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Central Valley Regional Water Board Irrigated Agricultural Discharges

In 2012, the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board issued two orders against farmers who allowed excess sediment to wash from farm fields into waters of the state.  These orders were the first in a new focus on enforcement of water quality regulations against agricultural operators.

On June 15, 2012, the Central Valley Regional Board issued Administrative Civil Liability Order R5-2012-0029 against the Antonio P. and Mary R. Bettencourt Living Trust, Tom Bloomfield and F.A. Maggiore & Sons, LLC.  This Order imposed administrative civil liability of $10,000 for discharges causing excess turbidity in 2010 and 2011.

The City of Brawley failed to develop and adopt local limits and revised its Pretreatment Ordinance.   Without such limits there is a substantial threat of harm to water quality.  The City of Brawley is working to develop these limits and achieve full compliance with the remaining requirements of the order.  Failure to achieve compliance subjects the City of Brawley to additional enforcement.

On August 3, 2012, the Central Valley Regional Board issued Administrative Civil Liability Order R5-2012-0071 against Del Mar Farms, Jon Maring and Lee Del Don, of $56,600, for discharges during the 2011 irrigation season that caused excess turbidity to reach waters of the state, including the San Joaquin River.

The Central Valley Regional Board continues to emphasize enforcement of water quality regulations against agricultural operators, and has successfully encouraged operators to install Best Management Practices to control sediment runoff on thousands of irrigated acres.