East San Joaquin Water Quality Coalition Parry Klassen Executive Director Merced River

  In operation since 2003   2,297 Landowner / operators   540,782 irrigated acres Madera, Merced, Stanislaus, Tuolumne, Mariposa counties   We manage group permit for our members Coalition Overview

Board of Directors Board Officers   Parry Klassen, Board Chairman Coalition for Urban Rural Executive Director Environmental Stewardship; fruit grower   Wayne Zipser, Vice-Chairman Stanislaus Co. Farm Bureau   Bill McKinney, Treasurer almond grower Board Members   Amanda Carvajal Merced Co. Farm Bureau   John Eisenhut Hilltop Ranch, almond grower   Brian Franzia West Coast Vineyards   Richard Gemperle Gemperle Enterprises, almond grower   Anja K. Raudabaugh Madera Co. Farm Bureau   Alan Reynolds Gallo Vineyards, Inc.   Albert Rossini Rossini Ag, grape grower   Jim Wagner Wilbur Ellis Co.   Mike Neimi Turlock Irrigation District Non-voting   Gary CaseriStanislaus County Agricultural Commissioner   David RobinsonMerced County Agricultural Commissioner   Bob RolanMadera County Agricultural Commissioner   Dianna WallerNatural Resources Conservation Service   Dennis WescotSan Joaquin River Group Authority

4 Approach for new ILRP  Maintain water quality coalitions Geographic/commodity based ordersGeographic/commodity based orders  Develop high/low vulnerability areas  Focus requirements and plans on High Vulnerability areas Focus on management practice implementation and reporting Limited monitoring (compared to other programs)

5 Known Nitrate Sources (Regional) Figure 1. Estimated groundwater nitrate loading from major sources within the Tulare Lake Basin and Salinas Valley, in Gg nitrogen per year (1 Gg = 1,100 t). ; Viers, J.H., et al (2012). Nitrogen Sources and Loading to Groundwater

Nitrates and Groundwater  Pollution pathways for nitrates and pesticides are similar  Nitrates/water soluble pesticides leach through soil to groundwater  Pathway for nitrates/pesticides Surface runoffSurface runoff Unprotected / improperly sealed wellsUnprotected / improperly sealed wells Over application of nitrogen fertilizerOver application of nitrogen fertilizer Other conduits to groundwater (e.g., backflow)Other conduits to groundwater (e.g., backflow) 6

7 Member Requirements Coalition Enrollment Existing members Current members confirm membership Current members confirm membership Must notify owners if tenant Must notify owners if tenant New members  120-day window to enroll with third-party (starts ~Nov. 15, 2012)  After deadline, must apply to Regional Board, pay fee, before joining coalition

8 Member Requirements Management Practices Implement management practices Implement management practices Practices found protective through representative groundwater monitoring program Practices found protective through representative groundwater monitoring program Respond to management plans Respond to management plans Meet discharge limitations Meet discharge limitations

9 Member Requirements Activities and Reports Why the Reporting Requirements? The Water Board needs information to determine compliance - Is water quality being protected? The Water Board needs information to determine compliance - Is water quality being protected? Traditional reliance primarily on monitoring is EXPENSIVE Traditional reliance primarily on monitoring is EXPENSIVE Reporting on what you are doing to protect water quality will be much CHEAPER Reporting on what you are doing to protect water quality will be much CHEAPER

10 Member Requirements Activities and Reports Participate in annual outreach events Participate in annual outreach events Complete farm evaluation, other reporting as needed Complete farm evaluation, other reporting as needed Describe water quality protection practices in place Describe water quality protection practices in place Site specific information Site specific information Allow property access to Regional Board at reasonable hours - FOR COMPLIANCE INSPECTION PURPOSES ONLY! Allow property access to Regional Board at reasonable hours - FOR COMPLIANCE INSPECTION PURPOSES ONLY! Focus on bad actors and complaints Focus on bad actors and complaints

11 Member Requirements under Consideration Highly Vulnerable Areas Information reported to coalition  Individual farm evaluations  Nitrogen Budget reports - certification

12 Member Requirements under Consideration Low Vulnerability Areas Information kept on farm:  Individual farm evaluations  Nitrogen budget reports Must be produced for Water Board inspections

13 WDR Development Schedule General WDRPublic reviewBoard hearing East San Joaquin RiverJune 2012October 2012 General Order for IndividualsJune 2012December 2012 Tulare Lake BasinOctober 2012February 2013 Sacramento Valley RiceNovember 2012March 2013 Grasslands BypassJanuary 2013June 2013 Sacramento River WatershedFebruary 2013June 2013

14 WDR Development Schedule General WDRPublic reviewBoard hearing Westlands Water DistrictApril 2013August 2013 West-side San Joaquin RiverJune 2013October 2013 San Joaquin County and DeltaJune 2013October 2013

Waste Discharge Requirements Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program ESJWQC Approach Classification of vulnerable areas Well head protection program Nitrogen management plans

Waste Discharge Requirements Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program Assessment Report (due January 2014) Rank land vulnerability based on Assessment Report High Vulnerability Areas ID’d using DPR pesticide groundwater protection areas, State Water Board vulnerable areas 2014: Farm assessment requirement starts 2014: Nitrogen budget requirement starts 2014 Well head protection Low Vulnerability Keep farm assessment/nitrogen budgets on farm

Madera County Vulnerable Areas

Wellhead Protection BMPs   Wellhead house keeping Prevent ponding for extended periods Waste can enter if wellhead/casing is cracked or improperly sealed Grade away from wellhead to prevent storm runoff ponding   Open discharge well Air gap between well discharge and receiving device   Pressurized systems: Back flow preventers In case of power failures and/or pump malfunction Back siphoning can directly contaminate groundwater   Abandoned wells Develop plan to manage

Nitrogen Management Plan Components   Apply N at crop removal rates Dairies regulated to 140% of crop use (N applications)   Test well water for nitrogen levels (then adjust N applications accordingly)   Leaf / tissue testing   Soil testing   Irrigation management

Proposed reporting of nitrogen budget sheet information:   Submit form to Coalition   Coalition compiles ratios; separates into crops, “reporting areas”   “Reporting area” depends on aquifer, basin, sub basins, soil types etc.

Field Reporting Map Completed by Grower

Potentially applying too much N (outliers) Most growers (UC recommended rates)

What the area report should show:   Where most growers are with nitrogen ratios   The “Outliners:” those who apply too much or too little   Focus of outreach with commodity specific information/references

Waste Discharge Requirements Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program Representative Monitoring Confirm that management practices implemented to improve groundwater quality are working   Are agricultural management practices protective of groundwater in high vulnerability areas   Assess effectiveness of any newly implemented management practices. Coalition to rank/prioritize high vulnerability areas and commodities and present phased approach Coordinated effort by coalitions/commodity groups to complete

Waste Discharge Requirements Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program Regional Water Board process   Next steps Public review of draft WDR Comment deadline July 31, 2012 October 4, 2012 Regional Water Board ILRP meeting Approve or delay? After passage, ESJ has 30 days to apply to be Third Party 120 day “holiday” to join coalition directly Holiday ends February 1, 2013 (approximate)

Parry Klassen