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Sustainable Agricultural Monitoring in Central Coast California: A Comprehensive Approach

Learn about the innovative Cooperative Agricultural Monitoring Program in Central Coast California, focusing on water quality management and sustainable practices for over 2500 growers. Utilizing technology and education to ensure compliance with Conditional Agricultural Waivers. Explore the key components of the monitoring program and its impact on regional sustainability.

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Sustainable Agricultural Monitoring in Central Coast California: A Comprehensive Approach

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  1. Cooperative Agricultural Monitoring on California’s Central Coast:An Integrated, Innovative ApproachKaren Worcester, Staff Environmental Scientist Alison Jones, Environmental ScientistDave Paradies, Software Developer

  2. In the Central Coast we have: • 450,000 acres of irrigated agriculture • A $2 billion industry • 2500 growers • Many operations under 50 acres • 2 staff positions to run our “Ag Waiver” program

  3. What are “Ag Waivers”? • Conditional Waiver of Waste Discharge Requirements (WDRs) • 1999 - State law amended • Existing waivers expired January 1, 2003 • New waivers may not exceed five years • Conditions must be enforced • Waivers must include monitoring

  4. Central Coast Conditional Agricultural Waiver • Individual enrollment • 15 hours of education • Farm water quality plan • Implementation and reporting of practices • Participation in group or individual monitoring

  5. Implementation of Management Practices Education Monitoring All growers enroll individually Both owner and operator must comply with the conditions of the waiver

  6. Education Requirements • 15 hours most easily met through UCCE Farm Water Quality Short Course • Over 1800 growers have attended • 35 Short Courses held; 30 more planned over next 18 months • Course product is Farm Plan

  7. With 1600 enrollees, we needed to leverage staffing with technology!

  8. Enrollment Database Notice of Intent includes: • Ranch Info • Crop type • Irrigation type • Discharge type • Management Practices • Hard copy maps and education certificates

  9. Let’s go to the Enrollment Database… http://www.ccamp.org/

  10. Monitoring: • The Big Artichoke

  11. What we knew about water quality in our Region: Central Coast Ambient Monitoring Program and SWAMP partners had shown: • Wide-spread nitrate problems in ag areas • Toxicity associated with organophosphates and pyrethroid pesticides

  12. Surface Water Nitrate exceedances (as mean)

  13. Groundwater Nitrate exceedances (as mean)

  14. Waiver allows for Cooperative Monitoring Program • Nonprofit formed • Cost allocation subcommittee • Monitoring subcommittee • Most funding for first three years

  15. Monitoring Program Elements • 50 sites in waterbodies with: • Ag related TMDLs • Elevated groundwater nitrate levels • Follow-up monitoring in problem areas (@ 25% of monitoring budget) • Electronic reporting

  16. Monitoring Components(compatible with CCAMP design) • Monthly conventional monitoring and flow • 3-species water toxicity testing • Twice during high flow • Twice during low flow • Sediment toxicity testing • Benthic invertebrate assessment

  17. Site Locations

  18. Basic Monitoring Approach Follow-up to detect source areas Long term site

  19. Structured for Compatibility • With CCAMP • With City of Salinas stormwater permit • With SWAMP

  20. Electronic Reporting • Web-based data checker • Format will port into SWAMP • Format will port into CCAMP web site generator www.ccamp.org

  21. Initial Cooperative Monitoring Program Findings

  22. Nitrate (mg/L as N)Mean and range by waterbody

  23. Orthophosphate (mg/L as P)Mean and range by waterbody

  24. Ceriodaphnia Survival(relative percent difference from control)

  25. Fathead Minnow Survival (relative percent difference from control)

  26. Selenastrum Growth(relative percent difference from control)

  27. A related example from the CCAMP program:

  28. Problem Solving on Franklin Creek CCAMP data Upstream Sampling Site Tour Public Meeting Industry Action Letter to industry RWQCB Work Group

  29. Nitrate (mg/L as N) concentrations at Franklin Creek (in quartiles)

  30. Where will we go next? • Geographic linkage of sub-watersheds and monitoring site • Water quality trends • Practice implementation • Pesticide use data • Ranch mailings

  31. Linking land use to monitoring data Long term site

  32. …an aside… • New state grant guidelines require reporting of practices using GPS • Ag assistance agencies are concerned • Shouldn’t scale of reporting reflect scale of data use?

  33. Where will we go next, cont. • Ag program web site development • Assessment of first year’s data • Pursuit of follow-up monitoring projects • Locating non-filers

  34. For more information contact: Karen at kworcester@waterboards.ca.gov or Alison at ajones@waterboards.ca.gov

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