WHEREAS:

1. The County of Merced (County) has requested an Agricultural Drainage Management Program (ADMP) loan of $5 million for the Animal Confinement Drainage Improvements Project (Project).

2. The Project will address ground water problems associated with dairies and other confined animal facilities, including high nitrates and salinity.

3. The Project received the support of the Merced County Farm Bureau, Western United Dairymen's Association, Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board, University of California Davis Cooperative Extension, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Department of Health Services Drinking Water Field Operations Branch, the Merced County Agricultural Commissioner, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

The SWRCB approves an ADMP loan for $5 million to the County for the Project. This approval is contingent upon the County complying with the California Environmental Quality Act.

The undersigned, Administrative Assistant to the Board, does hereby certify that the foregoing is a full, true, and correct copy of a resolution duly and regularly adopted at a meeting of the State Water Resources Control Board held on October 23, 1997.

/s/

Maureen Marché

Administrative Assistant to the Board