Case Study;
Farmers Make the Difference
in Improving Imperial Valley
Water Quality
In California's Imperial Valley, irrigation tailwater from
fields has contributed high levels of sediment and other
pollutants to the agricultural drains and the New and
Alamo rivers, all of which discharge into the Salton
Sea. The tailwater carries salts, nutrients, and pesticide
residues.
A sediment TMDL established pollutant reduction
levels necessary to meet state water quality standards.
Based on the TMDL, California's Regional Water Quality
Control Board is asking farmers to select and install
appropriate measures to control sediment in their
runoff.
The Imperial County Farm Bureau (ICFB) developed
a streamlined program to assist farmers to meet the
goals of reduced sediment in runoff. The program helps
identify and install BMPs that work best to slow the
flow of irrigation water and allow sediment to settle out
before reaching local water bodies.
The ICFB effort is paying off. More farmers are taking
steps to reduce sediment in runoff. Many farmers had
already been using applicable BMPs that improve the
management and efficient use of irrigation water.
The effectiveness of these BMPs in addressing water
pollution is becoming apparent—monitoring at several
key drainage points has already indicated reduced
pollutant levels. It appears that farmers' management
practices are attaining pollutant reduction goals ahead
of schedule, and reducing pollution in the Salton Sea
downstream.
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Contacts and Web Sites
Arizona
TMDL and Nonpoint Source (NFS)
Linda Taunt, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
602-771-4416 or e-mail: taunt.linda@ev.state.az.us
www.adeq.state.az.us/environ/water/assess/hsa.html
California
TMDL
Ken Harris, State Water Resources Control Board
916-341-5500 or e-mail: harrk@dwq.swrcb.ca.gov
NFS
Lauma Jurkevics, State Water Resources Control Board
916-341-5498 or e-mail: ljurkvi@dwq.swrcb.ca.gov
www.swrcb.ca.gov/tmdl/303d_lists.html
Hawaii
TMDL
June Harrigan, Hawaii Department of Health
808-586-4337 or e-mail: jharrigan@eha.health.state.hi.us
NFS
Denis Lau, Hawaii Department of Health
808-586-4309 or e-mail: dlau@eha.health.state.hi.us
EPA 909-F-03-003
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Nevada
TMDL
Tom Porta, Nevada Division of Environmental Protection
775-687-9443 or e-mail: tporta@ndep.nv.gov
NFS
Kathy Sertic, Nevada Division of Environmental Protection
775-687-9455 or e-mail: ksertic@ndep.nv.gov
Farmers are encouraged to participate in the Voluntary TMDL
Compliance Program by various means in Imperial County.
EPA Contacts
Pacific Southwest TMDL Team Leader: David Smith
415-972-3416 or e-mail: smith.davidw@epa.gov
www.epa.gov/region09/water/tmdl
Pacific Southwest NFS Coordinator: Audrey Shileikis
415-972-3459 or e-mail: shileikis.audrey@epa.gov
www.epa.gov/region09/water
American Samoa
Carl Goldstein, 415-972-3767 or e-mail: goldstein.carl@epa.gov
Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands
Mike Lee, 415-972-3769 or e-mail: lee.michaelj@epa.gov
Guam
BenMachol, 415-972-3770 or e-mail: machol.ben@epa.gov
USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service
Find your local USDA Service Center on the Web:
www.usda.gov
www.nrcs.usda.gov
TMDLs and
Agriculture
in the West
Polluted runoff is a significant cause of'water
pollution across the country, including in
agricultural areas. The agricultural community
plays a vital role in the stewardship of our
nation's 'waters by using Best
Management Practices.
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Whatisa^MDU
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) is the maximum
amount of any pollutant that a waterbody can receive
and still meet state water quality standards. Water
quality standards are set to protect and maintain
uses including drinking, fishing, swimming, and
irrigation. A TMDL is the basis on which strategies to
improve and protect water quality are developed. The
agricultural community is being called on to use Best
Management Practices (BMPs) in their operations to
prevent water pollution.
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Working at a Watershed Level
A watershed includes all the land that drains to a
common body of water. Rainfall, snowmelt, and
irrigation water convey pollutants such as fertilizers,
pesticides, sediment, manure, and salts from the land
surface to nearby streams and rivers. These nonpoint
sources (NFS) of pollution, which are generated by
many agricultural, rural, and urban activities in the
watershed, cumulatively degrade our water resources.
Organizations that have been instrumental in improving
water quality at the watershed level include local
conservation districts, agricultural associations, non-
governmental organizations, and government agencies.
Taking Steps to Improve Water Quality
The agricultural community will play a vital role in
improving water quality through using farming and
ranching practices to minimize water pollution. These
are often referred to as Best Management Practices
or BMPs. To meet TMDL-recommended pollutant
reductions from agricultural sources, the agricultural
community will be called on to adopt site-appropriate
practices that minimize water pollution. In addition to
protecting water quality, BMPs such as vegetated buffer
strips, integrated pest management and protection of
riparian corridors help keep production efficient and
prevent the loss of valuable topsoil.
For a detailed description of agricultural BMPs
visit www.epa.gov/watertrain/agmodule, or to
learn about conservation practices in your area, visit
www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/. (Click on the Regional
and State Offices link, then click on your state.)
What You Should Know About TMDLs
The TMDL process provides several opportunities for the agricultural community and other citizens to get
involved in developing TMDLs, including public hearings; data collection and validation; and identifying
appropriate, affordable, and effective BMPs.
TMDLs set the stage for watershed planning by developing the most targeted and effective cleanup
strategies. States and other partners can help the agricultural community build technical and financial
capabilities to address water pollution while supporting their economic vitality. States recognize that no
single, across-the-board solution exists for the various activities that generate polluted runoff. A typical state
strategy with the agricultural community is to have them develop pollution prevention plans, and show plan
implementation. TMDLs do not automatically mean regulatory enforcement.
The costs of installing and using BMPs to curb polluted runoff can be defrayed through grants and loans
issued specifically to the agricultural community. These funds are provided by the federal government and
distributed by state environmental agencies or local Conservation Districts. For more information on obtaining
financial or technical assistance for BMPs, refer to the the table below and the back of this brochure.
Getting the Resources to Install BMPs
There are numerous opportunities for the agricultural
community to receive funding and technical assistance
from state and federal agencies for BMPs. State
water quality and conservation agencies, the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources
Conservation Service (NRCS) are important sources of
assistance. They run programs to assist the agricultural
community with planning and using conservation
practices on their land. Their programs often offer cost-
share money to the agricultural community. For example,
the 2002 Farm Bill authorized nearly $13 billion for
USDA programs to assist the agricultural community
with conservation measures and environmental
protection efforts over six years.
Locally led Conservation Districts identify and
resolve resource issues that affect them. They provide
leadership in USDA local workgroups that can result
in technical and financial assistance to the agricultural
community and others. Further details are available at
www.nrcs.usda.gov/partners/districts.html.
Spotlight on Funding
Name of Program
Farm Bill 2002
Agency: USDA
Highlights
Federally funded conservation programs.
More Information
www.nrcs.usda.gov/
programs/farmbill/
2002/
Environmental Quality
Incentives Program (EQIP)
Cost-share assistance for BMPs to improve water quality and
conservation.
www.nrcs.usda.gov/
programs/eqip
Conservation Reserve
Program
Assistance with converting cropland to less intensive use, as well as
establishing and maintaining conservation practices.
www.fsa.usda.gov/dafp/
cepd/crp.htm
Conservation Reserve Incentive payments including annual rents and cost-share assistance
Enhancement Program (CREP) for growing long-term, resource-conserving covers on eligible land.
www.fsa.usda.gov/dafp/
cepd/crep.htm
Clean Water Act Section
319 Nonpoint Source Grant
Program
Agency: USEPA
Funding for BMPs through local Conservation Districts, government
agencies, non-profits, and universities. Different from Farm Bill
funding, these funds may also support related activities such as
water quality monitoring and watershed coordinators.
www.epa.gov/owow/
nps/cwact.html
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