This week in California ag regulation
Three items this week span water quality, plant quarantine, and pesticide policy, each with its own comment or submission window.
North Coast board adopts water quality permit for Smith River lily bulb growers
The North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board adopted an order requiring commercial lily bulb growers in the Smith River Plain to control erosion, install vegetated buffers, and improve pesticide and nutrient management to keep pollutants out of the watershed. The board also certified the Final Environmental Impact Report prepared for the program under CEQA.
North Coast Water Board Press Release
CDFA proposes adding Puerto Rico to guava root-knot nematode exterior quarantine
CDFA proposes amending Title 3 CCR Section 3289 to add Puerto Rico to the guava root-knot nematode exterior quarantine, aiming to prevent Meloidogyne enterolobii from reaching California. The written comment period closes September 21, 2026.
Key date: September 21, 2026: Written comment period closes on proposed quarantine amendment.
DPR opens public window to recommend pesticides for scientific review
DPR’s new Scientific Prioritization and Review Committee (SPARC) held its first meeting on August 7, 2026, and is now accepting public submissions on which pesticides to prioritize for evaluation through DPR’s online Pesticide Priority Recommendation Form. The public submission period closes September 11, 2026, and SPARC will discuss potential priorities at its next meeting on December 4, 2026.
Key date: September 11, 2026: Public submission period closes for recommending pesticides for SPARC review.