On or around September 24th of this year (2024), the Central Coast Water Board notified growers in several areas of Monterey and Santa Cruz counties that they had received a complaint alleging potential contributions to significant, sediment-laden stormwater runoff from their ranches.  The general complaint areas are:

1. Buena Vista Drive & Galligan Slough (Santa Cruz County) 
2. Spring Valley & Spring View Roads (Santa Cruz County) 
3. Hartnell Road Bridge & Alisal Creek (Monterey County) 
4. Old Stage Road from Spence Road to Broome Road (Monterey County) 
5. Santa Rita / Gabilan Acres Above Golf Course (Monterey County) 

The complaint notification reminds recipients that Ag Order 4.0 requires all growers to develop and implement a Sediment & Erosion Management Plan (SEMP).  The SEMP is a newer name for a section of the Farm Water Quality Management Plan (Farm Plan) that has actually been required since 2005 under the first Ag Order.   

How do I know if my ranch is part of a complaint?  Both the Operator and Landowner of-record for the ranch (as listed in the eNOI on GeoTracker) would have received an email notification from the Central Coast Water Board, on or around September 24, 2024.  To confirm, you can contact the Water Board at 805-549-3148 or AgNOI@waterboards.ca.gov, or you can contact Preservation, Inc. at 831-761-8644 or Support@ccwqp.org. 

Do I need to do anything in response to the complaint?  Yes.  Please act immediately – responses were due by October 1, 2024.  The complaint notification email included an Options Form that needs to be returned to the Water Board at paula.richter@waterboards.ca.gov.  If you select an option that involves working with Preservation, Inc., please also send (or Cc) your completed Options Form to Support@ccwqp.org.   

What are the Options for response actions to this complaint?  There are four options.  Two of these involve working with Preservation, Inc., while the other two involve direct interaction with the Water Board.  Also, two of the options involve immediate implementation of the SEMP (Sediment & Erosion Management Plan), while the other two allow an additional year for full implementation of the SEMP (but still require some immediate “winterization” steps in 2024).   

Option 1: Work with Preservation, Inc. to implement your full SEMP, beginning on October 1, 2024.  We recommend this option ONLY if you already have a robust SEMP for your ranch(es), that you trust to effectively manage sediment and stormwater as soon as it starts raining this fall/winter.  (If you want to work with Preservation, Inc. but need extra time to work on your SEMP, you should select Option 3.) 

Option 2: Individually implement your full SEMP, beginning on October 1, 2024.  We recommend this option ONLY if you already have a robust SEMP for your ranch(es), that you trust to effectively manage sediment and stormwater as soon as it starts raining this fall/winter, AND you are prepared to submit your SEMP to the Central Coast Water Board.  The Water Board may request that you submit your SEMP to them for review, at any time.  

Option 3: Work with Preservation, Inc. to develop and implement a Winterization Plan immediately.  Then start working with Preservation, Inc. to develop and implement a full SEMP.  Preservation, Inc. recommends this option for most ranches. 

Option 4: Individually develop and implement a Winterization Plan immediately.  Then individually develop and implement a full SEMP.  If you select this option, you should be prepared to submit your Winterization Plan to the Central Coast Water Board, and be prepared to discuss your SEMP directly with Water Board staff (and/or submit your SEMP to the Water Board for review).