By Paul Sousa, Director of Regulatory and Environmental Affairs

Running a dairy in California means managing a lot more than cows, feed, and milk markets. Our state places significant reporting and compliance responsibilities on the businesses that operate here, and several of those requirements come due right around the start of the new calendar year. For many producers, these deadlines can feel overwhelming, especially when the rules or reporting systems change. This article highlights two reporting items with January 31 deadlines that affect some dairy operations and reminds you that you don’t have to work through them alone.

CalWATRS Surface Water Rights Reporting

This requirement affects producers who hold surface water rights directly with the State Water Resources Control Board. These may include appropriative or stock pond water rights. If you receive your surface water through an irrigation district, the district typically reports the diversions itself, so in most cases you do not submit individual reports. However, if you hold a water right directly, you are responsible for filing annual diversion reports.

This year brings an added wrinkle: the State Water Board is changing its reporting software. Because of this transition, there are a few extra steps for right holders. If you hold one of these rights, you should have received a letter by late November containing a Personal Identification Number (PIN). This PIN allows you to import your historical records into the new CalWATRS system.

Reporting this year generally involves:

• going to the State Water Board website and accessing the CalWATRS link
• creating a CalWATRS account
• verifying your email address and phone number
• entering your PIN to import historical water-right records
• completing and submitting your annual diversion report within CalWATRS

There are online tutorials to guide users through creating the account, linking historical rights, and entering diversion information. The reporting format will feel familiar to those who used the previous system, even though the platform has changed. Accurate reporting is important, not only to avoid penalties, but also to protect your water rights, which are valuable assets to any California farm. If you haven’t received your PIN letter or are confused by the new system, help is available for WUD members. Many producers are in the same situation this year.

Truck Low-Use Exemption Annual Reporting

For those dairies that have trucks in the Low-Use Exemption of the Truck and Bue Rule now is the time to report odometer readings. This rule has been around for more than 15 years and applies generally to 2010 model year, and older diesel trucks. Most producers who use this exemption already know they are in it, because they have been submitting odometer readings every year.

To use the Low-Use Exemption:

• The truck must already be in the Low-Use Exemption or be newly purchased
• The truck must operate fewer than 1,000 miles per year in California
• An annual odometer reading must be submitted by January 31

This exemption is commonly used for trucks that are kept for limited on-farm use, backup purposes, or occasional work like silage or manure hauling. If you need help reporting your odometer readings, please reach out to me, assistance is available.

I am always happy to connect, answer questions, and help WUD members work through these and any other environmental issues. A quick call or email can save time, prevent frustration, and help you avoid missed deadlines and penalties while keeping your operation in compliance. If you have any questions or need help you can reach me at paul@wudairies.com or 209-556-2490.