The state is stepping back from a proposed project that would have created statewide regulations to address possible impacts on water quality where livestock is grazed.
Fear for the environment was the main reason for the suggestion of the Grazing Regulatory Action Project (GRAP). The State Water Resource Control Board thought a blanket approach might be needed to monitor grazing near natural waterways.
Their main concerns were that livestock could be introducing bacteria into waterways through their feces and dislodging soil and trampling creek banks with their hooves.
While environmentalists came out strongly for continuing discussions, industry was strongly against it, saying the state Water Board had no scientific evidence.
Phil Crader, assistant deputy director for the State Water Board Division of Water Quality, said during a phone conversation after the vote that the main reason discussions were ended is because the regions are diverse. Crader cited differences in climate, topography and land use. He said even the water quality issues themselves are specific to certain areas.
“We feel the region boards have the expertise and the local knowledge to implement the best regulation or non-regulatory management approach,” Crader said.
With statewide regulations off the table for now, regulatory decisions will move back to the state’s regional water boards.
“They will simply be continuing their current strategies and they’ve been encouraged by the State Water Board to consider some of the factors that were discussed,” Crader said.
Those discusses factors included implementing best management practices where appropriate and creating monitoring programs to measure the effectiveness of those best management practices, said Crader.
State officials will stay involved and work with the UC Cooperative Extension and ranching experts to update best management practices. The vote to end the discussions took place Wednesday. The state Water Board will revisit their stance on the issue with a progress report next year.