Em4885 irrigation management practices to protect ground water

Reacting to Pollution - The Compliance Memorandum of Agreement
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CHAPTER 6
The government agencies discussed above are by nature active. That is, their primary function
is development and dissemination of knowledge, or assistance in applying that knowledge, so as to
prevent and/or reduce potential pollution. However, they are also involved in reacting to existing
pollution.
Some of the responsibilities of Conservation Districts, Department of Ecology (Ecology), and
Washington State Conservation Commission (Commission) regarding water quality protection are
described in the Compliance Memorandum of Agreement. This document has been voluntarily
entered into by most Conservation Districts in Washington, Ecology, and the Commission. This
Agreement basically describes the working relationships between the three entities in order to carry
out a program of agricultural water quality protection and management. Specifically, the Agreement
describes how water quality violations can be handled at the District level.
By entering into the Agreement the Department of Ecology agrees to, among other things:
A. Identify existing and potential water quality problems resulting from
agricultural practices.
B. Receive, process, and verify complaints concerning discharges of pollutants
from all farms, regardless of size.
C. Determine if an agricultural water quality problem requires immediate corrective
action . . . . If so, then Ecology will maintain the lead enforcement authority. If
immediate action is not required and a District has agreed to Compliance Levels 3
or 4 (explained below) then the complaint will be referred to the District.
Otherwise, Ecology will continue to process the complaint.
In turn, the Conservation Districts agree to:
A. Adopt and annually update a water quality section in the Conservation District
annual plan.
B. As part of the District annual report, include a water quality progress report
on activities conducted that are related to this compliance agreement.
C. Encourage communication between the Conservation District personnel and
local Ecology personnel.
D. Adopt and carry out a compliance option of Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, or Level 4.