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The Farm Water Quality Management Plan
(“Farm Plan”)

Every year since 2005, the Central Coast Ag Order has required every enrolled grower to maintain a Farm Water Quality Management Plan (Farm Plan). To view the Farm Plan requirements in Ag Order 4.0, click here.

The Farm Plan serves as both a tool and as documentation for the responsible management of water quality issues that can come from farm runoff (discharges). If your farm has no runoff, the Farm Plan can help to document that. If your farm does have runoff, the Farm Plan documents the management practices you are using to prevent eroded soils, erosive water flows, pesticides and fertilizers from leaving your ranch at levels that can impair downstream water bodies.

Click on the links below to learn more about each section of the Farm Plan, and to access templates that you can use to create or update your Farm Plan

    1. SEMP – Sediment & Erosion Management Plan 
    2. PMP – Pesticide Management Plan (Coming Soon!)
    3. INMP – Irrigation & Nutrient Management Plan (Coming Soon!)

View or Download Example Ranch Maps

Computer/Satellite Ranch Map Example

Hand-Drawn Map Example

Informing Your Farm Plan with Self-Assessment

The Farm Plan is only one of two important farm water quality management tools. The other important tool is Self-Assessment.

Water quality issues identified in your Self-Assessment should inform updates to the management practices in your Farm Plan.  Your updated management practices should result in measurably improved Self-Assessment results.