Agriculture & water quality

Photo by Erin Feinblatt

In December 2008, the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (CCRWQCB) convened a stakeholder panel to update the region's Irrigated Agricultural Discharge Waiver program.  The Discharge Waiver program implements federal and state laws to regulate discharges from irrigated agricultural lands and thereby protect water quality and in-stream beneficial uses.  EDC was also at the table for the inaugural stakeholder panel in 2004, when CCRWQCB promulgated the first Conditional Discharge Waiver order.

With the CCRWQCB's stakeholder process now terminated, EDC has joined fellow participants Santa Barbara Channelkeeper and Monterey Coastkeeper in developing recommendations for the Discharge Waiver program.  In general, we support four principles introduced by CCRWQCB staff:

1. eliminate toxic discharges of agricultural pesticides;
2. reduce nutrient discharges to surface waters and groundwater;
3. minimize sediment discharges from agricultural lands; and
4. protect aquatic habitat, including riparian areas and wetlands, and adequate buffer zones. 

Read more about our recommendations here.

The CCRWQCB is now accepting comments on the revised Conditional Waiver Discharge order.  Comments are due April 1 and can be directed to ASchroeter@waterboards.ca.gov.  A final order will likely be issued in late summer or fall 2010. Read more about EDC's recommendations on the Conditional Waiver here.