Contra Costa Resource Conservation District

IRRIGATED AGRICULTURAL LANDS PROGRAM

What is the RCD's Irrigated Agricultural Lands Program?

The Irrigated Agricultural Lands Program worked with farmers on a voluntary basis to improve the quality of water flowing into the Delta. The program was funded by a grant from the CALFED Bay Delta Authority through the State of California Department of Conservation from 2005-2007. This integrated program of water conservation, agricultural tailwater and runoff management, and wildlife friendly agriculture had the following objectives:

1. Implement water conservation measures and other beneficial management practices (BMPs) on agricultural fields to reduce the quantity of soil loss and excess tailwater.

2. Improve the quality of tailwater and storm water discharge from agricultural fields.

3. Implement BMPs that improve wildlife habitats associated with irrigated agricultural operations.

Click Here to read results from this program.

The Irrigated Agricultural Lands Program created an opportunity for several growers to voluntarily work with the CCRCD and NRCS to reduce the impacts of irrigated agriculture on Delta surface waters. It offered help obtaining financial assistance, through federal and state cost-share programs, to implement BMPs, and it offered technical assistance to develop Conservation Plans and to identify the BMP most suitable for a landowner.

The purpose of the CCRCD’s Irrigated Agricultural Lands Program was to help growers respond to the challenge of reducing the impact of runoff from irrigated agricultural lands and stay in compliance with the Conditional Waivers.

About Conditional Waivers:

Growers in the California’s major farming areas are facing new regulations addressing runoff from irrigated agricultural lands. On July 11, 2003, the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board approved a Conditional Waiver for discharges from irrigated lands. These Conditional Waivers describe a process for owners and operators of irrigated lands to help them achieve compliance with the California Water Code. The waivers contain conditions that require implementation of management practices to address water quality problems and reporting of the effectiveness of management practices to the Regional Board. Water quality concerns in the Central Valley region include sediment, salts, pesticides, pathogens, selenium, boron, and organic carbon.

For more information contact

• CCRCD – Carol Arnold, Executive Director

(925) 672-6522 ext. 106

carol.arnold@ca.nacdnet.net

• NRCS – Alyson Aquino, District Conservationist

(925) 672-4577 ext. 102

alyson.aquino@ca.usda.gov