The California Water Boards' Annual Performance Report - Fiscal Year 2009-10

REGULATE: CONFINED ANIMAL FACILITIES

MEASUREMENTS

WHAT THE MEASURE IS SHOWING

Non-Dairies are concentrated mostly in Regions 7 and 8. The size of the facilities, measured by the number of animals in each facility varies significantly. The Regional Water Boards may regulate waste discharges from confined animal facilities (CAFs) by issuing or conditionally waiving Waste Discharge Requirements (WDRs), as well as National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits where the discharge is to waters of the U.S.

WHY THIS MEASURE IS IMPORTANT

Wastes generated at CAFs can adversely impact the quality and beneficial uses of waters. There are a wide variety of CAFs that are regulated by the Regional Water Boards. Other Non-Dairy types of operations that are regulated by the Regional Water Boards include poulty, swine, equestrian, and veal calf operations. Several Regional Water Boards are evaluating increased regulation of CAFs. In addition to issuing permits, the Regional Water Boards are responsible for conducting inspections, and issuing enforcement actions against both regulated and non-regulated CAFs. A significant number of Non-Dairy facilities remain to be regulated in some regional boards. The Water Boards are in the process of compiling this information that will be presented in next year’s report card.

TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS

• Data source: CIWQS. Period: July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010. Extracted: August 12, 2010.
• Unit of Measure: Number of regulated non-dairies feeding operations and other confined animal facilities in FY 2009-10. Number of Animals declared.
• References: SWRCB CAFO program site http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/npdes/cafo.shtml. 
  R5 CAFO program https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/centralvalley/water_issues/dairies/index.shtml.
  R8 Dairy program https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/santaana/water_issues/programs/dairies/index.shtml
  Additional information on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Final CAFO Rule is available at: http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/afo/cafofinalrule.cfm.

GLOSSARY

CAF

(Confined Animal Facility) is defined in California regulations as "any place where cattle, calves, sheep, swine, horses, mules, goats, fowl, or other domestic animals are corralled, penned, tethered, or otherwise enclosed or held and where feeding is by means other than grazing."

Dairy

An establishment for processing or selling milk and milk products.

( Updated 9/20/11 )