Regional Planning Programs Section

The Regional Planning Programs Section, along with the Board's Inland Planning and Coastal Planning Sections, make up the Board's Planning Division. The Regional Planning Programs Section (RPPS) is responsible for the following water quality planning and program implementation activities within the Region:

• Basin Plan triennial reviews and Basin Plan amendments that arise from the triennial review process
• Nonpoint Source (NPS) Pollution program
• Watershed Management Initiative (WMI), and maintaining the Region's WMI chapter
• Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Standards Certification program
• Grant program coordination, including grants authorized by Clean Water Act Section 319(h), and Propositions 13, 40, 50 and 84
• California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) documents review

The Water Quality Control Plan for the Santa Ana River Basin (Basin Plan) contains the Region Board's policies for managing the Region's water quality. The Basin Plan includes the water quality standards (water quality objectives, beneficial uses, and anti-degradation policy) for the region, regionally important water quality management and improvement initiatives, policies and practices for implementing water quality standards, and implementation plans. The Clean Water Act requires review of water quality management plans every three years, and the California Water Code, basin plans are reviewed periodically for areas where improvements or updates are needed. The last Triennial Review of the Plan, completed in December 2006, identified 36 basin planning issues to be addressed, and included a plan showing the basin plan update work that could be expected to take place prior to the next triennial review.

The State Water Resources Control Board, Regional Water Quality Control Boards, and other state and federal agencies collaborate to implement California's NPS Plan, a comprehensive plan for addressing the wide range of types and sources of non-point source pollution. Staff of the RPPS, and the Inland and Coastal Planning Sections, contribute to this effort through extensive coordination and outreach to a wide range of stakeholders, NPS grant project contract management, development of fact sheets, and conference planning. The Region's web site NPS page, includes links to other NPS resources.

The Watershed Management Initiative recognizes the intrinsic efficiency of engaging stakeholders managing water quality issues within a watershed in collaborative, cooperative processes to address and manage water quality concerns. The Santa Ana Region's WMI chapter outlines the role and framework for the Board's involvement in this process. The WMI chapter also contains an extensive list of projects to improve water quality and water quality management in the Region. This information is beneficial to stakeholders looking for projects that may be competitive for grant funds.

Clean Water Act (CWA) § 401 water quality standards certifications must be obtained by any applicant for a Federal license or permit to conduct any activity, including but not limited to, the construction or operation of facilities that may result in any discharge into navigable waters. In California, the Regional Board must certify that the applicant's activity will comply with water quality standards. The Federal license or permit most often needed in the Santa Ana Region is a CWA § 404 permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to conduct "dredge or fill" activities associated with land development or transportation infrastructure improvements. See the Santa Ana Regional Board's 401 Certification page for detailed information about the § 401 certification program, including certification application forms, and filing fee information.

Regional Board staff plays a pivotal role in the competitive grant programs administered by the State Water Resources Control Board.  Staff sponsors workshops to inform our community of available water quality project grants, works with stakeholders to develop grant proposals, participates in selecting grants to be considered for funding, and manages contracts and agreements for projects awarded grant funding.  The Board's WMI chapter includes information about locally important or desirable water quality projects that could be eligible and competitive for grant funding.  Information about grant (and other funding) programs are currently available through the SWRCB web site.

The Regional Board is a "responsible agency" in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). As such, we receive copies of all CEQA documents (e.g., Notices of Preparation of an Environmental Impact Report, or "EIR," draft EIRs, final EIRs, etc.), submitted to the State Clearinghouse in compliance with the CEQA guidelines. We screen and catalogue CEQA documents we receive, and review and comment on those that appear to represent significant potential impacts to water quality standards. Due to space limitations, the Regional Board is not a repository of all CEQA documents it receives.

The Regional Board received a USEPA grant to conduct an assessment of the status and quality of the riverine wetlands in the Santa Ana and San Jacinto river watersheds. This final report of this project was conducted by staff and students of CSU Long Beach. View complete report.