General Waste Discharge Requirements for Commercial Lily Bulb Operations in the Smith River Plain

The North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board has established General Waste Discharge Requirements (WDRs) under Order R1-2026-0035 to regulate commercial lily bulb operations in the Smith River Plain of California. The primary objective is to protect and restore water quality and beneficial uses by controlling pollutants from stormwater, irrigation runoff, pesticides, fertilizers, sediment erosion, and the removal of riparian vegetation. This regulatory framework, supported by a Final Environmental Impact Report and a Notice of Determination, requires commercial agricultural operations to implement a Monitoring and Reporting Program either individually or through a Grower Coalition. Key requirements include surface water and groundwater monitoring, drinking water well sampling, and annual compliance reporting, with water quality trend reports submitted every five years. Enrollees must adhere to specific management practices and maintain rigorous data verification standards, including the use of CEDEN-compatible electronic formats for surface water data. Existing operations must submit a Notice of Intent by March 1, 2027, while new or expanding operations must do so prior to enrollment. Prospective Coalitions are required to provide detailed organizational documentation, financial proof of solvency, and staff qualifications to demonstrate managerial capacity.