Webinar Highlights: February 2022, Ag Order 4.0

Wondering how the new AG Order 4.0 requirements impact your vineyard? Sara Lopez with Central Coast Water Quality Preservation, Inc reviews the requirements, new Third-Party programs, and how these all relate to grape growers. Watch the recording for free.

Highlights  

Preservation Inc. Membership

• 98% of Central Coast growers are already enrolled with Preservation, Inc., and the vast majority are “Members In Good Standing”
• Member responsibilities:
  • Update your eNOI (in GeoTracker) within 60 days of any changes
  • Accurate acreage and mailing address is very important
  • Preservation, Inc. is required to report members who don’t pay fees to the Water Board

Surface Water Member Responsibilities 

• Pay Preservation, Inc. December invoice by 1/15/22
• Maintain and implement Farm Plan elements related to surface water (On-going)
• Future (applicable ranches): Participate in Surface Water Follow-Up Program (2023 or later)
• Now (voluntary): Participate in **Pilot** Surface Water Follow-Up Program

Groundwater Protection & Possible Vineyard Exemption

• Domestic Well Monitoring & Reporting, beginning 2022
• Irrigation Well testing for INMP (nitrate only, beginning 2023 for 2024 reporting)
• Pre-Trend Irrigation Well Monitoring (likely 2022 and 2023) >> Long-Term Groundwater Quality Trend Monitoring (begins 2023 or 2024
•  Ranch-Level Groundwater Discharge Monitoring (as required by Executive Officer)
• See Page 28, Item 23 in Ag Order 4.0 (Order No. R3-2021-0040)

  • Vineyard Team is working with Preservation Inc. to demonstrate that SIP Certified growers are achieving final Nitrogen discharge limits, therefore, exempting them from reporting an INMP summary report. This negotiation is still in process and we will keep you posted about updates.