Settlements reached with farm owners for violations of Agricultural Order on the central coast

The Central Coast Water Board (CCWB) has reached settlements with the owners of four farms who had previously failed to enroll in the Water Board’s Irrigated Lands Agricultural Order. All owners of commercial irrigated farm land are required to enroll and comply with the requirements in the Agricultural Order. The Agricultural Order requires farmers and landowners to implement management practices and conduct monitoring and reporting to ensure that farms are not polluting surface water or groundwater.

 “The vast majority of farmers on the Central Coast enroll in the Agricultural Order and work diligently to meet its requirements,” said Jean-Pierre Wolff, Chairman of the Central Coast Water Board. “When even a small number of farmers fail to enroll, they create an unfair business and regulatory playing field. Failure to enroll in the Agriculture Order is a serious violation with significant consequences. The Water Board will continue to use its enforcement authority to ensure that all farming operations are enrolled so that requirements are applied fairly.”

The Central Coast Water Board assessed total penalties of $127,965 and reached the following settlements in the four cases:

• H.D. and Carol M. Perrett, farm 1,827 acres on eight parcels. A settlement requiring the payment of $35,340 has been reached. Half of the settlement amount is to be paid to the State Water Resources Control Board’s Cleanup and Abatement Account; the other half will go to the Bay Foundation of Morro Bay for the Central Coast Groundwater Assessment and Protection Program.
• Mary Terrones Morales, trustee for the Jose Avila Morales and Mary Terrones Trust, reached a settlement requiring the payment of $7,000 for two parcels totaling 15 irrigated acres. The money is to be paid to the State Water Board’s Cleanup and Abatement Account.
• George Amaral, George Amaral Ranches, and Dorothy Metzger as trustee for the Dorothy Metzger Trust, farm six parcels totaling 527 acres, and reached a settlement requiring the payment of $47,590. Half of the settlement is to be paid to the State Water Board’s Cleanup and Abatement Account and half will go to the Bay Foundation of Morro Bay for the Central Coast Groundwater Assessment and Protection Program.
• George Amaral, George Amaral Living Trust, and C&G Farms reached a settlement requiring the payment of $38,035 for farming three parcels with 356 irrigated acres. Half the settlement is to be paid to the State Water Board’s Cleanup and Abatement Account; the other half will go to the Bay Foundation of Morro Bay for the Central Coast Groundwater Assessment and Protection Program.

The purpose of the non-profit Bay Foundation of Morro Bay is to protect, restore, and enhance water quality by providing assistance to local water agencies and disadvantaged communities. The Bay Foundation of Morro Bay manages the Central Coast Groundwater Assessment and Protection Program. The program’s priorities include safe drinking water and sustainable groundwater management.