Agriculture

Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program

California agriculture is extremely diverse and spans a wide array of growing conditions from northern to southern California. California's agriculture includes more than 400 commodities. The state produces nearly half of US-grown fruits, nuts and vegetables. Across the nation, US consumers regularly purchase crops produced in California. Many of the products are exported to markets worldwide.

Water discharges from agricultural operations in California include irrigation runoff, flows from tile drains, and storm water runoff. These discharges can affect water quality by transporting pollutants, including pesticides, sediment, nutrients, salts (including selenium and boron), pathogens, and heavy metals, from cultivated fields into surface waters. Many surface water bodies are impaired because of pollutants from agricultural sources. Groundwater bodies have suffered pesticide, nitrate, and salt contamination.

To prevent agricultural discharges from impairing the waters that receive these discharges, the Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program (ILRP) regulates discharges from irrigated agricultural lands. This is done by issuing waste discharge requirements (WDRs) or conditional waivers of WDRs (Orders) to growers. These Orders contain conditions requiring water quality monitoring of receiving waters and corrective actions when impairments are found. The number of acres of agricultural land enrolled in the ILRP is about six million acres. The number of growers enrolled is approximately 40,000.

Announcements

• Proposed Order, February 8, 2016 (SWRCB/OCC Files A-2239(a)-(c))
  On February 8, 2016, the State Water Board issued a proposed order in the above matter. In a second revised transmittal letter dated April 1, 2016, the State Water Board announced two public workshops to hear comment on the proposed order, on Wednesday, May 4, 2016, in Sacramento, and Tuesday, May 17, 2016, in Fresno, and set the written public comment deadline for 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 18, 2016.
  • Information can be found at: Eastern San Joaquin River Watershed Agricultural Order SWRCB/OCC Files A-2239(a)-(c)


• Report Presentation - Conclusions of the Agricultural Expert Panel: Recommendations to the State Water Board
  • September 23, 2014: State Water Board Meeting Informational Item (Sacramento)
    • Agenda: Will be available at Board Info Webpage
    • For more information on the Expert Panel visit the Expert Panel ITRC Webpage


• New Bay-Delta Critical Conservation Area RCPP 2014 Farm Bill Conservation Partnership Program
  
  

Nitrate-SBX2 1 Expert Panel

• Agricultural Expert Panel Public Meetings and Solicitation of Public Comments
  The State Water Resources Control Board Chapter 1 of the Second Extraordinary Session of 2008 (SBX2 1, Perata) Report to the Legislature-Recommendation 14 Expert Panel Public Meetings:
  • Expert Panel Questions: English | en Español
  • May 5-6, 2014: Expert Panel Public Meeting #1 (San Luis Obispo)
    • May 5, 2014 - Convene Panel and Invited Testimony
    • May 6, 2014 - Invited Testimony and Public Comment
    • Agenda: English | en Español
    • Meeting Minutes: English
  • May 7, 2014: Expert Panel Public Meeting #2 (Tulare)
    • Agenda: English | en Español
    • Meeting Minutes: English
  • May 9, 2014: Expert Panel Public Meeting #3 (Sacramento)
    • Agenda: English | en Español
    • Meeting Minutes: English
  • June 9, 2014: Expert Panel Meeting #4 (San Luis Obispo)
    • Agenda: English | en Español
    • Meeting Minutes: English
  • June 23, 2014: Expert Panel Meeting #5 (San Luis Obispo)
    • REVISED Agenda: English | en Español
    • Agenda: English | en Español
  • July 1, 2014: Expert Panel Meeting #6 (San Luis Obispo)
    • REVISED Agenda: English | en Español
    • Agenda: English | en Español
• Agricultural Expert Panel Notice of Public Hearing and Opportunity for Public Comment
  • Agricultural Expert Panel Draft Report to the State Water Board
  • More Info: Irrigation Training and Research Center Expert Panel Website
  • July 18, 2014: Expert Panel Public Meeting #7 (Sacramento)
    • Agenda: English | en Español
  • July 28, 2014: Advisory Committee Meeting (Sacramento)
    • Agenda: English | en Español
    • Results: Consensus Comments to Expert Panel
  • August 20, 2014: Expert Panel Meeting #8 (San Luis Obispo)
    • Agenda: English | en Español
• Expert Panel Questions 3, 4, & 11
  • SWRCB Provided Additional Details
  • Public Solicitation for Additional Details
• Nitrate-SBX2 1 Advisory Committee Kick-off Meeting - March 10, 2014
  • Agenda
• Nitrate-SBX2 1 Expert Panel Nominations and Formation of an Advisory Committee
  Soliciting nominations for an Expert Panel and announcing the formation and meeting of an Advisory Committee. These actions are in fulfillment of Recommendation 14 of Chapter 1 of the Second Extraordinary Session of 2008 (SBX 2 1, Perata) Report to the Legislature - Recommendation 14.
  • Public Notice - Deadline to receive public comments is March 7, 2014 (Noon)
• Questions on this topic can be directed to:
  • Johnny Gonzales at (916) 341-5510 or email: Johnny.Gonzales@waterboards.ca.gov
  • Ashley Zellmer at (916) 341-5911 or email: Ashley.Zellmer@waterboards.ca.gov

  Receive updates on this topic by email. Subscribe to our email list: Nitrate Project - SBX2 1 - Expert Panel. (Located in the "Water Quality Topics" section.)

About the Program

• About the Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program (Ag Waivers)
• Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program (ILRP) Monthly Report
  The State Water Board is pleased to provide a link to the public to review monthly status reports on the ILRP. The monthly reports will provide updated ILRP information. The first monthly report will be on the Central Valley Water Boards program. Alternate monthly reports will be on the other Regional Board ILRPs.
• Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP)
  FREP was established in 1990 through a legislative action to provide funding for research and education regarding the use and handling of fertilizing material, including, but not limited to, any environmental effects. The program is part of the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), Division of Inspection Services, within the Feed, Fertilizer, and Livestock Drugs Regulatory Services branch.
• Impaired Water Bodies
  Listing a water body as impaired in California is governed by the Water Quality Control Policy for developing California’s Clean Water Act Section 303(d) Listing Policy. The State and Regional Water Boards assess water quality data for California’s waters every two years to determine if they contain pollutants at levels that exceed protective water quality criteria and standards. This biennial assessment is required under Section 303(d) of the Federal Clean Water Act. See a map of water bodies (click on the Map tab) that have been identified as impaired by agricultural related pollutants such as pesticides or nutrients.
• Monitoring Data Reports
  The monitoring information provided below provides a general understanding of the baseline water quality conditions in many Central Coast, Los Angeles, and Central Valley areas of irrigated agriculture.
  • Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board
    • Water Quality Conditions Related to Agricultural Discharges
    • Agricultural Surface Water Assessment Summary
    • Central Coast Ambient Monitoring Program
  • Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board
    • Ventura Agriculture Irrigated Lands Group Annual Report
    • Nursery Growers Association - Los Angeles Irrigated Lands Group Annual Report
  • Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board
    • Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program Monitoring Data
    • Monitoring and Reporting Program Plans
    • ILRP Data on CEDEN
• Fee Information
  The Division of Administrative Services - Fee Branch, is responsible for setting and collecting fees for the Water Quality Program, which includes all agricultural regulatory programs (Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program) . If you have questions regarding Water Quality Fees, please email Fee_Branch@waterboards.ca.gov or phone (916) 341-5247.
  • Agricultural and Irrigated Lands Fee Schedule
    
• Agricultural Water Quality Grants Program
  The Division of Financial Assistance administers the implementation of the State Water Resources Control Board's financial assistance programs, which includes loan and grant funding for the Agricultural Water Quality Grants Program. The Agricultural Water Quality Grants Program provides funding for projects that reduce or eliminate non-point source pollution discharge to surface waters from agricultural lands.
  • Agricultural Water Quality Grants Program

Region-Specific Program Information

• Regional Board Internet Web Pages
  • North Coast Region
  • Central Coast Region
  • Central Valley Region
  • Los Angeles Region
  • Santa Ana Region
  • San Diego Region

Other Agricultural Information Links

• Nonpoint Source Management Measures
  • NPS Guidance - NPS/CZARA fact sheets on management measures applicable to nonpoint sources.
  • NPS Encyclopedia - The California Nonpoint Source Encyclopedia provides information on nonpoint source management measures by categories.
  • Management Practices (MP) Miner
    
    
• Links
  • California Bioresources Alliance Symposium 2013: Symposium | Agenda
  • 6th Annual Farm Food Safety & Conservation Network Symposium - August 21, 2013
  • Agricultural Water Quality Grant Program
  • Sacramento River Watershed Program
  • Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program (SWAMP)
  • Western Integrated Pest Management Center
  • UC Integrated Pest Management Program
  • Pesticide Use Reporting Workgroup
  • UC Agricultural Geographic Information System
  • Farm Water Quality Planning Program - Short Courses

Questions or Comments?

If you have questions or comments concerning the Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program –

• Please contact Johnny Gonzales, Program Manager (916) 341-5510
  
  

  Receive updates on this topic by email. Subscribe to our email lists. See the "Water Quality Topics" section.

(Updated 4/7/16)