North Coast Water Board adopts permit for commercial lily bulb growers

SANTA ROSA – The North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board adopted a permit for commercial lily bulb growers in the Smith River Plain.

The order requires growers to prevent agricultural pollutants, including pesticides and nutrients, from reaching the Smith River Plain watershed. It calls for erosion controls, vegetated buffers along waterways, and improved pesticide and nutrient management.

"The Smith River is California's largest undammed river system, which supports important aquatic species and tribal uses. These requirements reflect years of collaboration to protect water quality in a manner tailored to a unique agricultural industry," said Valerie Quinto, executive officer of the North Coast Water Board.

The river supports salmon, steelhead and other aquatic species. Water quality monitoring identified pesticides from lily bulb operations in nearby waterways, prompting the board to act.

These rules were developed with input from growers, the Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation and other stakeholders to protect the watershed while allowing commercial lily bulb production to continue.

In addition to the order, the board also certified the Final Environmental Impact Report prepared for the program under the California Environmental Quality Act.

The North Coast Water Board’s mission is to develop and enforce water quality objectives and implement plans that will best protect the region's waters while recognizing our local differences in climate, topography, geology and hydrology.