Monitoring Irrigated Agriculture Strategy and Results Central - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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monitoring irrigated agriculture strategy and results
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Monitoring Irrigated Agriculture Strategy and Results Central - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Monitoring Irrigated Agriculture Strategy and Results Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board, Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program John Swanson, Environmental Scientist Monitoring and Implementation Unit October 24, 2008

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October 24, 2008 CALFED Science Conference 2008 1

Monitoring Irrigated Agriculture – Strategy and Results

Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board, Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program

John Swanson, Environmental Scientist Monitoring and Implementation Unit

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October 24, 2008 CALFED Science Conference 2008 2

Presentation Overview

  • Regulatory Background
  • Scope of the Irrigated Lands Regulatory

Program

  • Collaborative Approach to Problem

Solving

  • Findings of First Three Years of Monitoring
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October 24, 2008 CALFED Science Conference 2008 3

Regulatory Background

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October 24, 2008 CALFED Science Conference 2008 4

Regional Water Quality Control Board Structure

  • Nine Regional Water Quality Control Boards
  • Board members appointed by the Governor (no

compensation)

  • Decisions are made in a public meeting
  • State Water Resources Control Board

– Sets state-wide policies – Serves as appellate body for Regional Water Board decisions – Oversees water rights (primarily for surface water)

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October 24, 2008 CALFED Science Conference 2008 5

Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act

  • Applies to:

– “waters of the state” – any surface water or groundwater – discharges of waste to waters of the state – “waste” associated with human habitation

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October 24, 2008 CALFED Science Conference 2008 6

Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board

  • Covers ~ 40% of

State

  • Offices in

Sacramento, Redding, Fresno

  • Responsible for

protection of all of the beneficial uses

  • f water
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October 24, 2008 CALFED Science Conference 2008 7

Tools for Regulating Discharges of Waste

  • Basin Plans

– Establish the water quality objectives, regulations, and policies

  • Waste Discharge Requirements (WDRs)

– Essentially a permit that sets limits on discharge of waste constituents to surface or groundwater

  • Waiver of WDRs

– Waives requirements to obtain WDRs, if certain conditions are met

  • Prohibition of Discharge

– Prohibits discharge of waste in certain areas, unless specific conditions are met

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October 24, 2008 CALFED Science Conference 2008 8

Scope of the Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program

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October 24, 2008 CALFED Science Conference 2008 9

Scope of the Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program

  • Addresses discharges from irrigated

lands to surface waters

  • Irrigated lands include commercial
  • perations, managed wetlands,

nurseries, and greenhouses

  • Discharges include return flows

(tailwater), rainfall-runoff, from sumps to lower water table (tile drains)

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October 24, 2008 CALFED Science Conference 2008 10

Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program

  • 1999 - Senate Bill 390

– Sunset all existing waivers of WDRs – Established new rules for waivers of WDRs

  • 2003 New Conditional Ag Waivers

adopted by the Water Board

– Coalition Waiver – Individual Waiver – Renewed in 2006 w/several Amendments since

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October 24, 2008 CALFED Science Conference 2008 11

Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program

  • Two Conditional Waivers of WDRs –

Coalition Group and Individual

– (almost) All growers have chosen enrollment

in a Coalition Group – Eight Coalition Groups – WDRs are an option

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October 24, 2008 CALFED Science Conference 2008 12

Conditional Waiver Requirements

  • Monitoring
  • Toxicity testing
  • Two exceedances in 3

years triggers management plan & increased monitoring

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October 24, 2008 CALFED Science Conference 2008 13

Surface Water Quality Issues in Agriculture

  • Water quality issues – likely ag source

– Pesticides, nutrients, salts, sediment

  • Water quality issues – potential ag source

– Toxicity to test species, pathogens, dissolved

  • xygen, organic carbon, metals
  • Many instances in which monitoring shows

no ag related issues

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October 24, 2008 CALFED Science Conference 2008 14

Collaborative Approach to Problem Solving

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October 24, 2008 CALFED Science Conference 2008 15

Westlands Water District Coalition Goose Lake Water Quality Coalition San Joaquin County & Delta Water Quality Coalition Westside San Joaquin Water Quality Coalition California Rice Commission East San Joaquin Water Quality Coalition Southern San Joaquin Valley Water Quality Coalition

Coalitions

Sacramento Valley Water Quality Coalition

Agency Name Interest Group

Merced ID South San Joaquin ID Turlock ID Oakdale ID Modesto ID

Irrigation Districts

Active Stakeholders

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October 24, 2008 CALFED Science Conference 2008 16

Food and Agriculture

Other Active Stakeholders

County Ag Commissioners State Pesticide Regulators USEPA Academia Analytical Laboratories Consulting Firms Environmental Interests Resource Conservation Districts Commodity Groups

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October 24, 2008 CALFED Science Conference 2008 17

Technical Issues Committee

  • Includes program staff, Board Members,

Academia, Coalition and Irrigation District Representatives, DPR

  • Focus groups within the TIC:

– Triggers Focus Group – Lab Round Table – Sediment Toxicity Focus Group – Legacy Pesticides Focus Group – Management Practices Focus Group – Nutrients Focus Group – Pathogens Focus Group – Bottles, Bioassessment, etc., as needed

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October 24, 2008 CALFED Science Conference 2008 18

Current Approach

Monitoring Data Review Measure Effectiveness MRP Plan Development Management Plans Address Water Quality Issues

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October 24, 2008 CALFED Science Conference 2008 19

Findings from the First Three Years

  • f Monitoring
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October 24, 2008 CALFED Science Conference 2008 20

Central Valley Zones

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October 24, 2008 CALFED Science Conference 2008 21

Monitoring

  • Toxicity to four test species
  • Pesticides
  • Nutrients
  • Metals
  • E. coli as an indicator for pathogens
  • Salinity
  • General parameters (pH, DO, turbidity)
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October 24, 2008 CALFED Science Conference 2008 22

Summary of Toxic Events (2004-2006)

5 10 15 20 25 30 Percent Toxic Events Fathead Minnow Water Flea Algae Sediment

Central Valley Region

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October 24, 2008 CALFED Science Conference 2008 23

Example of Pesticide Testing Results

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October 24, 2008 CALFED Science Conference 2008 24

Further information in next presentation and…

website information at: www.waterboards.ca.gov/centralvalley/ programs/irrigated_lands/index.html Thanks for listening….