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<br />001007 <br /> <br />The sources of agriculturally caused pollution are directly related to (I) the amount of <br /> <br /> <br />water applied; and (2) the specific lype$ of irrigation practices employed, such as pesticide <br /> <br />application, Districts could develop the ability to work. with both of these aspects of pollution <br /> <br /> <br />sources. The first order of business is to facilitate the irrigation districts' acceptance of the idea <br /> <br /> <br />that they need to be a part of any water quality solution. <br /> <br />One way to start this acceptance process is through legislative expansion of the power <br /> <br />and authority delegated to districts, But merely giving them the power to address pollution <br /> <br />control is unlikely to result in districts voluntarily taking on this new responsibility, even if their <br /> <br /> <br />own water supply is polluted, In addition, there needs to be either governmental incentives <br /> <br />provided or requirements imposed, <br /> <br />The success of any of these approaches may depend on what tyPe of irrigation district is <br /> <br />involved. It is therefore important to keep in mind the differences between (1) large corporate <br /> <br />districts; (2) large eXurban districts; (3) BOR districts; (4) districts involved with Indian water <br /> <br /> <br />rights; and (5) traditional or actual irrigation districts. Despite the expected differences, all of <br /> <br /> <br />these types of districts are considered public entities although they operate solely for the benefit <br /> <br />of their members. <br /> <br />Perhaps in the context of pollution control, districts should be treated the same as <br /> <br /> <br />private corporations or private entities and should be responsible for the pollution that enters <br /> <br />the water through canals and ditcheS within their boUndaries. Part of the reason for excluding <br /> <br />irrigation from the Clean Water Act was because the return flows were considered diffuse. But <br /> <br />29 <br />