What Measures Has The California State Water Resources Board Taken To Reduce Nitrogen Runoff?

How much
do you know of the California State Water Resources Board? It was created back
in 1967 by the Legislative arm of government. Its main aim is to make sure the
state enjoys the water of reasonable quality and standards. It does so by
providing residents with water for optimum balance and profitable use. The
joint administration of the allocation of water and its quality protection
enables the board to offer adequate protection for the state’s waters.

The board
contains five members who receive full salaries. Each performs different roles
and duties in the water resource authority. They are appointed by the Governor
and later approved by the Senate.

Here, we
are going to look at how the body works in preventing too much nitrogen in
water. Below are some of the activities of the California State Water Resources
Board in reducing nitrogen runoff.

California
State Water Resources Board: Reducing Nitrogen in Water

•      
Monitoring and reporting based on Tiers

•      
Earth receiving water reporting and follow-up
requirements

•      
Ground water reporting and monitoring policies

•      
General reporting and surveillance requirements

•       How are
farmers in California using organic fertilizers to decrease nitrogen runoff?

Monitoring and Reporting Based
On Tiers

The order
of reporting and follow-up should follow the criteria of three levels. Such are
based upon those characteristics of the farms and the system that offers the
highest amount of water discharge to the quality of water. These tiers include
the following:

1.      Tier 1 – it’s meant for dischargers who produce the
lowest waste level hence reduced nitrogen runoff.

2.      Tier 2 – it involves dischargers who emit moderate wastes
into water sources or in the environment.

3.     
Tier 3 – when it comes to this category, it applies to those ranchers or farmers
who produce the highest waste levels.

It is
important to note that in California, water is defined regarding state,
regional, federal or narrative water quality standards!

Earth or Surface Receiving
Water and Monitoring Process

When it
comes to Tier 1 ranchers, they should carry out such a procedure to ensure that
water is not polluted because of too much nitrogen. Surface receiving water
just means water that is flowing in creeks and other surfaces. Such type of
water is used in various activities such as gardening and maintaining lawns,
especially while using the best lawn
sprinkler!

Dischargers
should follow several requirements some which include:

•      
Choosing surface receiving monitoring water
stations that produce the best water quality

•      
They should participate in cooperative
monitoring programs

•       They must
also have a surface receiving water monitoring plan.

Ground Water Reporting and Follow-Up Policies

The
procedure is carried out through cooperative reporting and surveillance
platform on behalf of all farmers. However, interested individuals may also
decide to conduct the process individually. Among many reasons chief among them
involves:

•      
Identifying areas with the highest risk of
nitrogen pollution

•       Sampling
groundwater sources such as wells in each farm to determine the nitrogen
levels. Note here that only a third party consultant should carry out the
sampling procedure

General Reporting and Monitoring Requirements

Ranchers
must present reports in the format indicated by the executive authority. Here,
you will need to report the total number of nitrogen applied to all the crops
harvested on the farm every year. Remember to track all the nitrogen present in
fertilizers, compost, and other materials!

How Are Farmers In California
Using Organic Fertilizers To Decrease Nitrogen Runoff?

Because of
the numerous requirements of the California water and resource authority,
farmers are now using organic fertilizers instead of chemical fertilizers. The
process is advantageous as it greatly helps in reducing excess nitrogen in
water.

The best
way to produce any organic fertilizer is on-farm production. In this case, it’s
much easier for farmers to make their own compost heap at a cheaper price and
for better soil quality. It is a perfect addition of organic matter for all
garden plants!

Whether growing
a gorgeous crop of garlic or planting tomatoes, farmers of the 1st, 2nd,
and 3rd tiers should follow the rules and regulations of the water resource
authority. Ensure that you are using fewer chemicals in your garden to reduce
too much nitrogen in our water sources.

It is our hope that you’ve learned at least something from the duties of
the California State Water Resources Board. Share the article with your
relatives and friends and let us keep talking more on the issue. Lastly, other
than compost manure, do you know other useful organic fertilizers?

Hi there! I’m Lucy – founder of GardenAmbition.com and I’m a self-confessed garden
fanatic. Gardening has always been a passion of mine and will always be my
favorite pastime. Now that I am married and have one adorable son, I have the
time to write and share my personal experiences with other garden enthusiasts
like me.