Pollution Discharge Regulations Pending for Horse Facilities

By Jim Evans

The County of San Diego Department of Agriculture, Weights, and Measures will be conducting a special meeting on Thursday, February 10, at the Ramona Community Center, 434 Aqua Lane at 7 p.m. to discuss the pending implementation of new regulations affecting equestrian facilities with regard to the elimination or reduction of contaminant discharges to protect water resources. The County is charged by the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board to implement the requirements of the County’s Watershed Protection, Stormwater Management, and Discharge Control Ordinance, and implementation of the program at equestrian facilities will begin during 2005.

Sponsored by the Ramona Equine Industry Network (REIN), the meeting will be conducted by the Department of Agriculture’s Paul Davey, Standards Inspector and Supervisor of Agricultural Water Quality and Storm Water, and will focus on informing local owners and managers of equestrian operations about the specifics of the ordinance and how to implement appropriate Best Management Practices (BMP) at their facilities. “All horse and livestock ranches must comply regardless of size,” says REIN president Teri Merry aka “The Mule Lady.” “Thus I believe it is an important meeting for all equestrian property owners.”

The Equestrian-Related Water Quality Best Management Practices that will be introduced at the meeting were developed by a Task Force representing a cooperative effort of both private and public entities including several large equestrian facilities. “I would hope that the equestrian representatives present on that Task Force had a voice in developing the guidelines,” says Merry,” — and that the guidelines — will both protect our water supply from pollution and be reasonable practices for our local equestrian ranch owners.”

Among the important issues to be discussed at the meeting include:

• Manure Management

• Wash Water Containment

• Materials and Waste Management

• Soil and Sediment Movement

• Compliance Resources

What will be the financial impact of these new regulations on local equestrian operations? “I will have a better idea…after Mr. Davey’s presentation,” responds Merry. “If it simply responsible removal of manure, most big ranches and responsible horse owners are doing that already.”

Adds Merry, “Most everyone enjoys the recreational aspects offered by our water resources — fishing, swimming, surfing, etc. We enjoy watching our horses drink from clean streams while on trail rides. We could not survive without clean drinking water for ourselves and our animals. As our area becomes more polluted, we have to do more to help keep our environment and water resources clean. Some people are very conscientious about our environment already as a matter of personal responsibility; others are not. At this meeting, I am hoping that the County has done their homework and brings feasible solutions to our property owners. And, I am hoping that attendees at this meeting will keep an open mind to consider changes to their current practices that may help our environment.”

The County is expected to provide an overview of the requirements for managing both stormwater and non-stormwater at the meeting to assist horse owners in attaining compliance at their facilities. In the meantime, interested horse owners can obtain advance information on Best Management Practices at Equestrian Facilities by contacting the University of California, Cooperative Extension at (858) 694-2845; the Mission Resource Conservation District at (760) 728-1332; or at the website for the County of San Diego at www.sdcounty.ca. gov/dpw/watersheds.