Clean Farms, Clean Water Campaign

For decades, California farmers have been allowed to discharge waste into the state's waters without requirements to monitor or implement measures to control pollution, despite the fact that most other industries that discharge pollutants into California waters are required to comply with water quality laws.

Due to the waiver, over 635 miles of waterways in the Central Valley have been identified as seriously polluted by pesticides. These and other polluted streams and rivers support subsistence fishing and provide drinking water for many Californians and serve as critical habitat for numerous aquatic species.

Legislation was passed in 1999 causing all existing waivers to expire in 2003. A coalition of community and environmental groups, including CPR, launched a campaign calling for strong regulation of agricultural run-off to protect public health and the environment. For details, read articles about the campaign in CPR's newsletter from 2003.

Protecting Salmon and People
CPR is also working with Washington Toxics Coalition and Northwest Coalition Against Pesticides in an effort to restore clean lakes, rivers and streams in order to protect salmon and people. For details, see the Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides or Washington Toxics Coalition websites.