Sustainable Fertility Management Update on Nitrogen Management Plans for the Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program Parry Klassen Executive Director
Central Valley Coalitions • Sacramento Valley Water Quality Coalition – Bruce Houdesheldt • California Rice Commission – Tim Johnson • San Joaquin County & Delta Water Quality Coalition – Michael Wackman • Westside San Joaquin River Watershed Coalition – Joseph C. McGahan – David Cory • East San Joaquin Water Quality Coalition – Parry Klassen – Wayne Zipser • Westlands Water Quality Coalition • Southern San Joaquin Valley Water Quality Coalition – 7 new coalitions
Coalition Overview • In operation since 2003 • 3,949 Landowner / operators • 719,446 irrigated acres – Madera, Merced, Stanislaus, Tuolumne, Mariposa counties • We manage group permit for our members
Regional Water Board Enforcement Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program Administrative Civil Liability (ACL) Complaints issued December 2014 $32,000 Madera County $8,600 Madera County Dozens more ACLs planned in coming months “…failed to submit a Report of Waste Discharge (“RoWD”) as required under Water Code section 13260…” Fines Announced in January 2015 • Madera: $31,000 • Ceres: $51,000 4
What Is Now Required Member Responsibilities • Complete Farm Evaluation (everyone) • Complete Nitrogen Management Plan – In high vulnerability groundwater area; submit to ESJ annually – Certified by 3 rd party or grower trained (if developed) – Low vulnerability keep on site; no certification required • Sediment and Erosion Control Plan – In areas identified as high vulnerability for erosion and sediment discharge • Participate in annual outreach events 5
Waste Discharge Requirements Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program – CDFA formed “Task Force” • Develop “Nitrogen Tracking and Reporting System” • Recommendations completed in December 2013 – State Board formed “Expert Panel” • Panel to answer “questions” posed by advisory group • Final report to State Water Board on September 23, 2014
EXPERT PANEL RECOMMENDATION: REPORT A/R RATIO • A = Nitrogen Applied • Nitrogen applied can include nitrogen from any source • R = Nitrogen Removed • Nitrogen removed via harvest + Nitrogen sequestered in the permanent wood of perennial crops) • Recommend ratio be averaged over multiple years
CV COALITIONS PREPARING PLAN TO PROPOSE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS • Proposal and timeline due to Water Board on December 2015 • Recommending Applied N/Yield (A/Y) • Instead of A/R Ratio recommended by Expert Panel • Considerations for choosing A/Y • Growers know N applied, yield of crop per acre (average) • Ease of calculations • Allows comparison among same crop w/varying conditions • Need to demonstrate that the nitrogen management approach is protective of groundwater
DATA COLLECTION Development of baseline nitrogen application information 1. Crop-specific 2. Integrated regionally 3. Provides basis for comparison of regional nitrogen application differences 4. Identification of multi-year trends 5. Addresses the probability of nitrogen leaving the crop root zone via deep percolation Information for Outreach and Education 1. Create management plans in certain areas. 2. Provide growers with understanding of key elements of on-farm nitrogen components 3. Show areas with high nitrates in groundwater 4. Nitrogen levels to irrigation supply water
REPORTING UNITS • Management Unit • Could include several fields with similar soils, irrigation methods, irrigation water nitrate levels, and irrigation management nitrate styles • Individual Field The flexibility of reporting units provides growers with the ability to group fields as it makes operational sense and grants flexibility in the size of fields as it varies over time and season
Field Reporting Map Completed by Grower
NITROGEN MANAGEMENT PLAN APPROVED BY REGIONAL WATER BOARD DECEMBER 23, 2014 NMP In High Vulnerability Areas, CCA sign-off required ESJWQC Deadline for CCA sign-off March 1, 2016 Basic Elements of NMP • Crop • Field(s) or parcel identification • Nitrogen applied to management unit • Estimate of nitrogen in • Irrigation water • Compost/manure • Residual in the soil In High Vulnerabilty Areas, CCA sign off required
High Vulnerability Areas
Proposed reporting of nitrogen plan worksheet information: • Submit summary form to Coalition • Coalition compiles ratios; separates into crops, “Township” sections (6 sq. miles) • CCA or self certify in high vulnerability areas
Nitrogen Management Plan Certification For members with fields that are high vulnerability to groundwater contamination Two options for NMP certification 1. Sign off by professional • Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) • Professional agronomist • Soil scientist OR 2. Grower CDFA Certification • Member (or member representative) can be certified to certify your own NMP
Nitrogen Management Plan Certification For members with fields that are high vulnerability to groundwater contamination To obtain NMP certification, a grower must • Attend a four-hour session in nitrogen management • Pass a 30-question test at the end of the session. NMP Trainings are taught by CCAs who have been trained by UC Extension Personnel and are experts in nitrogen management. Over the next 3 years, growers must attend Continuing Education meetings to maintain the certification. CURES Managing 3-year pilot program in Central Valley through FREP grant • Create “speakers bureau” of CCAs to provide training • Working with coalitions on grower training meetings
Management Practice Effectiveness Program (MPEP) • Confirm that management practices implemented to improve groundwater quality are working • Are agricultural management practices protective of groundwater? • Modify practices if needed • Implemented by CV Coalitions either individually or combined effort Coordinated effort by coalitions/commodity groups to complete • Share study expenses among coalitions willing to collaborate – ESJWQC forming group made up of 4 other coalitions
Northern Central Valley Coalitions form MOU to Complete Management Practice Studies Question: Are farming practices protective of groundwater? • Sacramento Valley Water Quality Coalition • San Joaquin County & Delta Water Quality Coalition • Westside San Joaquin River Watershed Coalition • East San Joaquin Water Quality Coalition • Westlands Water District Coalition
Selection of Management Practices • Coordinate with commodity groups of selected crops what “best practices” are • Select practices to study based on: – Current usage by growers – Potential to be adopted by large percentage of growers • Economical • Practical • Ability to measure effectiveness
Examples of Potential Measurements in MPEP Field Studies • N Applied as: – Commercial fertilizer – Cover crops/manure/comp ost – Irrigation water • N Harvested with crop – N stored (where applicable) • N in Vadose Zone – Soil cores • N in Leachate – Suction Lysimeters Also measure water applied through irrigation and Groundwater rainfall on site
Parry Klassen 559-288-8125 www.esjcoalition.org
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