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San Diego Region - Triennial Review

Introduction

The Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act (Division 7 of the California Water Code), and the Federal Clean Water Act both mandate periodic review of water quality control plans. California Water Code section 13240 states, "Each regional board shall formulate and adopt water quality control plans for all areas within the region…Such plans shall be periodically reviewed and may be revised." Federal Clean Water Act section 303(c)(1) states, "the State water pollution control agency…shall from time to time (but at least once each three year period…) hold public hearings for the purpose of reviewing applicable water quality standards and, as appropriate, modifying and adopting standards." Because the review is mandated by the Clean Water Act to take place every three years, it is termed a "triennial review". The triennial review is not itself a basin plan amendment and does not itself result in changes to the Basin Plan. It is the process by which the San Diego Regional Board identifies and prioritizes Basin Plan issues in need of further review and possible revision.

The San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board (San Diego Regional Board) triennial review process includes a public solicitation and identification of issues that may require incorporation in to the Water Quality Control Plan for the San Diego Basin (Basin Plan). Based on input received during the solicitation period and results of the previous triennial review, the San Diego Regional Board develops a priority list of issues that may be addressed through Basin Plan amendments during the next three year period. Following an opportunity for public review and a formal public hearing, the San Diego Regional Board adopts a resolution containing the priority list of issues. After adoption, the triennial review record and adopting resolution are forwarded to the State Water Resources Control Board and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA).

The previous triennial review was completed in September 2004. There were 62 issues identified during the 2004 Triennial Review. The prioritized list of issues identified during the 2004 Triennial Review may be reviewed here. Based on the basin planning resources available at the time, the San Diego Regional Board set a goal to address the top seven issues during the upcoming three year period. The status of the top seven priority issues may be reviewed here.

2009 Triennial Review

The San Diego Regional Board is in the process of conducting the 2009 Triennial Review of its Basin Plan. The 2009 Triennial Review will identify those issues that are considered a priority for Basin Plan amendment projects over the next three years.

The triennial review process in the San Diego Region begins with a solicitation to the public to help identify issues that need to be addressed with Basin Plan amendments. After the public has provided its input, the San Diego Regional Board will (a) compile a list of issues formulated from comments received and issues carried over from the 2004 Triennial Review and (b) prioritize the list. Prioritization is needed because there are far more issues than can realistically be addressed in a three year period given limited staff resources allocated to basin planning. After a priority list of issues is developed, a draft resolution and staff report that presents the priority list and the method for developing the list will be made available to the public for review and comment, and presented at a public workshop. After consideration of public comments and revision of the draft resolution and staff report as needed, a revised tentative resolution, revised staff report, and response to comments document will be prepared. These documents will be made available to the public no less than 30 days prior to a formal public hearing at which the San Diego Regional Board will consider adoption of the resolution containing the priority list of issues. During the three years subsequent to adoption, priority issues will be researched and, as appropriate, Basin Plan amendments will be proposed to address the issues. As with all Basin Plan amendments, the proposed amendments will entail a full public process including public participation, public review, and a formal public hearing.

Solicitation of Public Comments
The 2009 Triennial Review public comment solicitation period will be open from October 31, 2008 to January 9, 2009. During this time, members of the public are invited to submit their comments to the San Diego Regional Board regarding issues that need to be addressed in the Basin Plan for the San Diego Region. Please use the comment submittal form below to submit your comments.

Public Workshop
A public workshop is scheduled for December 8, 2008 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the San Diego Regional Board office. At the workshop, staff of the San Diego Regional Board will present the triennial review process and encourage the public to submit their comments on the Basin Plan. Additional information about the workshop is provided in the notice below.

Previous Triennial Reviews

(All documents in PDF format unless otherwise noted)

2004 Basin Plan Triennial Review

1998 Triennial Review

For Additional Information

To receive triennial review updates from the San Diego Regional Board, you must either: 1) subscribe to our Basin Planning Issues electronic mailing list; or 2) send a written request to the contact person listed below to have information sent to you via U. S. Mail.

If you are interested in participating in the triennial review process or have comments or questions, please contact Ms. Deborah Woodward by email at DWoodward@waterboards.ca.gov, telephone at (858) 637-5586, or at the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, San Diego Region, 9174 Sky Park Court, Suite 100, San Diego, CA 92123-4340.