The California Water Boards' Annual Performance Report - Fiscal Year 2014-15

MEASUREMENTS  - Data Last Updated on: 

WHAT THE MEASURE IS SHOWING

Dairies are concentrated mostly in the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board (Region 5). The size of the facilities, measured by the number of animals in each facility varies significantly. The Regional Water Boards may regulate waste discharges from CAFs by issuing or conditionally waiving Waste Discharge Requirements (WDRs), as well as National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits where the discharge is to waters of the U.S. The dairies regulated in Region 8 are under a general NPDES permit (R8-2007-0001). In Region 1 dairies are regulated with an NPDES permit, Waste Discharge Requirements, and a Conditional Waiver of Waste Discharge Requirements.

WHY THIS MEASURE IS IMPORTANT

TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS

• Data Source: CIWQS. Period: July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015.
• Unit of Measure: Number of regulated dairies and other confined animal facilities under the NPDES and WDR programs (including waivers of WDRs).
• References: SWRCB CAFO program site
  Region 1 Dairy and CAFO program
  Region 5 CAFO program
  Region 8 Dairy program
  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Final CAFO Rule

GLOSSARY

CAF

(Confined Animal Facility) is defined in California regulations as "any place where cattle, calves, sheep, swine, horses, mules, goats, fowl, or other domestic animals are corralled, penned, tethered, or otherwise enclosed or held and where feeding is by means other than grazing."s

Dairy

An establishment for processing or selling milk and milk products.

( Page last updated:  11/18/15 )