Mendocino County Water News

 

Russian River Frost Regulation
The latest draft of the Russian River Frost Regulation was released on May 20th and can be found at:

http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/waterrights/water_issues/programs/hearings/russian_river_frost/docs/20110427_draft_frost_reg_changes_compared.pdf
The proposed regulation would:

· declare ALL diversions for Frost Protection as unreasonable

· would apply to all river and creek diversions – and even groundwater wells

· would not properly recognize your water right priorities

· would ignore others who use water in the watershed for other purposes

· would result in significant compliance costs to you

According to the SWRCB’s own analysis, this regulation is expected to cost a typical 160-acre vineyard from $9,600 to $352,000 in order to initially comply with its mandates. It will cost an additional $3,000 to $36,200 per year to keep that 160-acre vineyard in compliance. It is expected to cost a typical 40-acre vineyard from $2,400 to $87,880 in order to initially comply with its mandates. It will cost an additional $750 to $9,000 per year to keep that 40-acre vineyard in compliance.

Comments on the proposed regulation and draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) were due on
July 5, 2011 and the final adoption hearing for the regulation has been scheduled for September 20, 2011. CFBF and MCFB submitted comments on the draft EIR as well as the regulation. In addition, the Frost Program appreciates all of those in the agricultural community that financially contributed to the joint comment letter submitted by Jesse Barton-Partner with Gallery and Barton Law Firm; Peter Kiel- Partner with Ellison, Schneider and Harris Law Firm and Paula Whealen- Partner with Wagner and Bonsignore Engineering.

Irrigated Agriculture Water Quality Discharge Program

Staff of the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (Regional Board) has begun developing a Water Quality Compliance Program for Discharges from Irrigated Lands to address water quality impacts associated with irrigated agricultural lands in the North Coast Region. The Regional Board has stated that irrigated lands have the potential to contribute to water quality problems through the over-application of fertilizers and pesticides, erosion of sediment, and the removal and suppression of riparian vegetation. The Regional Board is developing the Irrigated Lands Discharge Program to address these potential impacts to water quality and to meet the requirements of the State Nonpoint Source Policy.
The program is intended to be reasonable for landowners and operators to implement with built in flexibility for   local conditions. The program will include some form of monitoring and reporting. The specifics of the program will be determined through the stakeholder involvement process. The stakeholder process is scheduled to begin this year with proposed adoption in 2012. 

Stakeholders can subscribe to the mailing list and stay informed on the latest program developments at the following webpage: http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/northcoast/water_issues/programs/grazing_and_irrigated_agriculture/.

MCFB has requested to be involved in the stakeholder’s process and will provide further updates over the coming months.

State Wide Water Quality Program for Private Dry Land Grazing
The State Water Resources Control Board, with direct participation by all Regional Water Boards where grazing is a significant land use within the region, will be developing a water quality program for discharges associated with dry land grazing activities on private lands. The statewide grazing program is scheduled to be completed by 2013.