Monterey Coastkeeper v. State Water Res. Control Bd.

*346 The Central Coast Region is one of the great agricultural regions of California. Unfortunately, waste discharges from irrigated agricultural operations, particularly from the use of fertilizers and pesticides, have impaired the quality of both surface water and groundwater in the region. The State Water Resources Control Board (State Board) and nine regional boards are responsible for regulating waste discharges to protect water quality. ( Wat. Code, § 13263.) 1 Discharge requirements may *144 be waived "if the state board or a regional board determines ... that the waiver is consistent with any applicable state or regional water quality control plan and is in the public interest." (§ 13269, subd. (a).)

This case involves a challenge to a section 13269 waiver of waste discharge requirements for irrigated agricultural land.

*347 In 2012, the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (Regional Board) issued a waiver of discharge requirements for irrigated agricultural operations in the region. We refer to this as the 2012 waiver. After review, the State Board modified the waiver. We refer to the State Board's modification as the modified waiver, which is the document…