Action Alert: Upcoming Water Board Workshop for Pesticide Pollution in the Smith River Estuary
The North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board is currently reviewing a Draft
Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and wastewater permit for commercial lily bulb operations
on the Smith River Plain. These documents are supposed to evaluate pollution risks and establish
protections for the creeks, wetlands, and estuary that feed the Smith River—California’s last
major undammed river.
However, the proposal falls short of protecting this extraordinary watershed, California's crown
jewel. The Draft EIR acknowledges that pesticides, copper, and other toxic pollutants have
already been detected in tributaries draining the lily bulb fields, yet the proposed permit would
still allow these discharges to continue with limited monitoring, weak enforcement, and little to
no meaningful penalties for violations. Instead of preventing pollution, the permit largely relies
on growers to monitor themselves and take corrective action only after problems are detected.
For a river system that supports threatened salmon, migratory birds of the Pacific Flyway, Tribal
cultural uses, and local drinking water supplies, this approach is not adequate. The Water Board
must strengthen the permit to ensure that pollution is prevented, water quality standards are fully
enforced, and the Smith River’s exceptional water quality is protected for future generations.
