303(d) List of Impaired Waterbodies

What is the 303(d) list?

Section 303(d) of the 1972 Federal Clean Water Act requires states to identify waterbodies that do not meet water quality objectives and are not supporting their beneficial uses. Each state must submit an updated list, called the 303(d) list, to the U.S. EPA every two years. In addition to identifying the waterbodies that are not supporting beneficial uses, the list also identifies the pollutant or stressor causing impairment, and establishes a priority for developing a control plan to address the impairment. The list also identifies waterbodies where 1) a TMDL has been approved by U.S. EPA and an implementation is available, but water quality standards are not yet met, and 2) waterbodies where the water quality problem is being addressed by an action other than a TMDL and water quality standards are not yet met. 

On November 30, 2006, U.S. EPA gave partial approval to California's 2006 Section 303(d) List of Water Quality Limited Segments.  On June 28, 2007, U.S. EPA gave final approval to the list with modifications. The 2006 List of Impaired Waterbodies is the current and active List until USEPA approves changes to this List.  See the section titled “Proposed Revisions to the List of Impaired Waterbodies and 2008 Integrated Report” below for information on the status of the List of Impaired Waterbodies

You may access information on California’s Final 2006 Clean Water Act Section 303(d) List and related documents at http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/tmdl/303d_lists2006_epa.shtml 

How and when does the 303(d) list get updated? And how can I participate?

Pursuant to Section 303(d) of the 1972 Federal Clean Water Act, the state must submit an updated list to the U.S. EPA every two years. The State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) initiates the process to update the list by soliciting data and information from the public. Staff at the Regional and State Water Boards consider this data, along with data available to the Water Boards, in preparing the updated list. Once received, the data and information is evaluated consistent with the Policy for Developing California's Clean Water Act Section 303(d) List. You may access this policy at http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/tmdl/303d_listing.shtml. The policy requires that the Regional Water Boards approve an updated list for waters in each region and submit this list for subsequent approval by the State Water Board as part of the updated list for the state. The U.S. EPA then must approve the state list. The Regional Water Boards typically consider a recommendation for updating the list seven to ten months after the data and information is received. The State Water Board usually considers the state-wide list two to four months after all the Regional Water Boards approve updated regional lists. The U.S. EPA usually approves the updated state list two to four months after the State Board approves an updated state list.

The State and Regional Boards have initiated the process to update the list for 2008 by distributing letters to interested parties. You can access information on this process and the State Board letter at http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/tmdl/integrated2008.shtml and you can access the Central Coast Water Board’s letter by clicking here.

What happens when a water body is placed on the 303(d) list?

Once a waterbody is placed on the 303(d) list, Regional Board staff evaluates the nature of the impairment and begins developing a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), if appropriate and necessary.   For each TMDL developed, staff will also develop an implementation or water quality control plan for each water body and associated pollutant/stressor on the list. The TMDL and the implementation plan serve as the means to attain and maintain water quality standards for the impaired water body. During each 303(d) listing cycle the water bodies on the list are prioritized in order to facilitate scheduling and budgeting to develop TMDLs and implementation plans.

New! – Final 2008 Update to the 303(d) List and 303(d)/305(b) Integrated Report for the Central Coast

On July 10, 2009, the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board adopted Resolution No. R3‑2009‑0053, approving the 2008 Clean Water Act Section 303(d) List of Impaired Waterbodies and Section 305(b) Water Quality Condition Report, together referred to as the 2008 Integrated Report. 

The 2008 Integrated Report for the Central Coast Region has been submitted to the State Water Resources Control Board to be incorporated into a statewide 2010 California Integrated Report.  A draft 2010 California Integrated Report is scheduled to be released for public review and comment in early 2010.  The 2010 California Integrated Report is scheduled to be brought before the State Water Resources Control Board at a public hearing in spring of 2010 for approval, and then submitted to the USEPA. 

Updates to the 303(d) list must be finalized by USEPA before becoming effective. Therefore, until the 2010 Integrated Report is approved by USEPA, the 2006 303(d) List of Impaired Waterbodies is the current and active List.

For questions on the 2010 California Integrated Report contact Shakoora Azimi‑Gaylon of the State Water Resources Control Board at sagaylon@waterboards.ca.gov. You may also contact Mary Adams from the Central Coast Waterboard at madams@waterboards.ca.gov.
 
To subscribe to the State Water Resources Control Board's email list for the 2010 California Integrated Report, subscribe to the "Integrated Report" email list at: http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/resources/email_subscriptions/swrcb_subscribe.shtml

• Resolution No. R3-2009-0053
• Staff Report on Development of the Clean Water Act Section 303(d)/305(b) Integrated Report,
• July 10,2009 Power Point Presentation
• Appendix A, 179 KB, PDF (PDF info) - Recommended Changes to the List of Impaired Waterbodies
• Appendix B - Draft List of Integrated Report Category 2 Water bodies
• Appendix C - Draft List of Integrated Report Category 3 Water bodies
• Appendix D - Draft List of Integrated Report Category 4a Water bodies
• Appendix E - Draft List of Integrated Report Category 5 Water bodies
• Appendix F - Fact Sheets Documenting 303(d) Listing Decisions
• Appendix G - Miscellaneous Changes to the List of Impaired Waterbodies
• Appendix H - All References Used in Development of the 2008 Integrated Report
• Appendix I - Public Notice and Data Solicitation.
• Appendix J - CCAMP Technical Report - Interpreting Narrative Objectives for Biostimulatory Substances
• Appendix K - Summary of Public and Staff Responses
• Appendix L - Monitoring Site information

Proposed Revisions to the List of Impaired Waterbodies and 2008 Integrated Report

The Central Coast Water Board has released a draft update of the List of Impaired Waterbodies and 2008 Draft Integrated Report for public comment. A public meeting was held on April 22, 2009 to receive public comments. Written comments were invited during a 45-day comment period from April 10, 2009 to May 26, 2009. The Board Hearing is scheduled for July 10, 2009. At this hearing, the Board will consider for approval each proposed listing change and will consider adoption of a Resolution in support of its recommendations to the State Water Board for the statewide 2008 List of Impaired Waterbodies. For questions or additional information, please contact Mary Adams at (805) 542-4768 or by email Mary Adams.  The following documents are available for review:

Public Workshop