Do You Need To Be In The ILRP?

Do You Need To Be In The ILRP?

Adapted by Betsy Karle

All dairy producers in the Central Valley are well aware of the responsibility to be enrolled in the Waste Discharge Requirements General Order, or were already covered by an Individual Order. But, when irrigated land that is owned by a dairy is not part of the land application area in that program, it is required to be enrolled in the Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program (ILRP). The ILRP is a water quality program for irrigated land and managed wetland owners and is monitored by Coalitions throughout the Central Valley. Landowners pay a fee to enroll in a Coalition after first applying to enroll through the Central Valley’s Regional Water Quality Control Board (Water Board). The Coalitions report directly to the Water Board on the water quality program; individual landowner reporting and monitoring is not required as it is in the dairy program.

For example, if I own an orchard and do not apply (or plan to apply) any manure from my dairy facility, this land should be covered under the ILRP. If this land is already included in the dairy’s Nutrient Management Plan, it does not need to be double covered, but it must be enrolled in one of the water quality programs mandated by the Water Board. A list of the Coalitions can be found here http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/centralvalley/water_issues/irrigated_lands/general_prog_info/cg_contacts_2011.pdf and the application to join a Coalition is at http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/centralvalley/water_issues/irrigated_lands/app_approval/index.shtml

Link to PDF Version: Do You Need To Be In The ILRP