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.

• 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.
• 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
• Water Quality Fee Stakeholder Meeting
  The State Water Board’s Water Quality Fee Stakeholder meeting is scheduled for:
  
  • Friday, June 15, 2012 – 10 am
    Cal/EPA Headquarters (1001 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814) – Training Room 1 East/West
      »»  Handout
      »»  See the 2011 - 2012 Fee Schedule for the ILRP
  • If you have questions or comments concerning the Ag Waiver Fee –
    
    • Please contact Johnny Gonzales - (916) 341-5510 or David Ceccarelli - (916) 341-5999
• 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
• Regional Board Internet Web Pages
  • North Coast Region
  • Central Coast Region
  • Central Valley Region
  • Los Angeles Region
  • Santa Ana Region
  • San Diego Region
• If you have questions or comments concerning the Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program –
  • Please contact Johnny Gonzales, Program Manager (916) 341-5510

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
  • 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

 ( Updated 4/25/13 )