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California is home to a significant proportion of the confined animal facilities (CAFs) in the United States, including more large commercial dairies than any other state. These facilities produce millions of pounds of manure each year. If not properly managed, this waste can pollute surface water, contaminate groundwater, and precipitate algal blooms, resulting in potentially severe human health consequences and long-term environmental damage.

Pursuant to the Porter-Cologne Act, the Regional Water Resources Control Boards (Regional Boards) require CAFs to self-report their manure production and waste management practices in annual reports. This webinar will discuss a recently released white paper that analyzed 1,280 annual reports submitted to Regional Boards in 2023 and 2024. The analysis reveals that CAFs often fail to accurately report their waste production and manure disposal practices and, further, that Regional Boards frequently fail to follow up on these serious omissions or inaccuracies. The result is a regulatory system that falls short of California’s water quality and environmental justice goals.