Water Quality Standards Certification Program - Section 401
Dredge and fill discharges to waters of the U.S. are primarily regulated through Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Standards Certifications (Certifications), accompanied by authorization to discharge via State regulations under State Board Order No. 2003-0017-DWQ. Discharges of dredge and fill to waters of the State that are not subject to federal jurisdiction are authorized under the State Board's General Order No. 2004-0004-DWQ or individual waste discharge requirements issued by the Regional Board. Recently-issued Certifications are available for download at this web page while individual waste discharge requirements may be downloaded from our Adopted Orders pages based on the year they were adopted.
Notices and Reports
- Public Notice for Discharges of Dredge or Fill
- Water Quality Standards Certification actions recently issued
Applying for a Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Standards Certification
- Application for CWA Section 401 Water Quality Standards Certification
(Available in Word) - Instructions for Filling Out the Water Quality Standards Certification Application
- Contents of a Complete Section 401 Water Quality Standards Certification Application
- Section 401 Water Quality Standards Certification Fee Schedule Calculator v5.1
(Interactive version 8 in Excel)
Resources for Applicants
- Brochure: Discharges of Dredged and Fill Materials - Questions and Answers
- CWA Section 401 Frequently Asked Questions "FAQs"
- CWA Section 401 Regulations
- Habitat Mitigation and Monitoring Proposal Guidelines - A guide to preparing your mitigation and monitoring plan for submittal with your 404/401 application.
- Water Quality Mitigation and Monitoring Proposal Guidelines - A guide to preparing your mitigation and monitoring plan for submittal with your 404/401 application.
- State Memorandum on SWANCC and Isolated Waters
Additional Resources
- Clean Water Act Section 401 - Certification and Wetlands Program - State Board page