AG WAIVER REMAINS

After two days of hearings at the Regional Water Quality Control Board, agriculture will retain its conditional waiver for water discharges.

While Central Valley farmers will continue to be exempt from obtaining discharge permits, the new waiver does require individuals to register with the state. Further, farmers will be required to participate in a voluntary monitoring program as part of watershed groups.

The issue of identification was one of the most debated points of the hearing. Concerns were raised that the identification issue would cause farmers and ranchers to pull their support from the regional approach.

Likewise, the environmental community was clearly not pleased with the new waiver. Bill Jennings, Delta Keeper, called the Board’s decision a slap in the face. The environmental community has implied that it may seek judicial review of the decision.

Suffice it to say, agricultural is again going to be put to the test. Fish screens, rice straw burning, water rights, the Endangered Species Act, land acquisitions, water quality; does the attack on agriculture never end. Nonetheless, the tip of the day is — don’t bet against the farmers and ranchers of the Central Valley. They have proven, time and again, to be responsible stewards of their land that can adapt and survive, even under the extreme and outrageous regulation that is promoted today. ###