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The California Water Boards' Annual Performance Report - Fiscal Year 2011-12

REGULATE: CONFINED ANIMAL FACILITIES

GROUP: CONFINED ANIMAL FACILITIES (CAFs)
MEASURE: NUMBER OF REGULATED DAIRY FACILITIES
MESSAGE:   Most dairies are concentrated in the Central Valley Region. The average size is 1,174 animals per dairy.

MEASUREMENTS  - Data Last Updated on: 

Number of Dairies Grouped by Average Number of Animals

 

WHAT THE MEASURE IS SHOWING

Dairies are concentrated mostly in the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board (R5). The size of the facilities, measured by the number of animals in each facility varies significantly. The data shows that 53 facilities representing approximately 5% of the regulated animal feeding operations during Fiscal year 2011-2012. The Regional Water Boards may regulate waste discharges from 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. The dairies regulated in R8 are under a general NPDES permit (R8-2007-0001). In R1 Dairies are regulated with an NPDES permit, Waste Discharge Requirements, and a Conditional Waiver of Waste Discharge Requirements.

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. The most well-known are dairies, with the Central Valley Regional Water Board (Region 5) regulating approximately 80% of the dairies in the state. Other types of operations that are regulated by the Regional Water Boards include poultry, 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.

Over the past several years, sectors of animal feeding operations have rapidly and profoundly changed in response to the current economic climate. Approximately 100 dairy operations in the Central Valley region have gone out of business over the past two years, with many of them converting to heifer ranches. Inspections are the primary tool to ensure compliance with waste discharge requirements or waivers of waste discharge requirements.

TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS

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.

( Page last updated:  9/11/12 )

 
 

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