History
In 2005, the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board (Regional Board) adopted a Conditional Waiver of Waste Discharge Requirements for Discharges from Irrigated Lands Within the Los Angeles Region. Known informally as the "Conditional Waiver" or "Ag Waiver" program, it requires the owners of irrigated farmland to measure and control discharges from their property, including irrigation return flows, flows from tile drains, and stormwater runoff. These discharges can affect water quality by transporting nutrients, pesticides, sediment, salts, and other into surface waters. On September 28. 2023 the Conditional Waiver was replaced by Waste Discharge Requirements, also known as an Ag Order, but the applicability and enrollment requirements remain the same.
Any landowner or grower of irrigated farmland who sells their crop commercially, holds a current Operator Identification Number/Permit Number for pesticide use reporting, or files an IRS form 1040 Schedule F Profit or Loss from Farming must comply with the Ag Order. Landowners and growers may choose whether they want to comply with the provisions of the Ag Order as individuals or collectively as a “discharger group” through VCAILG.
The Ventura County Agricultural Irrigated Lands Group (VCAILG) was formed in 2006 to act as one unified discharger group for agricultural landowners and growers. Joining VCAILG allows members to share costs and resources, thereby saving each landowner or grower thousands of dollars a year in compliance costs and avoiding the administrative headache of managing their own monitoring and reporting programs.
On behalf of members, VCAILG establishes monitoring sites, collects water samples throughout the year, submits samples to labs for analysis, conducts grower education events throughout the year, develops Water Quality Management Plans to help members meet water quality standards, and produces a variety of mandatory reports for submittal to the Regional Board each year.
Management
Oversight of VCAILG is provided by a 17-member Steering Committee, consisting of agricultural organization representatives, agricultural water district representatives, and landowners and growers from the three primary watersheds in Ventura County (Calleguas Creek, Santa Clara River, and Ventura River). Steering Committee members also represent Ventura County's major agricultural commodities (berries, nursery stock, citrus, vegetables, and avocados).
Because VCAILG is an unincorporated organization, the Farm Bureau of Ventura County acts as the responsible entity for the collection of funds, providing education, and handling other fiscal and business matters. Larry Walker Associates serves as the primary consultant responsible for monitoring, reporting, and other technical aspects of VCAILG management. Activities conducted on behalf of members are funded by an annual assessment fee. Each member’s fee is based on their irrigated acreage and the location of their farm, as monitoring and reporting requirements differ depending on the watershed.
