Expert panel asks staff to line up economists, livestock and emissions experts, and region‑specific data for upcoming meetings
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Summary
Panel members requested targeted briefings and datasets — including economist analyses, dairy/livestock nitrogen contributions, nitrous oxide emissions research, and regionally granular crop/acreage data — to inform technical recommendations on nitrogen thresholds.
Panelists asked staff from the State Water Resources Control Board to invite several topic‑specific experts and to assemble additional datasets before the next working meetings so the panel can form technically defensible recommendations.
Panel chair Daniel Geisler outlined the agenda and asked panelists which additional speakers and data they wanted. "If you can think of something right now, then the Water Board could help us invite these people or prepare data," Geisler said.
Requests and rationale: panelists proposed the following priorities.
- Agricultural economist: Ali (transcript first name only) and others said they want a detailed economic briefing on costs of practices and how potential interim limits would affect grower livelihoods. Ali suggested an economist familiar with nutrient management and California cropping systems.
- Livestock/dairy expert: several panelists requested an expert to compare nitrates from dairies and confined animal operations with crop sources so the panel can weigh relative regional contributions.
- Nitrous oxide / gaseous loss experts: Richard Smith and others emphasized the importance of accounting for gaseous nitrogen losses (N2O and other pathways) and suggested several researchers (Arlene Hoffa, Willie Horwath, Christina Lascano were named during discussion) or authors of recent Air Resources Board reports.
- Region‑specific practitioners and coalition staff: panelists asked for speakers representing Central Coast, San Joaquin Valley, Los Angeles and San Diego area small/diversified farms and coalitions that have implemented alternate reporting; specific names mentioned included Aparna Gazula, Sasha Lozano, Deborah Dunn and Jared Winther (Kings River Water Quality Coalition).
- Data requests: panelists asked staff to compile crop coefficients and nitrogen removal coefficients where available, coalition annual field‑level A and R datasets (the Central Valley coalitions maintain these), and acreage data so the panel can convert per‑field and per‑acre values into region‑level loads.
Staff response and next steps: Sam and staff said they would compile a list of proposed speakers from the panel's suggestions and check availability for a longer October 31 session (proposed 10 a.m.–4 p.m.) and for the October 22 meeting. Steph (staff) confirmed that staff will organize the list and consult with Geisler on prioritization. Staff also said they will confirm which datasets the Board or coalitions can legally provide and will coordinate invitations.
Public comment flagged CAFO reporting gaps: a public commenter (Zoe Robertson, Stanford Law School) told the panel that her review of 2023 Central Valley CAFO annual reports found many farms where substantial quantities of nitrogen were unaccounted for in whole‑farm nutrient calculations; she urged the panel to consider animal sources and reporting methods when requesting datasets.
Ending: staff will compile the names and datasets, check speaker availability for the October 31 long meeting and the next working meeting, and circulate a consolidated list to the panel for prioritization.
