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Nitrate Management

Background

The Central Valley is the epicenter of California’s  economy—encompassing 40% of the state and providing  water for people and businesses from San Francisco to  San Diego, as well as food for California, the nation, and  the world. Over the last 150 years, increased agricultural,  industrial, and municipal activities, coupled with population growth, have resulted in dramatic increases in salts and nitrates in groundwater, soils, and surface waters. In some communities, the nitrate concentrations have caused unsafe drinking water. Salt accumulations have resulted in 250,000 acres being taken out of production and 1.5 million acres have been declared salinity impaired. If not addressed, the economic impacts of salts and nitrates on the Valley are estimated to exceed $3-billion per year.

Salt and nitrate discharges by agriculture, municipal, and industrial activities are regulated by the Central Valley Water Quality Control Board (Central Valley Water Board). New and improved management practices have already been implemented to reduce salt and nitrate discharges into surface and ground waters, but compliance with current regulations is difficult and, in some areas of the Valley, even impossible. New, updated, flexible regulations are needed that address the Valley’s natural diversities (e.g. climatic, hydrologic, geologic) while protecting  water quality and maintaining a strong economy.

Chowchilla Subbasin

The Chowchilla Subbasin is a Priority 1 Subbasin for nitrate management. Read more about Nitrate Control.  The Nitrate Control Program has three goals:

Provide safe drinking water supplies.
Reduce nitrate impacts to water supplies.
Restore groundwater quality where reasonable and feasible.

Chowchilla EAP Public Draft

Chowchilla PMZP Public Draft

PMZP Executive Summary: English

EAP Executive Summary: English

PMZP Executive Summary: Spanish

EAP Executive Summary: Spanish

Complete PMZP: March 8, 2021

Complete EAP: March 8, 2021

 Make your comments here  

New Chowchilla Management Zone Nitrate Control Program

Chowchilla Subbasin Nitrate Control Program Presentation

Brochure – New Nitrate Control Program – English

Brochure – New Nitrate Control Program – Spanish

Flyer – New Nitrate Control Program – Offer Choices for Compliance – English

Flyer – New Nitrate Control Program – Offer Choices for Compliance – Spanish

CVSALTS Brochure English

CVSALTS Brochure Spanish

Dairy Industry

San Joaquin Valley and Ag

Self Help Enterprises Emergency Services

Nitrate Management

Public Outreach Meeting Materials and Minutes:
July 29, 2020

August 26, 2020

September 11, 2020

October 16, 2020 Presentation , Storyboard, and Flyer

January 29, 2021

Power Point Presentation

Survey – Chowchilla Nitrate Control Program – English

Survey – Chowchilla Nitrate Control Program – Spanish

Everything you need to know about the Nitrates and the Chowchilla Management Zone. Please see below the flyer information.

CMZ Flyer – 7-20-2021 – ENGLISH

CMZ Flyer – 7-20-2021 – SPANISH

February 26, 2021 CMZ Public Meeting Feb 2021

June 02, 2021 CMZ Public Meeting June 2021

August 11, 2021 CMZ Public Meeting August 11 2021