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 (Waivers) to growers (WDRs and Waivers collectively referred to as Orders). Due to regional diversity of farm practices, hydrogeology, and other factors, each Regional Water Quality Control Board adopts their own Orders to protect water quality from agricultural practices. Over 50,000 farm operations with over six million acres are enrolled in the ILRP. Up-to-date and historic enrollment data can be found on the ILRP performance report webpage.
For more information on the Program, view the ILRP overview document.
Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program across California
| Region | Year First Implemented | Estimated Acres of Agriculture | Primary Commodities |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Coast Region | Pending | 270,000 | Wine grapes, lily bulbs |
| San Francisco Bay Region | 2018 | 50,000 | Wine grapes |
| Central Coast Region | 2003 | 540,000 | Lettuce, celery, broccoli, cabbage, strawberries |
| Los Angeles Region | 2005 | 90,000 | Fruit, nuts, nursery stock, cut flowers, vegetables |
| Central Valley Region | 2003 | 6,050,000 | Almonds, rice, tomatoes, grapes |
| Lahontan Region | 2023 | 220,000 | Grazing |
| Colorado River Basin Region | 2012 | 608,000 | Alfalfa, citrus, winter vegetables, dates, leafy greens |
| Santa Ana Region | 2016 | 18,000 | Citrus, wheats, various |
| San Diego Region | 2017 | 70,000 | Nursery, cut flowers, avocado, citrus, nuts |
Statewide Requirements
In February 2018, the State Resources Water Control Board (State Water Board) adopted Order No. WQ-2018-0002, In the Matter of Review of Waste Discharge Requirements General Order No. R5-2012-0116 for Growers Within the Eastern San Joaquin River Watershed that are Members of the Third-Party Group (ESJ Order). The ESJ Order was adopted in response to petitions filed against an Order issued within the Central Valley. The ESJ Order directed all Regional Boards to revise their agricultural Orders and incorporate the precedential requirements by 2023.
Prior to adoption of the ESJ Order, the State Board convened an agricultural expert panel as directed by California Senate Bill SBX 2 1 (Perata). Many of the requirements included in the ESJ Order are from recommendations made within the 2014 Agricultural Expert Panel Report.
The ESJ Order includes precedential requirements for educational outreach events, record keeping standards, on-farm drinking water well monitoring, Farm Evaluations, Irrigation and Nitrogen Management Plans (INMPs), and Sediment and Erosion Control Plans where necessary.
For more information on the program requirements, please contact program staff.
Monthly Reports
The State Water Board provides program updates in the monthly Executive Directors report.
State Board updates are provided monthly while Regional Board updates are provided bi-monthly. To view the monthly reports, visit the ILRP monthly report webpage.
Fee Information
The State Water Board’s Division of Administrative Services’ Fee Branch is responsible for setting and collecting fees for the Water Quality Programs, which includes the agricultural program. The current fee schedule for this fiscal year can be found on the Fees webpage. If you have questions regarding Water Quality fees, please email FeeBranch@waterboards.ca.gov or call (916) 341-5247.
GeoTracker
GeoTracker is a database and geographic information system that provides online access to environmental data. It is the primary tool for tracking regulatory data for the Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program. Water Boards staff use GeoTracker to view and manage data on drinking water sampling, management practices, and additional reported information. Most Regional Water Boards require growers to enroll in the program using an electronic Notice of Intent (eNOI) located on GeoTracker.
Other Informational Links
- Agricultural-Related Programs
- Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program (SWAMP)
- Groundwater Ambient Monitoring and Assessment Program (GAMA)
- Sustainable Groundwater Management Act Program (SGMA)
- Central Valley Salinity Alternatives for Long-Term Sustainability (CV-SALTS)
- Nonpoint Source Management Program (NPS)
- Agricultural Water Quality Grants Program
- Surface Water Quality Assessment Program
- CDFA Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP)
- CDFA Alternative Manure Management Program (AMMP)
- Databases
- GeoTracker – GeoTracker is a database and geographic information system that provides online access to environmental data. It tracks regulatory data for the Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program.
- California Environmental Data Exchange Network (CEDEN) – CEDEN is the State Water Board’s data system for surface water quality in California.
- UC Agricultural Geographic Information System (AGIS) – UC Davis undertakes research related to the environmental compatibility of agricultural production systems, landscape ecology, and conservation biology.
- External Organizations
- Non-Point Source Management Measures
- NPS Encyclopedia – The California Non-Point Source Encyclopedia provides information on non-point source management measures by categories.
Subscribe to our Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program email list to receive notifications and the latest updates. After subscribing, you will need to check your email host for a confirmation email to complete the subscription.
Subscribe to our other email lists. See the "Water Quality" section.
Region-Specific Program Information
Contacts
Disaster related animal mortality
If there are questions related to disposal of debris or animal carcasses from a disaster or emergency event, contact the Program Manager.
Region-Specific Inquiries
- North Coast Region
- Ben Zabinsky (Smith River Lily Bulbs) Email: Ben.Zabinsky@waterboards.ca.gov
- Brenna Sullivan (Vineyards) Email: Brenna.Sullivan@waterboards.ca.gov
Telephone: (707) 576-6750
Telephone: (707) 576-2699 - San Francisco Bay Region
- Graham Brown Email: Graham.Brown@waterboards.ca.gov
Telephone: (510) 622-2426 - Central Coast Region
- Email: AgNOI@waterboards.ca.gov
- Los Angeles Region
- Central Valley Region
- For Tulare Lake Basin and Western Tulare Lake Basin areas: ilrpinfo@waterboards.ca.gov
- For all other Central Valley basin areas: irrlands@waterboards.ca.gov
- Lahontan Region
- Ben Letton Email: Ben.Letton@waterboards.ca.gov
Telephone: (530) 542-5436 - Colorado River Basin Region
- Francisco Costa Email: Francisco.Costa@waterboards.ca.gov
Telephone: (760) 776-8937 - Santa Ana Region
- Brian Covellone Email: Brian.Covellone@waterboards.ca.gov
Telephone: (951) 782-4382 - San Diego Region
Fee Inquiries
- Email: FeeBranch@waterboards.ca.gov
Telephone: (916) 341-5247
