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California Regional Water Quality Control BoardNorth Coast RegionOrder No. R1-2019-0001General Waste Discharge RequirementsFor DairiesWithin the North Coast RegionThe California Regional Water Quality Control Board, North Coast Region (hereinafterRegional Water Board), finds that:Scope of Coverage1. Order No. R1-2019-0001 (hereafter, Order) serves as general waste dischargerequirements (GWDRs) for discharges of waste from dairy facilities that meet theterms and conditions of this Order.This Order covers the management of process water, manure, and other organicmaterials at dairies, including the application of such materials to land. This Orderalso covers the discharge of wastes and water quality impacts from owned or leaseddairy cattle grazing lands, dairy croplands, and dairy cattle raising lands that havethe potential to discharge wastes to surface waters and groundwater. Other wastesillegal to dispose of at dairies, such as medicines, pesticides, chemicals, andfertilizers, must be disposed at appropriately permitted facilities.This Order replaces the Regional Water Board’s 2012 dairy General WasteDischarge Requirements (Order No. R1-2012-0002) and the Conditional Waiver(Order No. R1-2012-0003). Changes include coverage of new dairies, expandingdairies, reopening of inactive dairies, and goat, sheep, and water buffalo dairies ifthese dairies demonstrate compliance with the provisions of the InitialStudy/Mitigated Negative Declaration per the California Environmental Quality Act.New requirements include a revised Monitoring and Reporting Program, includingchanges in water quality sampling parameters, a revised Water Quality Plan, a newRiparian Management Plan, and a requirement for Nutrient Management Plans fordairies of a minimum size.2. Owners and operators of dairies discharging, or proposing to discharge, waste froma dairy in any manner that could affect the quality of the waters of the state withinthe North Coast Region (Region) and who have been designated by the RegionalWater Board are hereinafter defined as “Dischargers” and are subject to the termsand conditions of this Order.3. This Order classifies dairy facilities as “existing,” “new,” or “expanded.”a. “Existing dairy facilities” are those that were operating as of the time of adoptionof this Order. Existing dairy facilities also includes dairies that were existing as ofJanuary 19, 2012 and have been continuously covered by a Regional WaterBoard dairy permit since 2012. It also includes those continuously covereddairies that were temporarily not in operation as a dairy as of the adoption date of
Waste Discharge Requirements for DairiesOrder No. R1-2019-0001this Order. Existing facilities applies to inactive dairies that apply to re-open perthe conditions of this Order. Existing dairies includes cow, goat, sheep, andwater buffalo dairies.b. “New dairy facilities” are those that were not yet operating as of the adoption dateof this Order; andc. “Expanded dairy facilities” are those that increase their herd size from themaximum milking herd size designated in a previous Notice of Intent (NOI) withthe Regional Water Board (i.e. Orders R1-2012-0002 and R1-2012-0003 forexisting cow dairies). Expanded facilities also includes dairies that increase theirmaximum milking herd size from the time that they are enrolled under this Order.4. This Order applies to owners and operators of dairies (hereinafter referred to as“Dischargers”) that either:a. Qualify as an “existing” dairy facility; orb. Qualify as a “new dairy facility” or an “expanded dairy” facility and demonstratecompliance with the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act(CEQA) in the form of a certified Environmental Impact Report (EIR), MitigatedNegative Declaration, or Negative Declaration. The CEQA document as part ofthis Order covers most existing, new, and expanded dairy facilities. Thesefacilities also must:i.Have submitted a complete Notice of Intent (NOI) to the Regional WaterBoard and paid the appropriate fee to the State Water Resources ControlBoard (State Water Board); andii.Have received a formal Notice of Applicability (NOA) or equivalent enrollmentletter from the Regional Water Board indicating that they are required tocomply with the terms and conditions of this Order.5. This Order applies to commercial dairies including:a. All existing cow dairies in operation on January 19, 2012, that have not closed orterminated;b. Other existing dairies, including but not limited to, water buffalo, goat, and sheepdairies;c. Dairies (as described above in 4. a.) that are inactive, as of the adoption date ofthis Order, whether for a short or long period of time, but are subsequently reopened as a dairy; andPage 2 of 35
Waste Discharge Requirements for DairiesOrder No. R1-2019-0001d. New or expanding dairies that demonstrate compliance with the provisions of theCEQA in the form of a certified Environmental Impact Report, Mitigated NegativeDeclaration, or Negative Declaration such as the CEQA document that is part ofthis Order.6. This Order applies to all dairies. Smaller dairies milking less than 25 cows, 25 waterbuffalo, 100 goats, 100 sheep, or the combined equivalent must meet the DischargeProhibitions in Section A of this Order but are not required to complete or submit aNotice of Intent (NOI-Attachment A), Water Quality Plan (WQP: Attachment D –Appendix 1), Nutrient Management Plan (NMP: Attachment D – Appendix 2),Riparian Management Plan (RMP-detailed in the Monitoring and Reporting Programand WQP), or Annual Reports (Attachment D-Appendix 3). The Regional WaterBoard Executive Officer may require these smaller dairies to enroll at any time if it isdetermined that there is a potential for discharge of waste to surface water orgroundwater.7. Dairies previously enrolled under the Conditional Waiver R1-2012-0003 or GWDRR1-2012-0002 must comply with the terms and conditions of this Order and mustcertify that their facility is structurally and operationally in compliance with theprohibitions and waste discharge specifications in this Order. Certification is donethrough a series of plans required including a WQP, RMP, NMP, Annual Reportingand water quality monitoring.8. Existing goat, sheep, and water buffalo dairies must certify that their facility isstructurally and operationally in compliance with all terms and conditions of thisOrder within two years of enrollment.9. New, expanding, or reopening of inactive dairies must submit a WQP to theRegional Water Board and have an NMP developed for their dairy when submitting aNOI.10. If any dairy cannot certify in the NOI or Annual Report that it meets the requirementsof this Order, or if the Executive Officer determines that the dairy does not meet theOrder requirements, then that dairy must submit a Report of Waste Discharge (Form200) to the Regional Water Board for an individual permit.11. Large concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO)1, as defined by federalregulations, include dairies with 700 or more mature dairy cows. Dairies defined aslarge CAFOs that discharge stormwater from cropland where manure, litter, orprocess wastewater has been applied must be implementing an NMP uponenrollment under this Order. Such discharges can qualify as “agricultural140 CFR section 122.23 (b)(4) defines a large CAFO as an operation that stables orconfines as many as, or more than, 700 mature dairy cows, whether milked or dry,10,000 sheep or lambs or 500 horses. The size thresholds for all animal sectors arelisted in 40 CFR 122.23(b) and (c).Page 3 of 35
Waste Discharge Requirements for DairiesOrder No. R1-2019-0001stormwater discharges,” not subject to NPDES permitting, if manure and wastewaterare applied to the land in accordance with site-specific nutrient managementpractices that ensure appropriate agricultural utilization of the nutrients in themanure, litter, or process wastewater (40 CFR section 122.23(e)). Large CAFOsthat discharge such stormwater without an NMP are in violation of the federal CleanWater Act (CWA) and may be fined for the discharge and/or required to enroll underan NPDES permit. This Order does not authorize discharges to surface water thatwould otherwise require an NPDES permit. Dairies that have a discharge requiringan NPDES permit must obtain coverage under NPDES Permit for ConcentratedAnimal Feeding Operations Within the North Coast Region, Order No. R1-20120001, or a subsequently adopted NPDES permit. Medium Animal FeedingOperations (AFOs) (200-699 mature dairy cows) and small AFOs (less than 200mature dairy cows) may be designated as CAFOs by the Regional Water Board ifthe dairy discharges wastes to waters of the United States. Such designatedCAFOs would then be required to develop an NMP and apply for coverage under aNPDES permit. A CAFO means an AFO which is defined as a Large CAFO orMedium CAFO by 40 CFR §§ 122.23 (4) and (6), or that is designated as a CAFO bythe United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) or the Regional WaterBoard.12. This Order applies to the disposal of waste generated by dairies including milk byproducts. Milk processing activities, such as cheese-making, that generateadditional waste and/or wastewater, may be co-mingled with the animal productionwaste stream. These additional wastes must be included in the facility’s WQP andNMP consistent with the technical standards specified in Attachment D - Appendices1 and 2.13. This Order does not cover discharges associated with activities that are notdescribed in this Order. For example, it does not cover discharges of hazardousmaterial, human waste, or mining waste. Discharges of waste not specificallycovered under this Order are prohibited. This Order does not apply to other types ofwaste, including, but not limited to, wastes such as cannery waste, septage,municipal or industrial sludge and/or biosolids, or similar types of waste generatedonsite or brought onto the facility for disposal. Dischargers must apply for coverageunder applicable general or individual WDRs as determined by the Regional WaterBoard prior to receiving and/or discharging such wastes.14. This Order applies to food waste if such materials are utilized for food for dairyanimals or for nutrient application to farmland in accordance with the dairy NMP asdescribed in this Order.15. This Order does not address the cleanup of existing degraded surface andgroundwater from past dairy operations. Any required cleanup actions are handledunder separate authority under the California Water Code (Water Code) section13304.Page 4 of 35
Waste Discharge Requirements for DairiesOrder No. R1-2019-000116. The Discharger may be liable for penalties if the Discharger violates this Order,discharges waste, or causes waste to be deposited where it is discharged into thewaters of the state and creates a condition of pollution or nuisance.17. This Order shall not create a vested right, and all discharges covered by it shall beconsidered a privilege, not a right, as provided under Water Code Section 13263.Water Quality Concerns18. Pursuant to the Water Code, Division 7, the Regional Water Board regulates thedischarge of wastes that could affect the quality of the waters of the state, to ensureprotection of the beneficial uses of both surface water and groundwater, and theprevention of nuisances. Dairies, as described herein, represent a potential sourceof waste discharges in the Region.19. Dairies are operations where all the dairy animals are milked, confined, and/or fed inan area that has a roof, generating solid and liquid manure wastes that are collectedand disposed of on land (crops and pastures) or offsite. Within the Region, theprimary types of dairies are cow, water buffalo, sheep, and goat dairies. Themajority of animal waste is produced by cow dairies in the North Coast Region.There are currently approximately 120 cow dairies operating within the Region, withtotal milking plus dry cow herd sizes ranging from 45 to 1,800 cows and averaging300 milking head; 10 dairies milking up to 650 goats; two dairies each milking 30water buffalo; and three dairies milking up to 100 sheep. All dairies in the NorthCoast Region are required to meet the conditions of this GWDR.20. Dairies generate wastes that include, but are not limited to, manure, processwastewater, animal wash water, and any water, precipitation, or rainfall runoff thatcontacts animal confinement areas and/or raw materials, products, or byproductssuch as milk, manure, compost piles, feed, bedding materials, silage, animal tissueor animal mortality. Wastewater may also contain certain chemicals such asdetergents, disinfectants, and biocides. Waste from such facilities can containsignificant amounts of pathogens, oxygen-depleting organic matter, sediment,nitrogen compounds, and other suspended and dissolved solids that can impactboth groundwater and surface water if not properly managed. Daily operations mayinclude activities that cause soil erosion and impacts to riparian habitats that result indegradation of the water quality of surface water and groundwater.21. Dairy wastes are stored in retention ponds, in corrals, and/or in waste piles. Thesewastes are then applied to onsite cropland or pastures or transported offsite. Theapplied wastes are a source of nutrients to crops and pastures but, if improperlymanaged, can create nuisance conditions and cause pollution of surface water andgroundwater. Adverse aquatic habitat impacts associated with improper wastemanagement and application may include: nutrient enrichment resulting in algalblooms, organic waste loading resulting in lowered oxygen levels, pathogen loadingthat can cause threats to public health, siltation of aquatic habitat, high levels ofPage 5 of 35
Waste Discharge Requirements for DairiesOrder No. R1-2019-0001ammonia that are toxic to fish and aquatic invertebrates, and elevated levels ofnitrates and other salts in groundwater.Background22. Since 2012, the Regional Water Board has adopted the following Orders regulatingwaste discharges associated with dairy operations in the North Coast Region:a. Order No. R1-2012-0001 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System forConcentrated Animal Feeding Operations within the North Coast Region,General NPDES No. CAG011001;b. Order No. R1-2012-0002 General Waste Discharge Requirements for ExistingCow Dairies in the North Coast Region;c. Order No. R1-2012-0003 Conditional Waiver of Waste Discharge Requirementsfor Existing Cow Dairies in the North Coast Region;d. Order No. R1-2015-0051 Conditional Waiver of Waste Discharge Requirementsfor Mello 3/Llano Oaks Dairy; ande. Order R1-2016-0045 Renewal of the Conditional Waiver of Waste DischargeRequirements for Existing Dairies.f. Upon adoption, this Order will supersede these previously adopted Ordersexcept for Order No. R1-2012-0001 and they will be rescinded except forenforcement purposes.23. Numerous watersheds throughout the Region are listed as impaired pursuant toClean Water Act (CWA) section 303(d). The CWA requires states to address theseimpairments by developing Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) that examine thesewater quality problems, identify sources of pollutants, and specify actions that createsolutions and restore beneficial uses.24. Issuance of this Order provides an opportunity to include implementation planrequirements identified in Chapter 3-Water Quality Objectives and Chapter 4Implementation Plans including Total Maximum Daily Loads of the Water QualityControl Plan for the North Coast Basin (Basin Plan).25. The Basin Plan specifies implementation measures for each categorical pollutantsource identified as contributing to the water quality impairment in specificwatersheds. Livestock grazing lands and confined animal facilities, including dairies,are identified as categorical pollutant sources in certain watersheds. These facilitiesare required to implement site-specific management measures to control and reduceanimal waste and sediment runoff. This Order implements the Basin Plan byrequiring management measures for pollutant sources that will improve water qualityin impaired watersheds.Page 6 of 35
Waste Discharge Requirements for DairiesOrder No. R1-2019-0001Regulatory Framework26. Water Code section 13260 (a) requires that any person discharging waste orproposing to discharge waste within any region that could affect the quality of thewaters of the state, other than into a community sewer system, must file with theappropriate regional board a Report of Waste Discharge (ROWD) containing suchinformation and data as may be required by the regional board, unless therequirement is waived pursuant to Water Code section 13269.27. Water Code section 13263(i) authorizes the regional board to prescribe generalWDRs (GWDR) and/or waivers of WDRs for a category of discharges if thedischarges are produced by the same or similar operations, involve the same orsimilar types of waste, require the same or similar treatment standards, and aremore appropriately regulated under general WDRs or waivers than individual WDRs.28. The Regional Water Board finds that it is appropriate to issue a GWDR for dairiesbecause:a. Waste discharges involve the same or substantially similar types of operations,namely operations where animals are confined, and wastes are managed byonsite storage, land application, or removal offsite;b. They generate the same or similar types of waste, primarily animal waste; stateregulations impose the same effluent limitations and operating conditions ondairies;c. They have many of the same types of potential impacts to surface andgroundwater and, therefore, require the same or similar monitoring; andd. Given the time and resources necessary for effective regulatory oversight ofdairies in the Region, they are more appropriately regulated under a GWDR thanindividual WDRs.The Regional Water Board, however, may determine that specific individual dairiesare not appropriately regulated under this GWDR and must obtain individual WDRs.29. Pursuant to this Order and Water Code section 13267, Dischargers must implementa Monitoring and Reporting Program (MRP: Attachment D). The MRP is necessaryto ensure compliance with this Order’s terms and provisions to prevent or reduceuncontrolled waste discharges and to protect water quality; it requires regular visualinspections, individual facility water quality sampling, reporting, and record-keeping.The Discharger shall submit all reports as specified in the MRP. Spill orNoncompliance reporting are required. The MRP requires routine sampling (orgroup sampling) of storm water runoff and/or surface waters on or near the facility.The MRP also requires sampling of domestic and/or agricultural wells for arepresentation of groundwater quality conditions. Monitoring consistent with a groupmonitoring plan approved by the Regional Water Board Executive Officer may fulfillindividual dairy monitoring requirements. The Executive Officer may change thePage 7 of 35
Waste Discharge Requirements for DairiesOrder No. R1-2019-0001substance and format of the MRP. Any future substantive changes to the MRP willbe subject to public notice and comment. Advancements in nutrient managementplanning, budgeting and assessment methodologies may serve to support futuremodifications to the MRP.30. Reporting of actions implemented pursuant to GWDR terms and provisions isrequired in an Annual Report (Attachment D- Appendix 3) that is due to the RegionalWater Board by November 30 each year beginning in 2021. The Annual Reportshall assess if Best Management Practices (BMPs) for waste containment andnutrient application to land at agronomic rates are effective in preventing dischargesto surface water and groundwater for the past year (November 1 of the last yearthrough October 31 of the current year). The Annual Report shall include the resultsof sampling and assessments and the photo documentation required in the MRP. Ifa Discharger is covered by a group monitoring plan then the Discharger mustindicate the associated group in the Annual Report, and the group is required tosubmit surface water monitoring results annually.31. This Order satisfies the State Water Board’s 2004 Policy for the Implementation andEnforcement of the Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Program (NPS Policy), whichrequires that nonpoint source discharges of waste be regulated by WDRs, waiver ofWDRs, or prohibitions to ensure compliance with Regional Water Board WaterQuality Control Plans (Basin Plans). Implementation of the Order will promoteattainment of Water Quality Objectives and Basin Plan requirements. The Orderincorporates antidegradation requirements as described in Findings 42-48;describes management practices and performance standards to be met, requiresannual monitoring and reporting, and the development of management plans toprotect water quality. These plans and reports provide a feedback mechanism to theRegional Water Board on the effectiveness of the management practices and setclear milestones for meeting objectives. The consequences for failure to meet Orderrequirements include modification of Order requirements to require additionalmanagement measures and mitigations, and administrative or civil enforcementaction for failure to comply with Order conditions including a failure to meet reportingrequirements.32. This Order is consistent with the requirements of the Statewide Minimum Standardsfor confined animal facilities, California Code of Regulations (Cal. Code Regs.), title27, sections 22560-22565, which are attached to this Order as Attachment B(hereafter, the “Statewide Minimum Standards”). These Statewide MinimumStandards require containment of manure, wash water, and stormwater runoff fromanimal confinement areas. The Statewide Minimum Standards are the minimumstandards for discharges of animal waste at dairies and must be implemented inwaste discharge requirements.33. This Order includes consideration for potential impacts to groundwater associatedwith dairies. Since the adoption of the 2012 Dairy Orders, California groundwaterdata and various published studies related to dairies and groundwater impacts havePage 8 of 35
Waste Discharge Requirements for DairiesOrder No. R1-2019-0001been evaluated to determine the effectiveness of current confined animal stateregulations in protecting groundwater quality. Findings from these studies indicatethat effective groundwater protection depends on whether subsurface conditionswere adequately assessed in the siting, design, and operation of each facility. Sinceimpacts to groundwater depend on site-specific considerations, facility-specific dataare necessary to assess compliance with groundwater water quality objectives.Therefore, this Order requires sampling of existing groundwater wells, includingexisting monitoring wells, at any dairy that utilizes a waste pond to store andmanage operational wastes.Water Quality Control Plan for the North Coast Basin34. The Basin Plan is the Regional Water Board's master water quality control planningdocument. It designates beneficial uses and water quality objectives for waters ofthe state, including surface waters and groundwater. Economics were consideredas required by law during the development of these objectives. It also includesprograms of implementation to achieve water quality objectives. The Region’sTMDLs and associated implementation plans are also part of the Basin Plan. TheBasin Plan was duly adopted by the Regional Water Board and approved by theState Water Board, Office of Administrative Law, and U.S. EPA, where required.35. Pursuant to the Basin Plan, and Board plans and policies, including State WaterBoard Resolution No. 88-63, and consistent with the CWA, the existing and potentialbeneficial uses of waters in the North Coast Region that could be impacted by thedischarge of wastes include:a. Municipal and Domestic Supply (MUN)b. Agricultural Supply (AGR)c. Industrial Service Supply (IND)d. Industrial Process Supply (PRO)e. Groundwater Recharge (GWR)f. Freshwater Replenishment (FRSH)g. Navigation (NAV)h. Hydropower Generation (POW)i. Water Contact Recreation (REC-1)j. Non-Contact Water Recreation (REC-2)k. Commercial and Sport Fishing (COMM)l. Cold Freshwater Habitat (COLD)m. Warm Freshwater Habitat (WARM)n. Wildlife Habitat (WILD)o. Preservation of Areas of Special Biological Significance (ASBS)p. Preservation of Areas of Special Rare, Threatened, or Endangered Species (RARE)q. Marine Habitat (MAR)r. Migration of Aquatic Organisms (MIGR)s. Spawning, Reproduction, and/or Early Development (SPWN)t. Shellfish Harvesting (SHELL)u. Estuarine Habitat (EST)v. Aquaculture (AQUA)Page 9 of 35
Waste Discharge Requirements for DairiesOrder No. R1-2019-0001w. Native American Culture (CUL)x. Flood Peak Attenuation/Flood Water Storage (FLD)y. Wetland Habitat (WET)z. Water Quality Enhancement (WQE)aa. Subsistence Fishing (FISH)bb. Inland Saline Water Habitat (SAL)36. Numerous North Coast water bodies are listed as impaired for various pollutantsincluding sediment, temperature, nutrients, and indicator bacteria pursuant to CWASection 303(d). The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hasapproved Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) to address many of theseimpairments in water bodies throughout North Coast Region. Compliance with thisOrder is a key component for addressing impairments and meeting Basin Plan waterquality standards. In November 2004, the Regional Water Board adoptedResolution R1-2004-0087, the Sediment TMDL Implementation Policy. The goals ofthe Policy are to control sediment waste discharges to impaired water bodies so thatTMDLs are met, sediment water quality objectives are attained, and beneficial usesare no longer adversely affected by sediment. Additionally, in July 2016, the BasinPlan was amended to add the Policy to Implement the Water Quality Objective forTemperature (Policy). The Policy describes the approach to implementing the waterquality objectives for temperature in one cohesive policy.37. Prohibitions, provisions, policies, and other specifications contained in this Orderimplement the Basin Plan and the Water Code. Compliance with this Order willprotect the beneficial uses listed above.38. Populations of several species of anadromous salmonids listed as threatened orendangered under both the federal Endangered Species Act or the CaliforniaEndangered Species Act have declined significantly during the past half century inthe majority of water bodies in the North Coast Region. Degradation of freshwaterhabitat by land use activities is an important contributing factor to the decline inpopulations.39. California Governor Brown Executive Order B-40-17 continues to make waterconservation a way of life in California. This Order encourages water conservation.Information to encourage farm water conservation is in the WQP and the AnnualReport, which are part of the MRP.40. State Water Board Resolution No. 2017-0012 states that Regional Water Boards areencouraged to identify opportunities to reduce methane emissions from dairies andconcentrated animal feeding operations while achieving water quality. TheCalifornia Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) website states that whenlivestock manure decomposes in wet conditions, it produces methane, a greenhousegas 72 times more powerful than carbon dioxide. Dry handling of manuresignificantly reduces methane emissions. These reductions contribute to the state’soverall short-lived climate pollutant strategy under Senate Bill 1383, which aims toPage 10 of 35
Waste Discharge Requirements for DairiesOrder No. R1-2019-0001reduce California’s methane emissions to 40 percent below 2013 levels by 2030.The Regional Water Board encourages North Coast dairies to apply for grants fromCDFA for manure management projects. Also, dairy operators are encouraged tovisit the California Air Resources Board website to research the latest climatechange programs that help dairies improve our state’s air quality. Development of,and updating, NMPs can be the first step helping dairies acquire funding for projectsthat reduce methane emissions and improve air quality.41. CDFA has, and may continue, funding air quality improvement projects on dairies inthe region such as through the Alternative Manure Management Program (AMMP)and the Digester Program. Other funding sources may also be available to dairies inthe future to improve air quality. Regional Water Board supports air qualityimprovement. Such projects may be permitted under this Order on a case-by-casebasis. Dischargers covered under this Order must consult with the Regional WaterBoard about potential water quality impacts when proposing such projects. RegionalWater Board will review and determine if each project protects water qualityincluding the beneficial uses listed in Finding 35 above.Construction and maintenance of best management practices are required toprevent discharges to surface water and groundwater.Anti-Degradation42. State Water Board Resolution 68-16 (“Statement of Policy with Respect toMaintaining High Quality of Waters in California”, “Antidegradation Policy”) requireswhenever the existing quality of water is better than the quality established inpolicies as of the date on which such policies become effective, such existing highquality must be maintained. The Antidegradation Policy only allows change inexisting high quality water if it has been demonstrated to the Regional Water Boardthat the change is consistent with maximum benefit to the people of the state, willnot unreasonably affect present and anticipated beneficial uses of such water, andwill not result in water quality less than that prescribed in the policies. TheAntidegradation Policy further requires that discharges comply with WDRs that willresult in the best practicable treatment or control of the discharge necessary toassure that: (a) pollution or nuisance will not occur; and (
the Regional Water Board (i.e. Orders R1-2012-0002 and R1-2012-0003 for existing cow dairies). Expanded facilities also includes dairies that increase their maximum milking herd size from the time that they are enrolled under this Order. 4. This Order applies to owners and operators of dairies (hereinafter referred to as
