What if I don’t join a coalition? Is it mandatory?

No, joining a Coalition is voluntary. Growers may choose to enroll under an individual permit instead of joining a Coalition. However, individual permits are typically much more expensive and require growers to independently comply with all monitoring, testing, reporting, and regulatory requirements. These costs may include laboratory analysis, monitoring well installation and maintenance, data reporting, and other compliance activities required by the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board. As a result, many growers find Coalition membership to be a more cost-effective option for meeting regulatory requirements.

All irrigated agricultural land that produces crops for commercial purposes must be enrolled in a Coalition or obtain coverage under an individual permit. If your parcels are not currently enrolled in a Coalition or covered by an individual permit, you may be subject to monetary penalties and other enforcement actions by the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board.