The Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board held a hearing on June 3 to consider approval of the Modesto Management Zone Implementation Plan (MZIP) and amendments to water quality permits for operations in the Modesto groundwater subbasin. This action applied to irrigated agriculture, food processors, municipal wastewater treatment plants, bovine feedlots, as well as dairy operations. At the end of the day, the Board approved the resolution as presented by staff without making any changes.
This was an important step in the CV-Salts process that started almost two decades ago. With this action, the Regional Board officially provided a 35-year exception to meeting the nitrate drinking water standard in groundwater. This was in exchange for permit holders funding replacement drinking water for those whose wells are impacted by nitrates, something that has already been happening in the Modesto Management Zone for about five years. This hearing now sets the stage for the remaining Priority 1 management zones (Turlock, Chowchilla, Kings, Kaweah, and Tule) to move through this same process. Read more