fees:

B d b d d il d l i f G l O d

Q

– Budget based on detailed cost analysis of General Order – Significant costs for surface water program (12+ sites) – Less acreage to spread costs (200,000 acres) – Projected 85% sign‐ups – Different coverage period (January to December) and billing cycles (September) – Kaweah Board did not want to come back twice in the same year for more fees R i i f d h – Remaining funds, carry‐over to the next year – Adjusted annually

Common Grower Questions

• Which Third‐Party is my land in?

Q

– Check your parcel at the sign‐up stations stations – Borderline parcels are tricky p y – We have found some errors on the b d li l borderline parcels

Common Grower Questions

• I won’t be irrigating a parcel in 2014,

Q do I signup and pay fees?

Y Y i th t l & – Yes – You can signup that parcel & pay the $100 management fee, but don’t have to pay the acreage fees Ri k if th i h f i i ti – Risky if there is a chance of irrigating

Common Grower Questions

• Will my data be kept confidential?

Q

– Yes somewhat – water quality data reported to the Water Board on a reported to the Water Board on a Township basis (36 sq miles) – Not ‐ Member contact info & APNs U l f i – Unclear on future reporting

Common Grower Questions

• I just paid for two Third‐Parties on

Q the same parcel, now what?

A k f f d t d h k – Ask for a refund or a returned check from the incorrect Third‐Party

Common Grower Questions

• I’m in the process of purchasing

Q additional farmland, what do I do?

N tif th W t B d & Thi d P t – Notify the Water Board & Third‐Party – Make sure the parcel is covered in the Make sure the parcel is covered in the program for the coverage period by th t if t th i it the current owner, if not then sign it up

Common Grower Questions

• I received an invoice/notice for land I

Q sold, now what?

N tif th Thi d P t – Notify the Third‐Party – Provide the Third‐Party contact Provide the Third Party contact information – Forward documents to the new

• wner
• wner

Common Grower Questions

• Is this a program on

Q

groundwater pumping?

N W Q li S l – No: Water Quality, not Supply

Key Points Today

• If this program does not apply to your land

y y

contact the Water Board immediately

• Call and ask us questions & visit our office for

additional assistance

• All growers must take action by either joining

g o e s ust ta e act o by e t e jo g KBWQA or contacting the Water Board to apply for individual coverage g

• The final deadline is Wednesday August 6, 2014
• Significant late fees apply after August 6 2014
• Significant late fees apply after August 6, 2014

Key Points Today

• Look for member outreach events in Fall/Winter

y y

2014

• Growers will be notified each year to renew

membership for 2015 and add or remove parcels

• Reporting obligations begin March 1, 2015

epo t g ob gat o s beg a c , 0 5 depending on farm size and vulnerability status

Questions?

Kaweah Basin Water Quality Association PO B 2840 Tel: (559) 302‐1620 F (559) 636 1177 P.O. Box 2840 Visalia, CA 93279 130 N Garden Street Visalia Fax: (559) 636‐1177 E‐mail: admin@kaweahbasin.org Website: www.kaweahbasin.org 130 N. Garden Street, Visalia Tule Basin Water Quality Coalition Tel: (559) 627‐2948 2904 W. Main Street Visalia, CA 93291 E mail: info@tbwqc.com Website: www.tbwqc.com Regional Water Quality Control Board 1685 E Street Fresno, CA 93706 Tel: (559) 488‐4396 Email: ilrpinfo@waterboards.ca.gov Website: www.waterboards.ca.gov/centralvalley