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5/1/2010 - Drainshed Meetings Scheduled for June 1, 2 & 3.

Imperial County Farm Bureau has scheduled the 2010 TMDL Drainshed meetings for June 1, 2 and 3. All farmers who participate in the Imperial Valley Voluntary TMDL Compliance program are required to attend one of these meetings, which will be held at three locations throughout Imperial County:

Tuesday, June 1, meetings will be held at the Stockmen’s Club in Brawley (275 Marjorie Drive) at 10:00 a.m. and at 3:00 p.m. On Wednesday, June 2, a meeting will be held at the Holtville City Hall (121 W Fifth Street) at 1:00 p.m. And on Thursday, June 3, meetings will be held at the Imperial County Farm Bureau board room in El Centro (1000 Broadway) at 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Participants can attend any of the scheduled meetings, and are encouraged to RSVP in advance.

Imperial County’s Total Maximum Daily Load, or TMDL, program is designed to continue reducing the amount of silt and minerals that are transported through the drainage systems from agricultural fields into the New and Alamo Rivers, and ultimately to the Salton Sea. The goal set by the Regional Water Quality Control Board is to reduce the amount of silt and minerals in the system by 50% over the course of 12 years.

Since implementation, the Farm Bureau’s TMDL program has prevented more than 33,000 tons of silt from entering the New and Alamo Rivers, achieving the goal for the New River within three years. The program has seen a significant reduction at the Alamo River well ahead of the 12-year implementation schedule.

The TMDL program, which is administered by Imperial County Farm Bureau, is voluntary, however nearly all farmers in Imperial Valley participate in the program. The program offers growers and landowners a straightforward path to compliance with the mandatory TMDL regulation. Those who do not participate in the Farm Bureau program work directly with the Regional Water Quality Control Board to design and implement a TMDL plan for their farm.

The program is designed around the idea that the growers are uniquely qualified to assess and implement methods that will be most effective on their own land. Farmers implement a variety of Best Management Practices (BMPs) to reduce silt and mineral runoff on their own farms, and maintain a record of their efforts. Participants are also required to attend annual meetings to keep up-to-date and share information relating to BMPs and TMDL management on their farms.

For more information about the TMDL program or to RSVP for the upcoming drainshed meetings, contact Candace Nelson, TMDL Program Manager at Imperial County Farm Bureau – 760-352-3831 or info@ivtmdl.com.