Some 118 groups representing the environmental, environmental justice, recreational and fishing community signed on to a CSPA letter to the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board regarding the proposed Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program. Coalition Letter
The coalition, representing millions of Californians, urged the Regional Board to stop ceding its regulatory authority to industry advocacy coalitions and require that irrigated farms comply with regulatory requirements applicable to virtually every other segment of society, including municipalities, industry and mom-and-pop businesses.
Irrigated agriculture is the largest source of pollution to Central Valley waterways and the Delta. Pollution is identified as one of the principle causes of the collapse of Delta fisheries. Agricultural pollution also threatens drinking water supplies and public health and is a major source of groundwater impairment.
The Regional Board will consider a new long-term program regulating toxic pollution discharged from six million acres of farmland in the Central Valley on 7 April 2011. The meeting at the Regional Board located at 11021 Sun Center Drive, Suite 200, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670 will begin at 9:00 AM and a rally and press conference is scheduled for noon.