Conditional Waiver Program for Grazing Operations in the Napa River and Sonoma Creek Watersheds

December 6, 2017

On November 8, 2017 the San Francisco Bay Water Board renewed the Conditional Waiver of Waste Discharge Requirements for Grazing Operations in the Napa River and Sonoma Creek Watersheds (2017 Conditional Waiver) for a second, five year term. The 2017 Conditional Waiver implements the Napa River Sediment TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load), the Sonoma Creek Sediment TMDL, the Napa River Pathogens TMDL, the Sonoma Creek Pathogens TMDL,  and the Implementation and Enforcement of the Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Program, which requires that all sources of nonpoint source pollution be regulated through Waste Discharge Requirements (WDRs), through waivers of WDRs, or through prohibitions. 

The Conditional Waiver requires that landowners or operators of grazing operations encompassing 100 acres or more submit a Notice of Intent to comply with the requirements of the Conditional Waiver. Landowners in the Napa River and Sonoma Creek watersheds who have not previously enrolled under the 2011 Conditional Waiver and who operate eligible grazing operations as defined in the 2017 Conditional Waiver must meet the following standards (a and b or solely c):

  1. Submit to the Regional Water Board a Notice of Intent to comply with the requirements of the 2017 Conditional Waiver, and
  2. Complete a Ranch Water Quality Plan (to be kept onsite); or
  3. Submit to the Regional Water Board a Notice of Non-Applicability.

RELATED DOCUMENTS


On July 19, 2011, Board Staff held a public workshop to discuss the Proposed Napa River/Sonoma Creek Grazing Waiver. An electronic copy of the presentation can be downloaded by clicking here.




For more information contact:

René Leclerc, P.E.
1515 Clay Street, Suite 1400
Oakland, CA 94612
Phone: 510-622-2410
E-mail: Rene.Leclerc@waterboards.ca.gov