1. Feather River Watershed James Wilie CE 296B May 12, 1998

2. Overview (Lower Feather River Watershed) Description of Watershed Land Use / Land Cover Flow Characteristics Beneficial Uses Sources of Pollution –Point Sources –Non-point Sources Best Management of Non-point Source

3. Marrysville Oroville

4. Land Area by County (Lower Feather River)

5. Land Use / Land Cover

7. Marrysville Oroville

8. Flow Characteristics (Hydrologic Record 10/64 to 12/83)

9. 261,000 cfs

10. Beneficial Uses

11. Beneficial Uses (cont.)

13. Point Sources Industrial –Mathews Readymix, Inc. (South of Oroville) –High Sierra Pine, Mills –Olive Products Co. & Coronet Olive Oil Co. –Stokley Cannery Airports –Yuba County –Sutter County Sewage Treatment Plants –Oroville, Gridley, Yuba City, Marysville Oroville City Dump Fish Hatchery

14. Non-point Sources Agriculture (55% of Land Use) –Over application of Fertilizers –Over application of Pesticides –Irrigation

15. Overview Non-point Source Management Management –Nutrient –Pesticide –Irrigation Authority –Various Partnerships involving Multi- Agency Resources and Jurisdictional Authority (Federal, State, & Local)

16. Non-point Source Management (Nutrient Management) Nutrient Management –Apply nutrients at rates necessary to achieve realistic crop yields –Improve the timing of nutrient application –Use agronomic crop production technology to increase nutrient use efficiency

17. Non-point Source Management (Nutrient Management) Authority –Federal - Provide techn. & financial assistance to growers relative to nutrient manag. & proper fertilizer application (Natural Resource Conservation Service, Consolidated Farm Service Agency,…) –State - review all fertilizer formulations & issue a license before product use (Department of Food & Agriculture) –Local - important role in delivery of approp. info. to growers (Resource Conservation Districts, Farm Advisors, Water Districts,…)

18. Non-point Source Management (Pesticide Management) Pesticide Management –Evaluate pest problems, previous pest control measures, and cropping history –Evaluate the soil & physical characteristics of the site including mixing, loading, & storage areas for potential leaching or runoff –Apply pesticides efficiently and at times when runoff losses are unlikely –Periodically calibrate pesticide spray equipment –Use anti-backflow devices on hoses used for filling tank mixtures

19. Non-point Source Management (Pesticide Management) Authority –State - DPR (Department of Pesticide Regulation) is the lead agency for pesticide regulation with primary responsibility for the protection of public health and the environment from the risk of pesticides while regulating all aspects of quality, sales, and use. –Local - pesticide use enforcement in the field (County Agricultural Commissioners)

20. Non-point Source Management (Irrigation Management) Irrigation Management –Operate the irrigation system so that the timing and amount of irrigation water applied match crop water needs. This will require at a minimum: 1) accurate measurement of soil-water depletion volume of irrigation water applied 2) uniform application of water –When chemigation is used, include backflow preventers for wells, minimize the harmful amounts of chemigated waters that discharge from the edge of the field, and control deep percolation.

21. Non-point Source Management (Irrigation Management) Authority –State - California has had an effective Agricultural Water Conservation Program since ‘80 which is administered by DWR (Department of Water Resources) –Local - counties use ordinances to protect groundwater supplies (Ventura County,...)

22. Conclusion Beneficial Uses for Lower Feather River Watershed are Realized Primary Non-point Source Pollution Is Agriculture Key to Best Managed of Non-point Source Pollution is Various Partnerships involving Multi-Agency Resources and Jurisdictional Authority

23. Point Source Point Source [40 CFR 122.2] –“any discernible, confined, and discrete conveyance, including but not limited to, any pipe, ditch, channel, tunnel, conduit, well, discrete fissure, container, rolling stock, concentrated animal feeding operation, landfill leachate collection system, vessel or other floating craft from which pollutants are or may be discharged. This term does not include return flow from irrigated agriculture or agricultural storm water runoff.”

24. Point Source (cont.) Point Source [Sierra Club v. Abston Construction Co., Inc., 620 F.2d 41 (5th Cir. 1980)] –“changing the surface of land or establishing grading patterns on land will result in a point source where the runoff from the site is ultimately discharged to waters of the United States.”