Water Quality Objectives Update Amendment

Proposed Amendment to the Water Quality Control Plan for the North Coast Region (Basin Plan) to Update Surface Water and Groundwater Water Quality Objectives

Introduction

The WQO Update Amendment has been developed by staff of the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (Regional Water Board) and was released for public comment in February 2012. The proposed WQO Update Amendment to the Water Quality Control Plan for the North Coast Region (Basin Plan) includes a number of actions relative to updating water quality objectives for both surface waters and groundwaters in the North Coast Region. The primary goals of the proposed WQO Update Amendment are to develop a narrative groundwater toxicity objective, to develop a new general chemical constituents objective for waters with the beneficial use municipal and domestic supply to replace Table 3-2, and to clarify the process the Regional Water Board uses when narrative objectives are translated into numeric limits for use in permits, orders, or other Board actions. Other revisions to the Basin Plan are included as part of this proposed amendment to utilize Regional Water Board staff resources as efficiently as possible. Both substantive and non-substantive (editorial) revisions to the Water Quality Objectives chapter (Chapter 3) and the Implementation Plans chapter (Chapter 4) of the Basin Plan are included as part of the proposed WQO Update Amendment. In addition, the Table of Contents and other applicable portions of the Basin Plan (e.g., Appendix 1) will be revised as appropriate. For detailed information on the proposed changes including proposed Basin Plan language, please refer to the Staff Report.

Note: Regional Water Board staff are currently revising the Staff Report and proposed Basin Plan language in response to public and Board input. A revised Staff Report will be available this summer and Regional Water Board consideration of the WQO Update Amendment is tentatively scheduled for August 2012.

Available Documents

• Notice of Public Workshop (March 15, 2012)and Availability of Documents (2/3/12)
• Executive Officer's Summary Report for March 15, 2012 Workshop
• Public Workshop Presentation (3/15/12)
• Staff Report dated February 3, 2012 (includes proposed Basin Plan language) (2/3/12)
• Notice of Public Workshop (11/ 3,8/11)
• Executive Officer's Summary Report for November 3 & 8, 2011 Workshops
• Public Workshop Presentation (11/3,8/11)
• Public Participation Plan (9/11)
• CEQA Scoping Meeting Presentation (7/10)

Contact Information

For information, comments, or questions concerning the WQO Update Amendment please contact Lauren Clyde at 707-576-2674 or LClyde@waterboards.ca.gov.

Mailing Lists

We encourage users interested in the Water Quality Objectives Update Amendment and other basin planning issues to subscribe to the Basin Planning email list here.

If you would like to be added to the hard-copy mailing list, please contact Lauren Clyde at 707-576-2674 or 5550 Skylane Blvd, Suite A, Santa Rosa, California, 95448.

(Updated May 7, 2012)