REGULATORY DEVELOPMENTS

November 2007

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Central Valley Irrigated Lands Program Update

In 2006, this Reporter included an article providing a general update on agricultural water quality regulation throughout California as well as an article on the July 2006 renewal of the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board’s (Central Valley Board) Irrigated Lands Program regulating discharges from irrigated lands (2006 Renewal) to surface waters of the state. See, 16 Cal. Water L. & Pol’y Rptr 323 (Aug 2006). Thereafter, agricultural and environmental interests petitioned the State Water Resources Control Board (State Board) to review the 2006 Renewal. The State Board denied all petitions in May 2007, and the 2006 Renewal is now subject to litigation in the Sacramento County Superior Court. In September 2007, agricultural interests intervened in the lawsuit in support of the 2006 Renewal. Also in September 2007, the State and Central Valley Boards convened a joint workshop, in lieu of taking up the petitions on the 2006 Renewal, to discuss the Irrigated Lands Program. The Central Valley Board is scheduled to consider adoption of a revised Monitoring and Reporting Program applicable to the Coalition groups participating in the Irrigated Lands Program in December 2007.