About - Membership
Membership Policy
ESJWQC Member Policy adopted 2004. Each member must have on file with ESJWQC a signed Participation Agreement. If you have not completed this agreement it is included in Section 2 of your Annual Membership Packet. Below are the key points in the ESJWQC Participation Agreement.
Member Responsibilities:
As a member of the East San Joaquin Water Quality Coalition (Coalition), you agree to:
- Respond to requests for information by ESJWQC that enable the Coalition to remain in compliance with requirements of the ILRP.
- Cooperate with the ESJWQC to take corrective action should water quality problems be tracked back to your farming operation.
- Implement management practices that minimize or eliminate fertilizer, pesticide and sediment runoff.
- Complete a Participation Agreement and submit it to ESJWQC
ESJWQC Responsibilities:
- Perform activities that enable Coalition members to be in compliance with the Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program.
- File required reports with the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board (Regional Board) to maintain ILRP coverage for Coalition members
- Implement an economical and scientifically valid water monitoring program for waterways within the Coalition boundaries.
- Spread costs equitably among Coalition members.
- Communicate to Coalition members where water monitoring indicates water quality problems are related to farming practices and facilitate efforts to solve those problems.
Regional Water Board Farm Inspections
Throughout the year, the Regional Water Board (RWB) will perform approximately 25 inspections on member properties. This is a continuation of inspections they are performing throughout the Central Valley.
If your property is selected, you will be contacted directly by the RWB to schedule the inspection. Below are excerpts from a RWB letter notifying growers in advance of inspections and a list of documents that are required to have available for the inspection.
What is the purpose of the inspection?
- Discuss and evaluate compliance with the General Order;
- Identify, observe, and document areas where the grower and/or landowner is successfully
implementing management practices; - Identify, observe, and document areas where improvement may be needed; and
- Assess how the grower is using an iterative process to implement management practices to
protect and improve water quality (e.g., How is the grower implementing and evaluating
practices? What plans does the grower have for improvement if practices are not successful in
controlling discharge?).
The following is a list of documents and areas the board staff may inspect:
- Farm Evaluation and Nitrogen Management Plan
- Groundwater wells and backflow prevention devices
- Fertilizer and pesticide storage and handling areas
- Farm perimeter, including areas adjacent to creeks and riparian areas
- Areas vulnerable to erosion (presence of bare soil)
- Actual or potential discharge locations (e.g. outfalls, ponds, irrigation runoff)
- Management Practices (e.g. irrigation management, erosion control)
General Order
The General Order outlines requirements of members in the coalition.
Participation Agreement
All members need to have a completed Participation Agreement on file.
© 2026 East San Joaquin Water Quality Coalition
1201 L Street Modesto CA 95354 USA (209) 846-6112