Central Valley Salinity Coalition Developing a Salt and Nutrient Management Plan for the Central Valley

Central Valley Salinity Coalition (CVSC) Non-profit coalition of water users in the Central Valley  Drinking Water and Wastewater  Agricultural Irrigation  Industry and others Creates/Manages funding for CV-SALTS  CV-Salts is stakeholder process to develop a comprehensive, long-term Salinity and Nitrate Management Plan (more on that later). 2

Impact of Salts and Nitrates on the Central Valley Unmanaged salts and nitrates …  Impair land, surface and ground waters  Drinking water sources  Farming / Food production  Industry  Environment If not solved, will hinder ag productivity, business development, residential growth! 3

Why Salt Issue is Important to Irrigated Lands Coalitions  Significant acreage in western Merced and Stanislaus County (east of the San Joaquin River) are impacted by shallow groundwater w/high salts  Productivity of farmlands in “salty region” will eventually decline  Waterways in ESJWQC region discharge salt loads to San Joaquin River 4

Why Salt Issue is Important to Irrigated Lands Coalitions  San Joaquin River Salt TMDL implementation plan  Ag component is responsibility of watershed coalitions  Salt WQC (trigger) will come from new Basin Plan  Basin Plan Amendment process has started  Need to make sure Regional Water Board sets reasonable salt standards  Protective of agricultural uses  Uses good science 5

6 Salts and nitrates will continue impacting the quality of life and the economic vitality of the Central Valley unless a long-term management plan is developed and implemented.

The Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board endorses a stakeholder collaborative process (CV-SALTS)  Goal: Develop a comprehensive Salinity and Nutrient Management Plan for the Central Valley Funding from CV Salinity Coalition pays for work needed to complete and implement the plan being developed by CV-SALTS 8 CV-SALTS and CVSC

CV-SALTS Stakeholders  CV RWQCB  Bureau of Reclamation  Dept of Water Resources and Bay Delta  Dept of Fish and Game  Cities/Counties/Special Districts (Water/Wastewater)  Irrigation and Drainage Districts  Environmental Community  Food Processing Industry  Industry, agriculture, water quality and other salt related businesses  Associations of the above  Others 9

CV-SALTS Goals Engage key stakeholders early on  Build sustainable salinity and nutrient management plan  Equitably, implement efficient and economical solutions  Protect beneficial uses Develop creative solutions  Regional approaches to improve local issues  Local solutions that benefit the region’s goals  Update and implement regulations through stakeholder participation 10

CV-SALTS Working Committees Executive  Technical Advisory  Economic and Social Impact  Public Outreach and Education Successes and Products  Video Documentary  Salinity Economics Report  Salinity Strategies Report  Work Plan Outline and Schedule  Engagement and Awareness 11

CV-SALTS Current and Future Projects 1. Salt and Nitrate Source Pilot Study 2. Beneficial Uses and Objective Study 3. Data collection, modeling/monitoring 4. Salt and Nutrient Management Plan 5. Regional Implementation Plan for Regulatory / Non-Regulatory Solutions 6. Basin Plan Amendments 7. Infrastructure to implement plans 12

CV-SALTS Challenges Increasing threat of salt and nitrate to the Valley’s water supply Funding planning and implementation Increasing stakeholder participation Geographic diversity (two Basin Plans) Uncertain economic climate Time limit – 5-7 years 13

What is at Stake? Reliability of high quality water supply Temporary fixes are expensive and ineffective as long-term solutions Regulatory-only solutions are effective but inefficient and costly  Your industry could be bearing a disproportionate share of the burden  Nobody can speak for you or your interest better than you  Participation in CVSC is your opportunity to develop a better and cost effective way to protect your water and meet regulatory requirements 14

Why a Salt Solution is Important Comprehensive salinity management policy …  Necessary to address salinity issues Adverse impact to water uses in the Central Valley and to water exported outside valley Funding needed to …  Implement work plan and stakeholder efforts  Develop regulatory/non-regulatory solutions  Reduce the future cost of compliance 15

We know salt is a problem, even with the economy in its current downturn, waiting is no longer an option. Regulating salts is necessary to ensure we have a sustainable water supply for all Californians We need it to sustain the economic engine of agriculture and its related industry in the SJ Valley

We know salt is a problem, even with the economy in its current downturn, waiting is no longer an option. We need it to ensure the sustainable growth and a vibrant economy for the future of the valley and California We can be the leaders for water and salt management who create this future together for the economic and environmental success of the Central Valley Region, California, and the US

Stakeholder Efforts Work 18 “The boards should emulate the model created by the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board, which created a stakeholder task force that led to robust research, consensus building and a largely re-written basin plan in Stakeholders …funded the basin plan update.”

Why should you become a member of CVSC? 1. Efficient use of combined resources and grants 2. Science based solutions/ research opportunities 3. Proactive vs. reactive approach for regulation development 19

If Stakeholder Effort Fails… Forces Regional Board to traditional regulatory approaches  Develop and expand salinity control regulations using only the tools within its jurisdiction 20

How can you help? Become part of the solution: participate in CV-SALTS Provide funding to CV Salinity Coalition Participate with “in-kind” support  Share in cost of research projects  Participate on committees, etc. 21

The Big Question When can you join CV Salinity Coalition? 22

Contact Info Central Valley Salinity Coalition: Daniel Cozad, Telephone: (888) Website: Presenter: Karl Longley, ScD, PE, Telephone: (209)