How are dairy farms regulated regarding waste management and environmental issues?
Dairies are regulated by two Regional Water Quality boards: the North Coast Region, which has jurisdiction over operations whose water flows into the Pacific Ocean; and the Bay Area Region, covering operations whose water flows into the San Pablo Bay. The local industry is very proactive in waste management and environmental issues. Voluntary compliance with water quality regulations is encouraged. Sonoma County dairies work cooperatively with the Sonoma-Marin Animal Waste Committee, which consists of ranchers, members of regulating agencies, and representatives of allied industries. One of the primary forms of voluntary compliance is the completion of a ranch plan. What is a ranch plan? A ranch plan is a written document, completed by the producer, detailing plans for the dairy or livestock facility. The plan consists of inventories of animals and facilities, a list of planned management practices, and an overview of natural resources. Existing and potential problems are identified, r
