455 Capitol Mall, Suite 335 / Sacramento, CA 95814-4495 / Phone (916) 442-8333 / Fax (916) 442-4035

www.norcalwater.org/sacvalleycoalition.html

April 6, 2015 Pamela Creedon, Executive Officer Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board 11020 Sun Center Drive, Suite #200 Rancho Cordova, California 95670 RE: Notice of Applicability (NOA) Dear Ms. Creedon: The Northern California Water Association (NCWA) has met with Regional Board management and executive staff over the last few month to better understand the information needed to approve NCWA as a third party for owners and operators of irrigated agriculture (non-rice) in the Sacramento River watershed. As we have detailed in our previous communications on the subject, the Sacramento Valley Water Quality Coalition (Coalition) is uniquely organized and tailored to serve as the third party for this region with a successful track record to support an effective water quality program in the Sacramento Valley. The Coalition has revised its Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to specifically serve in an effective manner under the new Waste Discharge Requirements (WDR), as the attached illustration shows. Owners and operators of irrigated agriculture in each of the eighteen (18) counties within the Coalition have a local point of contact in one of the 13 Subwatershed Groups that comprise the Coalition. One of the important Subwatershed Groups roles, as delineated in our revised MOA, is outreach to owners and operators within the subwatershed. Outreach includes holding annual meetings, providing updates on the Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program (ILRP) and billing. This local governance model provides members with an all-important means to provide feedback on the ILRP and influence the direction of the local monitoring and programmatic aspects of the ILRP, as well as understanding the costs associated with their part of the program. Summaries of expenditures of fees and revenue are routinely provided to Members with the annual invoice statement (see Dixon Solano newsletter and Colusa Glenn letter attached). All invoices to Sacramento Valley Coalition members have a local contact person should the

455 Capitol Mall, Suite 335 / Sacramento, CA 95814-4495 / Phone (916) 442-8333 / Fax (916) 442-4035

www.norcalwater.org/sacvalleycoalition.html

member have questions about the invoiced amount, or need to make changes to information on file. Invoices also contain the following statement, “Summaries of fees and revenues are available upon request by Members.” This is done as fulfillment of the Order requirement for third-parties to “Prepare annual summaries of expenditures of fees and revenue used to comply with this Order. The summaries shall be provided to or made readily available to Members.” The governance structure of the Coalition has evolved to advance the ILRP under the new WDR Order. As detailed in the MOA, each Subwatershed Group appoints a landowner representative to the Management Advisory Committee (MAC). These MAC representatives bring the concerns and views of the members to the discussion and provides important guidance to both the Subwatershed Groups and the Coalition.

We hope this further clarifies the Coalition structure and our ability to serve as a third party. As always, please call if you have further questions. Sincerely, David J. Guy President Northern California Water Association Cc: Adam Laputz Sue McConnell Bruce Houdesheldt

2015 ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP STATEMENT To Meet Requirements of the Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program DUE: January 15, 2015 Payments made after due date; refer to Penalty Schedule on reverse side of the yellow remittance copy.

December 1, 2014

Dear Member: You are currently enrolled as a member of the Colusa Glenn Subwatershed Program (CGSP). As a member, you are meeting requirements of the Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program (ILRP). To remain a member and to confirm your membership with the CGSP to meet requirements of the new ILRP or Order, please follow the instructions below and make payment on your annual membership statement by the Due Date above.

Statement Explanation

Annual Membership Fee Increase! We are being forced to increase our membership fees due to the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Central Valley Region (Regional Board) adopted ORDER R5-2014-0030 Waste Discharge Requirements General Order for “Growers within the Sacramento River Watershed that are Members of a Third-Party Group” on March 12, 2014 [Rice and Dairy have their own, separate Order]. For more information pertaining to the ILRP, please refer to the annual Newsletter. Statement amounts include: • California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Central Valley Region - $0.75/acre

Administration costs of the State of California to enforce the ILRP. • Colusa Glenn Subwatershed Program - $1.55/acre + $30.00/member

Per acre fee includes costs of water sampling, testing, reporting, and the development of management plans to meet requirements of the ILRP. Per member fee includes administration costs to oversee this local program, including required outreach and education, membership billing and reporting, and financial services.

♦ TOTAL $2.30/acre + $30.00/member

Please review your statement and make applicable corrections in the following format on the yellow remittance copy: o If all or part of your acreage, of any parcel(s), on the enclosed statement is RICE: write on the

yellow remittance copy or enclose a note listing how much of each parcel(s) is rice and subtract the corresponding $2.30/acre charge from your total amount due. The California Rice Commission

P.O. Box 1205, Willows, California 95988 - Phone (530) 934-8036 - Email cgsubwatershed@sbcglobal.net

CCCooollluuusssaaa GGGllleeennnnnn Subwatershed Program

Page 1 of 2

covers landowners of rice ground (does not include wild rice; those fields MUST be in this program) if farmed in rice for the last two years.

o If all or part of your acreage, of any parcel(s), on the enclosed statement is NON-IRRIGATED: write on the yellow remittance copy or enclose a note listing how much of each parcel(s) is non-irrigated and subtract the corresponding $2.30/acre charge from your total amount due.

o If you no longer own a parcel(s) on your statement, or have purchased a parcel(s) not included on the

statement in Colusa or Glenn Counties, and are subject to the ILRP, indicate parcel(s) change on your yellow remittance copy or enclose a note listing how much of each parcel(s) is subject and subtract or include the corresponding $2.30/acre.

o IF THE CONTACT INFORMATION HAS CHANGED, indicate change(s) on your yellow remittance copy. If contact information is not included on your yellow remittance copy, please include your name, phone number and email address. Information provided is used for internal use only.

It is your responsibility to make sure that the information on your STATEMENT is correct. The Colusa Glenn Subwatershed Program is not responsible for any unreported errors or omissions!

For billing questions, please contact Kampschmidt Payroll & Accounting Services (530) 934-3234. REMINDER: If you are unable to submit payment by January 15, 2015, YOU MAY be removed from our participant list. However, the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Central Valley Region has permitted conditions under which a member may seek approval to rejoin a local subwatershed group. In order to re-obtain membership in the Colusa Glenn Subwatershed Program, you would have to apply directly through the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Central Valley Region by completing their application and paying their applicable fee. For additional information, contact the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Central Valley Region at (916) 464-4690.

All payments must be POSTMARKED BY JANUARY 15, 2015.

More information on the Colusa Glenn Subwatershed Program may be found at:

http://glenncountyrcd.org/projects/colusa-glenn-subwatershed-program/

More information on the Sacramento Valley Water Quality Coalition may be found at: www.svwqc.org

More information on the Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program may be found at: http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/centralvalley/water_issues/irrigated_lands/long_term_program_development/index.shtml

Colusa Glenn Subwatershed Program Board of Directors Colusa County Farmers: Denise Carter, Jeff Miller, John Garner (Director At-Large) Glenn County Farmers: Larry Domenighini, Greg Overton Page 2 of 2

Dixon/Solano Coalition July 2013 - June 2014 Finances

Total Income 07/13— 06/14 $ 284,230

Membership fees $ 283,621 Interest $ 609

Total Expenses 07/13—06/14 $ 302,978

RCD Staff $ 80,937 RCD Direct Costs $ 9,337 Monitoring Costs $ 103,511 SVWQC Fees $ 23,175 State Board Fees $ 86,018

Fund Balance 07/14 $ 43,960.*

Dixon/Solano Coalition Projected July 2014 - June 2015 Finances

Budgeted Income 07/14—06/15 $ 387,975

Membership fees $ 274,625 Member Initiation Fees $ 112,500 Interest $ 850

Budgeted Expenses 07/14—06/15 $ 390,625

RCD Staff $ 143,504 RCD Direct Costs $ 11,400 Monitoring Costs $ 104,379 SVWQC Fees $ 37,705 State Board Fees $ 93,638

06/15 Fund Balance (projected) $ 41,310*

*The Coalition policy is to maintain a minimum fund balance of $50,000 to cover any additional required monitoring

as well as to maintain a positive cash flow throughout the membership year. Our objective remains to keep program

costs as low as possible, while still providing members the tools necessary to maintain compliance with water quality

regulations. Since November 2003, Coalition Members have paid a total of $17.30/acre in membership fees, for an

average of $1.49/acre/year. Fees have remained at $2.50/acre this year, despite the significant increase in program

costs of new requirements that began in March 2014. This has been achieved with enrollment fees from new parcels

that have been enrolled over the last several months. As the new program requirements take effect, we anticipate

member fees may increase again. We will continue to look for ways to join with other Coalition efforts to share costs.

Beginning in July 2014, the Regional Board sent out letters to owners of parcels covering roughly 24,000 acres in east-

ern Solano County that they believed were out of compliance (not enrolled under a Coalition and no individual per-

mits). To date, between 12,000 and 14,000 of those acres have been either enrolled in Dixon/Solano or Yolo’s Coali-

tion or have been determined to not be irrigated agriculture. The remaining roughly 10,000 acres that have not re-

sponded to the Regional Board’s correspondence will receive additional communications from the Regional Board

that follows a progressive enforcement strategy. If the landowners are unresponsive, this will ultimately lead to civil

penalties if the parcels are determined to be out of compliance. In the Eastern San Joaquin Coalition this process is

ongoing and the fines have ranged from $2,000 to $10,000. Landowners must still join and pay the Coalition fees.

Dixon Resource Conservation District Solano Resource Conservation District

John S. Currey, District Manager x105 Chris Rose, Executive Director x119

Kelly Huff, Project Manager 707-676-5611 Andrea Mummert, Project Manager x112

Janice Beaman, Office Manager x108

Visit Our Websites www.dixonrcd.org & www.solanorcd.org

Dixon/Solano Resource Conservation District Agricultural Water Quality Coalition

1170 N. Lincoln Street, Suite 110, Dixon, CA 95620 Phone (707) 678-1655

Page 8 Dixon/Solano RCD Water Quality Coalition UPDATE Dixon / Solano RCD Water Quality Coalition UPDATE

RCD BOARDS OF DIRECTORS

DIXON RCD

Mark Holdener

Rick Martinez

Dave Viguie

Vacant

Sam Beukelman

Jim Campbell, Associate

SOLANO RCD

Joe Martinez

Paul Lum

Kurt Balasek

Darrell Hill

John Knowles

Randi Thompson

Glenda Riddle

Terry Riddle, Associate

Kathi Stutz, Associate

COALITION ADVISORY

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Bruce Brazelton

Joe Martinez

Cork McIsaac

Paul Lum

Guy Garcia

Rick Martinez

Spencer Bei

Dave Viguie

Roy Gill

SURFACE WATER—We have spent the last ten

years learning together about the interaction between irrigated agriculture in eastern Solano County and surface water quality. We have dispelled some assumptions and have become aware of some unanticipated issues. In every case where we have observed a re-occurring problem related to agricultural activities, our members have been able to make significant improvements, if not eliminate the issue all to-gether. This has built confidence that the group permitting option (Coalitions) are an effective means of addressing non-point source water quality issues related to irrigated agriculture. We have been able to report with certainty, and with data to back it up, that overall there are not numerous, re-occurring high priority issues related to irrigated agriculture in our local surface wa-ters and more importantly when we have had issues, our members have taken the steps neces-

sary to address them.

GROUNDWATER—We are starting at a simi-

lar place with groundwater knowledge to where we were with surface water ten years ago. There are a lot of assumptions and unknowns when it comes to understanding irrigated agricul-ture's relationship to groundwater quality. We anticipate spending much of the next ten years getting a better understanding of the current status and trends in our local groundwater qual-

ity, the susceptibility and vulnerability of our local physical features and how specific irrigated agri-cultural practices interact with these to affect groundwater quality. In 2016 we (Sacramento Valley Water Quality Coalition-SVWQC) will be required to develop a groundwater trend moni-toring workplan as well as a Management Prac-tices Evaluation Program, designed to determine the effects, if any, irrigated agricultural practices have on groundwater under different conditions (irrigation & nutrient management practices, crops, soil types, etc.). SVWQC is considering joining efforts with other Central Valley Coalitions to ful-

fill this requirement.

Volume 9 Issue 1

November 2014

DATES FOR NEW REQUIREMENTS for COALITION MEMBERS

ALL MEMBERS Complete and Return Farm Evaluations March 1, 2015 & Annually

ALL MEMBERS Complete & Keep Onsite 2015 Nitrogen Plan March 1, 2015

MEMBERS in HIGH VULNERABILITY AREAS Complete and Keep

Onsite Sediment / Erosion Control Plans January / February 2016

MEMBERS in HIGH VULNERABILITY AREAS Complete and

Return Nitrogen Summary Reports for 2015 Crop Season and

Keep Onsite Certified Nitrogen Plans for 2016 Crop Season March 1, 2016

DIXON/SOLANO RCD Coalition ~ RECOGNITION AWARD ~

We would like to extend our gratitude to Rachael Long, Univeristy of California Cooperative Exten-sion Farm Advisor. Rachael has helped our mem-bers in numerous ways over the last several years including:

* Providing information to better understand-specific pathways for pesticides movement. * Helping us research effectiveness of specific management practices to address pesticide movement as well as effectiveness of potential

alternative products.

THANK YOU RACHAEL!

~INFORMATIONAL MEETING~

Dixon/Solano Coalition

ALL MEMBERS are invited

Thursday December 18th

6pm City of Dixon

Senior Multiuse Center

PROGRAM UPDATES

READY OR NOT, HERE THEY COME! - Farm Level Reporting

January through March 2015 will be a challenging time as we help our members through our first year of farm level reporting requirements (see Page 7). We recognize that there will be some frustrations and confusion. WE ASK FOR EVERYONE’S PATIENCE! During this first year our main concern is that we receive SOMETHING back for each enrolled parcel. If you do not have a perfect answer for something, please use the best answer available. As we move into subsequent years of reporting the process will no doubt be refined and adjusted based on our experiences during this first year. As members, you can help by completing your reports thoroughly and returning them quickly. IMPORTANT NOTE: Dixon/Solano RCD will be holding workshops and office hours to help members understand HOW to complete the reporting requirements, HOWEVER we do not have the staff capacity to walk everyone through each of their individual farm evaluations. For both farm evaluations and nitrogen management plans there will be the ability to group your reporting by fields/parcels with similar practices to reduce pa-perwork. The Coalition will provide farm maps by membership (owner) to assist. It will be up to who-ever completes the reports to make copies and to decide the most appropriate grouping of fields and/

or parcels. We will keep a running record of FAQs on our website www.dixonrcd.org.

The Dixon / Solano RCD Water Quality Coalition Budget Explanation Fiscal Year 2015 – (July 1, 2014 - June 30, 2015)

What does your $2.50 per acre fee pay for? The following pie chart allocates the $2.50 per acre membership fee be the major expenses categories.

The Dixon / Solano Coalition Financial Report (Page 8) provides a summary of the income and expenses for last year and this year’s budget by the categories shown in the chart above.

The following discussion is provided to explain how the significant costs in complying with the State’s Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program (ILRP) are allocated.

RCD Staff ($143,504): The Dixon and Solano RCDs have allocated staff time to meet the needs of Irrigated Lands Program for this fiscal year. Overall 2584 hours (a 35% increase) are allocated from 6 different staff persons. The RCD staff each has specific duties, but also assist in all roles to meet the program needs. The increase in hours has been necessary to implement the new components of the ILRP. The Dixon / Solano RCD Water Quality Coalition is one of the thirteen subwatersheds of the Sacramento Valley Water Quality Coalition, which are responsible to support the Sacramento Valley Water Quality Coalition.

RCD Staff, $0.85

Direct Cost, $0.07

Monitoring Cost, $0.62

SVWQC Fees, $0.22

Regional Board Fees, $0.75

2015 Membership Fee Allocation

Dixon/Solano RCD Water Quality Coalition UPDATE

Page 3

The Dixon / Solano RCD Water Quality Coalition Budget Explanation Fiscal Year 2015 – (July 1, 2014 - June 30, 2015)

o Enrolling, organizing, and informing local landowners and producers in subwatershed.

Dixon/ Solano RCD Water Quality Coalition Staff Responsibilities

o Tracking and reporting on-farm practices (in the form of survey summaries). o Reviewing, editing, and commenting on the Regional Coalition draft reports. o Assisting in selecting appropriate monitoring sites. o Funding and coordinating the local monitoring of representative sites with our area. o Serving on the Sacramento Valley Water Quality Coalition’s Management Advisory Committee

RCD Direct Cost ($11,400): The direct costs include mailings, database programming, publications, website, accounting, audits, documents, and landowner/grower meetings.

The following expense categories represent our (Dixon / Solano RCD Water Quality Coalition’s) share of the larger Sacramento Valley Water Quality Coalition Budget (SVWQC), which totals $1,386,897 (excluding State Board Oversight Fees). Partnering with the SVWQC has provided an economy of scale that has allowed us to reduce the overall cost of many program elements. This year in particular, if each subwatershed was developing our own reports described below in the section titled “SVWQC – New Waste Discharge Requirements”, the overall cost would be dramatically higher.

Water Quality Monitoring Cost ($104,379): This expense category has four individual components that are representative of the services provided by Larry Walker & Associates (LWA):

• Monitoring Site Costs – LWA ($52,696): Represents the actual cost to collect and analyze the samples from the 3 sites for our Subwatershed, per our Monitoring and Reporting Plan. The Sites are 1) Ulatis Creek: representative site with full monitoring; 2) Z-drain: limited monitoring; 3) Shag Slough: Integrator site with full monitoring. Dixon / Solano RCD shares the monitoring costs of the Shag Slough site with the Yolo subwatershed and therefore only pays for 33%.

• Site Specific Program Management Cost ($22,068): Represents the data analysis, data management, management plan development and reporting to address specific issues.

• General Program Management Costs ($25,733): These costs are apportioned across the entire Sacramento Valley Water Quality Coalition based on each Subwatershed’s enrolled acres (our Subwatershed percentage based on the July 31, 2014 enrolled acres is 9.2%). The services include the compilation and preparation of reports to the Regional Board, participation in technical and coalition meetings.

• Follow-up Toxicity Monitoring Costs – LWA ($3,882): These costs are estimated based on prior experience in the event that there are toxicity exceedances in the water quality sample that must be further analyzed. These costs are site-specific and may not occur every year.

Sacramento Valley Water Quality Coalition (SVWQC) Fees ($37,705): The two major components are presented in the pie chart below:

• SVWQC – Regional Plan Program Management ($26,080): This cost is apportioned based on each Subwatershed’s enrolled acres (our Subwatershed’s percentage based on the July 31, 2014 enrolled acres is 9.2%). There are five major cost components to this category.

Dixon/Solano RCD Water Quality Coalition UPDATE

Page 4

The Dixon / Solano RCD Water Quality Coalition Budget Explanation Fiscal Year 2015 – (July 1, 2014 - June 30, 2015)

o Northern California Water Association (NCWA) staff and interns ($15,905): NCWA provides the staff to support and lead the Sacramento Valley Water Quality Coalition. Principal duties include serving as lead contact with the Regional Board, overall coordination of the 13 subwatersheds, primary contact for and preliminary review of water quality monitoring and reporting obligations.

o Direct Costs ($1,788): These direct costs are specific to the overall SVWQC management and included mailings, database programming, publications, website, accounting, audits, documents, and landowner/grower meetings.

o Legal/Litigation ($4,033): The coalition annually budgets for legal representation; over the past two years, we have had our legal counsel representing us in the negotiations with the Regional Board regarding the new Order. The current order has been challenged by several groups and there will be several hearings this year.

o Groundwater & Basin Amendment Plan Support ($3,667): This budget category provides funds to have technical support to address the issues that will affect future regulations on irrigated lands from the Regional Board processes through the Anitdegradation Policy, Central Valley Salinity Alternative for Long-term Solutions (CV SALTS), and Basin Plan Amendments.

o GIS and CURES Services ($687): This budget category provides access to GIS mapping from Ducks Unlimited and assistance with outreach and education from the Coalition for Urban and Rural Environmental Stewardship (CURES). These two organizations bring a statewide perspective and support to our effort.

• SVWQC – New Waste Discharge Requirements (WDR) Elements ($11,625): These costs are apportioned based on a flat fee of $2,275 per Subwatershed and 8.5 cents per enrolled acre based on the July 31, 2014 enrolled acres. There are seven major cost components to this category as a result of the ILRP’s new requirement. These costs are one-time development costs.

o Membership Database ($2,236): The new database will house all member information, billings, and payments; and will compile the results for the farm evaluations and nitrogen summaries.

o Sediment and Erosion Control Assessment Report ($2,236): This report will determine what areas in each Subwatershed are susceptible to erosion and sediment loss.

o Groundwater Assessment Report (GAR) ($2,236): Last year SVWQC and NCWA received a grant to fund the majority of the GAR work which saved our Subwatershed $36,400. A few details were not finalized before the grant deadline so this budget item will be used to complete the report and submit it to the Regional Board for approval.

o Comprehensive Groundwater Quality Management Plan ($894): Once the GAR is approved by the Regional Board, we will prepare a plan demonstrating how we will continue to monitor groundwater and work with landowners/growers to address groundwater issues.

o Management Practices Evaluation Plan (MPEP) ($1,788): The MPEP plan will describe how the coalition in partnership with other coalitions, universities, and industry representatives will

Dixon/Solano RCD Water Quality Coalition UPDATE

Dixon/Solano RCD Water Quality Coalition UPDATE

Page 5

The Dixon / Solano RCD Water Quality Coalition Budget Explanation Fiscal Year 2015 – (July 1, 2014 - June 30, 2015)

develop and disseminate information to landowners/growers regarding the specific nitrogen fertilization practices.

o Sediment and Erosion Control Plan (SECP) ($1,341): The SECP will describe how the coalition will work with landowners/growers to address any sediment and erosion issues that were identified in the Sediment and Erosion Control Assessment Report.

o Nitrogen Management Template ($894): The nitrogen management template and summary report will be used by landowners/growers to plan and report their nitrogen uses.

State Board Oversight Fees ($93,638): Each year the Coalitions are required to pay the Regional Board a fee based on the number of irrigated acres enrolled as of July 31. This year we anticipate that the fees will be adjusted to reflect the additional enrolled acres that were reported in November. Currently this State Board Oversight fee is $0.75 per enrolled acre.

RCD Staff, $143,504

RCD Direct, $11,400 Site Monitoring - LWA,

$52,696

Site Specific Management - LWA,

$22,068

General Program Management - LWA, $25,733

Follow-up Toxicity - LWA, $3,882

SVWQC - Program Management,

$26,080

SVWQC - New WDR Elements,

$11,625

Regional Board Fees, $93,638

Dixon / Solano RCD 2015 Budget Categories

Dixon/Solano RCD Water Quality Coalition UPDATE Dixon/Solano RCD Water Quality Coalition UPDATE

Dixon/Solano RCD Water Quality Coalition UPDATE

Page 6

Dixon/Solano RCD Water Quality Coalition UPDATE Page 2

SURFACE WATER

The surface water monitoring results have continued to improve over the last two years. We have not had an algae toxicity ex-ceedance in Ulatis Creek or related Diuron exceedance for the last two storm seasons. We did not have a Chlorpyrifos exceedance at Ulatis Creek in the 2014 irrigation season. In 2013-2014 the only pesticide exceedances were related to pyrethroids products that caused SEDIMENT TOXICITY at two sites (Ulatis Creek & Z-Drain) in April 2014. However in August 2014 there was no signifi-cant sediment toxicity at either site. We continued to observe regular exceedances at the Ulatis Creek and Shag Slough sites for

electrical conductivity (salts) and Ecoli (pathogens).

GROUNDWATER

A DRAFT Groundwater Assessment Report (GAR) was completed in July 2014 for the Sacramento Valley Region to fulfill new require-

ments in the Order. The GAR reviews the existing data regarding groundwater quality and combines that with information on local

soils, crops, irrigation practices and hydrogeology to establish “high”, “medium” and “low” vulnerability designations by each section

of land (640 acres or one square mile ). SVWQC funded the $300,000+ report through a grant instead of distributing the costs

among the Coalition members. The full report can be viewed at the SVWQC website www.svwqc.org. Preliminary results indicate

that the Dixon/Solano subwatershed has roughly 1/3 of its acres designated as high vulnerability, mostly concentrated around and

northeast of the City of Dixon. Dixon/Solano Coalition staff will be working with the consultants that drafted the GAR to clarify some

of the details that were used in the designations which may slightly change the vulnerabilities.

RECOMMENDED PRACTICES FOR

SURFACE WATER PROTECTION

SLOW/REDUCE/ELIMINATE or DELAY RELEASE of Tailwater runoff.

Install vegetative filter areas that allow tailwater to slow down and drop sediment.

Carefully follow label DRIFT PRECAUTIONS and pesticide application practices that reduce the chance for products to move into non-target areas, especially ditches.

Apply polyacrylamide (PAM) soil flocculants in furrow irri-gated crops to reduce offsite movement of sediment.

Utilize integrated pest management strategies to reduce the need for pesticide applications.

RECOMMENDED PRACTICES FOR

GROUNDWATER PROTECTION

Test irrigation water and soils for nitrates and adjust fertil-izer applications accordingly. For a list of local labs visit Dixon RCD website at www.dixonrcd.org.

Protect areas around well heads and drain tailwater away from them.

Install backflow prevention on wells.

Become familiar with the nitrogen needs of your specific crops and the calculated amount of nitrogen that is removed in a crop. Adjust your nitrogen application accordingly.

2015 Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), NO DEADLINES This Year

~ Wendy Rash, USDA NRCS Dixon Service Center ~

NRCS is available to help with technical and financial assistance on projects ranging from irrigation systems, to cover crops, to fencing

and watering facilities on rangelands, to tailwater ponds and wildlife habitat. Participation is voluntary and projects are chosen

based on the benefit to local natural resources and on available funds. In past years, the deadline for applications has been set on a

single date in the fall- but not this year. Does that mean there’s no program this year? No… the Natural Resources Conservation

Service (NRCS) is simply implementing what we hope will be a more responsive and quicker program delivery system. We will be

accepting applications continuously with 2-3 “batching periods” throughout the year to fund applications, rather than one big batch

per year with a single deadline. What this means for participants: Less waiting. If you miss a “batching period” you won’t have to

wait another year to apply. The time between applying and receiving a decision on funding should be shorter, so you can start your

project sooner. You can put in your application 3-6 months before you want to start your project, rather than a year or more. What

it means for us: Better planning. We develop a plan for your project with you on a reasonable timeline, without having to rush to get

it ready in time for a single deadline date. Less rushing means better plans and better projects- with benefits accruing to participants

and to the environment. As with any project, the sooner you start the better- so please come in or call to start the planning process

with us as soon as you have the idea in mind. For more information or to apply, please contact the Dixon NRCS Field Office at

1170 North Lincoln Street, Suite 110, or call 707-678-1655 extension 3. For more information on NRCS programs, visit

www.ca.nrcs.usda.gov.

MONITORING & ASSESSMENT RESULTS FARM EVALUATIONS

In early January Dixon/Solano RCD Water Quality Coalition will send out forms to complete Farm Evaluations. In order to maintain

compliance, each Coalition enrolled parcel will need to be reported on. A separate reporting packet will be sent out for each mem-

bership (landowner). Either the landowner or the tenant (whoever was designated as the reporting party on the recently completed

Notices of Confirmation) will receive the packet. Whoever receives the reporting packet will be responsible for ensuring the report

is completed and returned to Dixon/Solano RCD no later than March 1, 2015.

WHAT INFORMATION WILL YOU NEED TO COMPLETE FARM EVALUATION?

For each enrolled parcel, the acreages by field, crops by field, field identifiers or names (designated by operator), as well as

which fields have the same irrigation, nutrient management and erosion control practices. If they are under one membership, fields with the same practices can be grouped into one report

In use and abandoned agricultural well locations and decommissioning status and dates

Locations where runoff leaves property

NITROGEN MANAGEMENT PLANS

Nitrogen management plans for the 2015 Crop Year are required to be completed by March 1, 2015 throughout the Central Valley.

Although the nitrogen plans are required to be completed by March, NOTHING IS DUE TO THE COALITION UNTIL MARCH 2016! In

March 2016 parcels that are in designated “high vulnerability” regions will submit Nitrogen Management Plan Summary Reports for

the 2015 Crop Year as well as have their Nitrogen Management Plans for the 2016 Crop Year completed by a certified crop advisor

or other approved party (there will be the opportunity for operators to be certified if they would like complete their own). The re-

ports will summarize information from the Management Plan including a ratio of the amount of nitrogen supplied over the amount of

nitrogen the crop needs (input/need). The designations for “high vulnerability” regions have not yet been finalized for the Sacra-

mento Valley Region (see Groundwater discussion on page 2).

WHAT INFORMATION WILL I NEED* TO COMPLETE MY NITROGEN PLAN? (*If you are not currently collecting data, you will not be

penalized. There will be options to express that you are not currently collecting it and this is helpful information for the Coalition).

Field identification numbers (designated by operator)

Crop type / age / acres / irrigation method

Expected yield (Estimated. Documented as pounds of production per acre)

Actual yield (Measured. Documented as pounds of production per acre)

Nitrogen needed by crop

Nitrogen removed (during harvest or materials removal)

Total nitrogen applied (including nitrogen in irrigation water and residual nitrogen in the soil)

Thursday January 8th 7:00 - 9:00 AM FARM EVALUATION

WORKSHOP

American Legions Hall DIXON

Tuesday January 20th 6:00 - 8:00 PM FARM EVALUATION

WORKSHOP

Olde Vets Hall, DIXON

Wednesday February 4th 6:00 - 8:00 PM NITROGEN PLAN

WORKSHOP

Dixon Senior Multiuse Center

Tuesday February 10th 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM NITROGEN PLAN

WORKSHOP

American Legions Hall DIXON

Thursday February 19th 6:00 - 8:00 PM NITROGEN PLAN

WORKSHOP

Olde Vets Hall, DIXON

Wednesday February 25th 8:00 - 10:00 AM NITROGEN PLAN

WORKSHOP

American Legions Hall DIXON

FARM LEVEL REPORTING 2015 WORKSHOPS—details at WWW.DIXONRCD.ORG

Page 7 Dixon/Solano RCD Water Quality Coalition UPDATE

SEDIMENT & EROSION CONTROL PLANS

A Sediment Discharge and Erosion Assessment Report will be developed for the entire Sacramento Valley Coalition Area by June

2015. This report will designate high and low vulnerability areas for sediment and erosion control. Parcels that are in designated

high vulnerability areas will be required to have certified erosion control plans developed and kept on site. The estimated date that

these will be required to be completed is January/February 2016. Dixon/Solano Coalition will notify members that manage parcels

in designated high vulnerability areas of their obligation to complete the certified plans in the August/September 2015 time-frame

and will likely conduct workshops and office hours much like what is planned for the nitrogen plans and farm evaluations this year.