Water Quality Targeting Success Stories

CALIFORNIA: Walker CreekLarry Domenighini, President & Farmer

Kandi Manhart, Subwatershed Coordinator

71st International Annual ConferenceSoil and Water Conservation Society

Louisville, KY - July 26, 2016

CentralValley

Walker Creek Bay-Delta Initiative Area

187,000 acres

Monitoring Location

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Regulatory Drivers--California – Porter Cologne Water Quality Control Act 1969

--Federal – Clean Water Act 1972--Irrigated Agriculture Exempt from Waste Discharge

Requirements until 2003

Mandated Regulation – Since 2003Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program

Surface water monitoring & reportingMembership & outreach reporting

--Farmer-led Coalition option allowed State recognized difficulties in regulating 7 million irrigated acres, 20,000 farmers

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Keys to Local SuccessLocal People for Local Solutions

Farmer-formed & Farmer-led• County Farm Bureaus initiated working together

= Colusa Glenn Subwatershed Program “Work with us OR work with the State”

Partnerships • County Agriculture Departments• Northern California Water Association • Glenn County Resource Conservation

District hired for Outreach & Education• Technical Partners

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“Pilot Program”2005 - 2009

Help implement the Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program locally

Parties included: Regional Water Quality Control Board CA Department of Pesticide Regulation County Ag Departments / Ag Commissioners

County Ag Departments were identified as the organization most farmers contacted and trusted

Regional Board funding for local Ag Department $$$$$$

Ag Department provided technical services for local support

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Challenge is on… Walker CreekChlorpyrifos & Aquatic Toxicity

Two or more exceedances of the same parameter at the same monitoring site within a 3-year period triggers Management Plan.

Management Plan Implementation1. Review Pesticide Use Reports

2. Survey for management practices

3. Mandatory workshop attendance

4. Educate on Best Management Practices

5. On-going outreach to farmers7

Cost-Share Funding with NRCS

2010-2013 AWEP – $1.7 MillionAgricultural Water Enhancement Program

2012-2014 BDI – $1.5 MillionBay Delta Initiative Program

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Water Quality~ $22 - $231 / acre

Water Conservation~ $15,300 - $45,000 / each

Conservation Covers, Cover Crops, Field Boarders, Nutrient Management, Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Irrigation Water Management

Sediment Basin, Filter Strips, Grassed Waterways, Precision Pest Control Application

Micro-sprinklers, Sprinklers, Tailwater Recovery

Management Plan COMPLETED in 2014

How we evaluated effectiveness / success: Monitoring results (4-years NO exceedances) Implemented Best Management Practices Management practice surveys show improvement Continuous outreach & education

Regional Board deemed MP complete!“This program demonstrates the effectiveness of intensive outreach coupled with management practice implementation to protect water quality in watersheds with irrigated agriculture.”

–Pamela Creedon, Executive Officer, Regional Board

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Project Cost Distribution2007 - 2015

Project Management

5%

NRCS Tech5%

NRCS Share-

Practices47%

Farmer Share-

Practices12%

Monitoring4%

Other Local / In-Kind

27%

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PartnershipsFarmer-formed

& Farmer-led

Larry Domenighini – President larrydom@sbcglobal.net

(530) 570-2084

Kandi Manhart – Subwatershed Coordinator cgsubwatershed@sbcglobal.net

(530) 934-8036 (MAIN OFFICE)

www.glenncountyrcd.org>> projects >> colusa-glenn-subwatershed-program