Clean Water Act Section 401 - Certification and Wetlands Program
Welcome to the web site of the Certification and Wetlands Program. This program regulates discharges of fill and dredged material under Clean Water Act 401 and the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act.
This program protects all waters in its regulatory scope, but has special responsibility for wetlands, riparian areas, and headwaters because these waterbodies have high resource value, are vulnerable to filling, and are not systematically protected by other programs. We are involved with protection of special-status species and regulation of hydromodification impacts. The Program encourages basin-level analysis and protection, because some functions of wetlands, riparian areas, and headwater streams - including pollutant removal, flood water retention, and habitat connectivity - are expressed at the basin or landscape level.
Most projects are regulated by the Regional Water Quality Control Boards (Regional Boards). The State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) directly regulates multi-regional projects and supports and coordinates the Program statewide.
Information is available in the following areas:
- What's New !
- Program Description
- Resources for Applicants
- SWANCC Decision - "Isolated" Waters
- Proposed Multi-Regional Projects Notices
- General Orders
- State Board Certification Orders
- Reports
- Contracts
- Related Links
- Contact
WHAT'S NEW !
- Suction Dredge Mining
-
Wetland and Riparian Area Protection Policy (WRAPP)
The State Water Board will consider adoption of a proposed resolution supporting the development of a statewide policy to protect wetlands and riparian areas.- Public Notice - comment deadline March 5, 2008 (12 p.m.)
- Draft Agenda Item and Resolution
- Compensatory Mitigation Study Now Available
The State Water Resources Control Board has released a comprehensive study that evaluates the effectiveness of the State's wetland regulatory program. The study found that the permit compliance was generally met and that overall wetland acreage was being maintained; however, the biological health of the these replacement wetlands was low. The study is titled "An Evaluation of Compensatory Mitigation Projects Permitted Under Clean Water Act Section 401 by the California State Water Resources Control Board, 1991-2002" by Richard F. Ambrose and Steven F. Lee of the University of California, Los Angeles, and John C. Callaway of the University of San Francisco.- Executive Summary (1.96MB)
- Final Report (without Appendices) (1.71MB)
- Appendices (2.83MB)
- Full Report (5.49MB)
- Suction Dredge Mining Workshop - June 12, 2007
The public was invited to comment on the effects of suction dredge mining on water quality. - Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Certification of Nationwide Permits Reissued 2007
- Wetland and Riparian Area Protection Policy (Proposed Policy)
- Comment Deadline Extended to May 15, 2007 (Noon) for CEQA Scoping Comments
- Notice of CEQA Scoping Meeting (revised)
- Sacramento - April 9, 2007 (10:30 am)
- Los Angeles - April 19, 2007 (10:30 am)
- Informational Document
- CEQA Scoping Presentation
- CEQA Comment Letters
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
RESOURCES FOR APPLICANTS
- Staff Directory of the 401 & Wetlands Unit - If you have questions about our program, we invite you to use this directory to call or email our staff at the office in your region.
- Application Form - Use this 401 application form and submit it to the State Water Resources Control Board, Certification and Wetlands Unit, only if proposed project involves two or more Regional Water Quality Control Boards (RWQCB). Otherwise, use the application form of the appropriate RWQCB and submit the completed form to that agency.
- Program Regulations - Navigate using the hyperlinks in the Table of Contents, or press Ctrl+F and type in a keyword.
- Dredge and Fill Fee Calculator
SWANCC DECISION - "ISOLATED" WATERS
- State Regulation of "Isolated" Waters - Summary
- Workplan: Filing the Gaps in Wetland Protection, September 24, 2004
- Guidance for Regulation of Discharge to Isolated Waters, June 25, 2004
- Report to Legislature, Regulatory Steps Needed to Protect and Conserve Wetlands Not Subject to the Clean Water Act, April 2003
- State Board Response to Federal ANPRM, March 13, 2003
- Memorandum: Effect of SWANCC v. United States on the 401 Certification Program, January 25, 2001
PROPOSED MULTI-REGIONAL PROJECTS
- Public Notices of Application for Water Quality Certification Proposed Multi-Regional Projects.
GENERAL ORDERS
- General Orders that have been issued by the State Water Board for multi-regional projects statewide.
STATE WATER BOARD CERTIFICATION ORDERS
- Individual Certification Orders that have been issued by the State Water Board for multi-regional projects statewide.
REPORTS
- 2007
January
- 2003 Annual Report (5.26MB)
CONTRACTS
- An Evaluation of Compensatory Mitigation Projects Under Clean Water Act Section 401
- Compensatory
Mitigation Compliance Monitoring Project,
University of California, Los Angeles
RELATED LINKS
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- California Environmental Resources Evaluation System (CERES)
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (HQ Regulatory Program)
CONTACT
-
Your initial contact for more information: (916) 341-5506