California Water Boards' Annual Performance Report - Fiscal Year 2017-18
REGULATE: CONFINED ANIMAL FACILITIES
CONFINED ANIMAL FACILITIES (CAFs)
NUMBER OF REGULATED DAIRY FACILITIES
Most dairies are concentrated in the Central Valley. 1,489 dairies are regulated by the Water Boards.
| Key Statistics for FY 2017-18 | |
|---|---|
| Number of Dairies Regulated | 1,489 |
| Number Dairy Animals Regulated | 1,671,655 |
MEASUREMENTS - Data Last Updated on: 11-16-2018 (4:00 pm)
| Region | Total Number of Dairies Regulated by Water Boards | Number of Dairy Animals Regulated |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 154 | 37,711 |
| 2 | 41 | 16,662 |
| 3 | 3 | 3,608 |
| 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 5F | 525 | 927,990 |
| 5R | 1 | 0 |
| 5S | 678 | 578,063 |
| 6A | 0 | 0 |
| 6B | 4 | 14,159 |
| 7 | 4 | 10,395 |
| 8 | 73 | 79,292 |
| 9 | 6 | 3,775 |
| TOTAL | 1,489 | 1,671,655 |
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
Wastes generated at CAFs can adversely impact the quality and beneficial uses of waters. There are a wide variety of CAFs that are regulated by the Regional Water Boards. The most well-known are dairies, with the Central Valley Regional Water Board (Region 5) regulating approximately 83% of the dairies in the state. Other types of operations that are regulated by the Regional Water Boards include poultry, swine, equestrian, and veal calf operations. Several Regional Water Boards are evaluating increased regulation of CAFs. In addition to issuing permits, the Regional Water Boards are responsible for conducting inspections, and issuing enforcement actions against both regulated and non-regulated CAFs. Inspections are the primary tool to ensure compliance with WDRs or waivers of WDRs.
TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS
- Data Source: CIWQS. Period July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018.
- 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."
- Dairy
- An establishment for processing or selling milk and milk products.
