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CA dairy producers notified of WDR revisions

March 31, 2011 – Dairy
producers have recently received notice from the Central Valley Regional Water
Quality Control Board (water board) that the Water Discharge Requirement (WDR)
Monitoring and Reporting Program (MRP) has been revised.
March 31, 2011 – Dairy
producers have recently received notice from the Central Valley Regional Water
Quality Control Board that the Water Discharge Requirement (WDR)
Monitoring and Reporting Program (MRP) has been revised.

The changes to the MRP
were necessary in order for the Central Valley Dairy Representative Monitoring
Program (CVDRMP) to proceed. The changes allow representative groundwater
monitoring to take the place of groundwater monitoring at each individual
dairy. This change represents a significant cost savings to all
dairymen. The CVDRMP is now officially endorsed by the water board and is
proceeding according to plan.

A lot of work went into
getting this program established, and credit should be shared by many
individuals. Western United Dairymen’s (WUD) Paul Martin testified in support
of the CVDRMP at a recent board hearing.

There are some other
changes in the MRP that will require additional constituent monitoring and
testing. WUD argued aggressively with the water board to avoid any
increase in MRP cost, and we were successful to a degree, however, there are
expected to be some additional lab costs. WUD is steadfastly opposed to
anything causing additional costs to our members. For this reason, Martin told
the board in public hearing that WUD did not support this part of the MRP
revisions.

Additional information
will be provided at the spring CDQAP workshops and the sampling and testing
changes will be clearly demonstrated. Until that time, water board staff has
told us that the existing program can continue to be used.