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State Water Board demos INMP visualization and 2025 nitrate risk map as expert panel seeks public input

State Water Resources Control Board — Agricultural Expert Panel listening session (virtual) · December 19, 2025
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Summary

State Water Resources Control Board staff demoed a new Power BI INMP data visualization and a 2025 ILRP nitrate risk web map intended to support the agricultural expert panel’s review of nitrogen reporting; both tools are informational, limited to submitted data, and not intended to predict drinking water quality or assign responsibility for contamination.

State Water Resources Control Board staff on Monday demonstrated two new public tools intended to help the Agricultural Expert Panel evaluate nitrogen reporting and potential groundwater risk.

Margaret Champagne, a board staffer, walked attendees through an INMP (irrigation and nutrient management plan) data visualization built in Microsoft Power BI. The tool compiles submitted INMP summary reports — currently data from Regions 3, 5, 7 and 8 — and allows users to filter by region, coalition and crop; view charts for reporting categories (anonymous member ID, township/range, anonymized APN) and inspect tabular outputs. "The intent of this tool is to provide informational and analytical support for the panel," Champagne said, adding that the nitrogen totals are “not indicative of water quality conditions.”

Laleh Rastevarzadeh demonstrated a 2025 ILRP nitrate risk map that combines INMP summary reports, Department of Water Resources agricultural land‑use layers and groundwater data from the Groundwater Ambient Monitoring and Assessment (GAMMA) system. She said the map identifies section‑level areas at high, medium or low nitrate risk based on exceedances of the nitrate maximum contaminant level in publicly available well data, but cautioned: "this map is not intended to predict or estimate the drinking water quality at any given location or assign nitrogen source to agriculture."

State staff emphasized limitations: the INMP visualization currently contains submissions only from a subset of regions, and the nitrate risk map relies on publicly available well data that vary in depth, screening and sampling frequency. Board staff said they will publish documentation and tutorials and continue refining the tools based on public and panel member feedback.

The demonstrations were framed as part of the panel process: the state expects to release a draft panel report in February 2026 for a 30‑day comment period, with a public workshop during that window and a final panel report in March or April 2026. Staff directed viewers seeking technical help to dwq‑ilrp@waterboards.ca.gov and an FTP site for panel documents.

The tools are intended to increase transparency and support panel deliberations but, according to staff, are not substitutes for field verification or regulatory determinations. Board staff asked the public to review the tools and provide feedback to improve usability and data coverage.