Water Quality Is Our Collective Stewardship
The California Rice Commission (CRC) is the Third-Party representing Growers in the Sacramento Valley for coverage under the Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program (ILRP). Without coverage under the Rice Order, Growers would be subject to the General Order or be required to obtain and fund individual coverage. The CRC completes the annual monitoring programs and reports on behalf of the industry.
The water quality monitoring under the Rice Pesticide Program (RPP) will begin April 28th. The RPP monitors for thiobencarb for 10 consecutive weeks at 4 agricultural drain sites and one site in the Sacramento River near downtown Sacramento.
The water quality monitoring under the ILRP’s Waste Discharge Requirements (WDR) will begin on May 5th. The WDR program in 2026 is a modified assessment year, which will include expanded number of sample locations (7 total). The surface water programs will continue through August. Groundwater monitoring for nitrates at 11 select shallow wells across the rice-growing areas of the valley will be conducted in August.
The WDR program will have two additional Surface Water Management Plans: Pyrethroids at Sacramento Slough (SSB) and upper Colusa Basin Drain (CBD5), and green algae at Butte Slough (BS1) and Sacramento Slough (SSB).
In addition, the CRC will conduct aggressive off-program sampling for pyrethroids in Colusa County north of Highway 20 and west of the Sacramento River.
The results of the water quality monitoring programs are used by the Central Valley Water Board and other stakeholders to determine compliance with rice’s regulatory orders and to evaluate our industry management practices.
For more information, contact the CRC’s Industry Affairs Manager Craig Riddle at criddle@calrice.org
