The federal Clean Water Act (CWA) requires States to identify and make a list of surface water bodies that are polluted. These water bodies, referred to in law as "water quality limited segments," do not meet water quality standards even after discharges of wastes from point sources have been treated by the minimum required levels of pollution control technology. Wastewater treatment plants, a city's storm drain system, or a boat yard are a few examples of point sources that discharge wastes to surface waters. States are required to compile these water bodies into a list, referred to as the "Clean Water Act Section 303(d) List of Water Quality Limited Segments" (List). States must also prioritize the water bodies on the list and develop Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) to improve the water quality. For more information on TMDLs, please click here.

The "Water Quality Control Policy for Developing California's Clean Water Act Section 303(d) List" is the policy for the State and Regional Water Boards to follow when developing updates to the List. This policy describes the process by which the State and Regional Water Boards comply with the requirements of the Clean Water Act in developing the List.

Approved 2006 List of Water Quality Limited Segments

On June 28, 2007 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency gave final approval to California's 2006 Section 303(d) List of Water Quality Limited Segments. For statewide information on the 2006 List, click here.

The links below provide information on the 2006 List for the San Diego Region.

• 2006 Table of Water Quality Limited Segments for the San Diego Region
  
  
• 2006 Fact Sheets Supporting Recommendations for Listing, Delisting, and Area Changes for the San Diego Region.
  
  
• GIS Shapefiles for 2006 303(d) List of Water Quality Limited Segments
  

THE 2008 LIST UPDATE

The State Water Board initiated the solicitation period on December 4, 2006 to request from interested persons data and information regarding water quality conditions in surface waters of California. Information gathered will be used to provide the basis both for identifying and listing impaired waters and for assessing overall surface water quality conditions in California.

State Water Board Public Solicitation Letter

If you would like to be on our mailing list for the 2008 List update, please subscribe to our mailing list by clicking on the link below.

http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/lyrisforms/reg9_subscribe.html

Be sure to select the "Section 303d List" option under Mailing List.

OTHER LINKS

• http://www.epa.gov/owow/monitoring/calm.html
  USEPA has a web page which provides information on current activities associated with the Section 303(d) listing and Section 305(b) assessment processes. The Consolidated Assessment and Listing Methodology (CALM) initiative is currently being developed and addresses identification of impaired waters under Section 303(d) and preparation of water quality assessment reports under Section 305(b) of the Clean Water Act.
  
  
• http://www.epa.gov/region09/water/tmdl/index.html
  USEPA Region IX's web page includes information on monitoring, assessment (including List updates), and TMDL programs for Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, the Pacific Islands subject to U.S. law, and approximately 140 Tribal Nations.