The California Water Boards' Annual Performance Report - Fiscal Year 2010-11

MEASUREMENTS  - Data last updated on: 

WHAT THE MEASURE IS SHOWING

This measure shows the Water Boards’ reporting on a key national performance measure in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (USEPA) 2006-2011 Strategic Plan, Restoration of Nonpoint Source Impaired Waters (also known as WQ-10).  The purpose of this measure is to identify impaired water bodies that have been partially or fully restored as a result of various nonpoint source control activities supported through the federal Clean Water Act Section 319 Nonpoint Source Program.  Nonpoint source-impaired water bodies are counted as partially or fully restored when they are described in a “success story” report on USEPA’s Clean Water Act Section 319 Nonpoint Source Success Stories website.  For FY 2010-11, Feather/Sacramento Rivers in the Central Valley Region (Region 5) for diazinon, Whiskeytown Lake (areas near Oak Bottom, Brandy Creek Campgrounds and Whiskeytown) (Region 5) for bacteria, and Big Meadow Creek in the Lahontan Region (Region 6) for bacteria were removed from the States’ impaired waters list for restored levels.   Nonpoint source success story reports for three (3) additional water body segments, located in Region 5 are expected in FY 2011-12.

WHY THIS MEASURE IS IMPORTANT

California has over 700 water bodies that do not meet one or more water quality standards.  These impaired water bodies, which are identified on the federal Clean Water Act Section 303(d) list for the State, are subject to the development of Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs), and a variety of water quality improvement and restoration activities.  Many of these “listings” are the result of pollution from nonpoint sources.  Nonpoint source pollutants, from sources such as agricultural, forestry, and urban areas, are a leading cause of water quality impairment.  This measure tracks and recognizes instances where nonpoint source pollution controls supported through federal Clean Water Act Section 319 funding were involved in restoring an impaired water body.

TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS

• Data Source: State Water Board's Nonpoint Source Program. Period: July 1, 2010-June 30, 2011. Extracted in August 2011.
• Unit of Measure: Number of nonpoint source-impaired waters partially or fully restored.
• Data Definitions: Water body: For this measure, a nonpoint source-impaired water body. Pollutant: The waste, substance, or water quality parameter that is causing the water body impairment. Water body segments restored in FY 2010-11: Segments of nonpoint source-impaired water bodies that have been fully or partially restored, and a success story report was completed in FY 2010-11. Water body segments to be restored in FY 2011-12: Segments of nonpoint source-impaired water bodies where restoration activities have been accomplished, and a success story report is scheduled for completion by the end of 2011.
• References: Nonpoint source-impaired water restoration (WQ-10):
  http://www.epa.gov/ow/waterplan/pamsfy08/def_wq08.html#wq10 and
  http://www.epa.gov/nps/success/info.htm.
  USEPA's Clean Water Act Section 319 Nonpoint Source Success Stories.
  The Feather/Sacramento Rivers and Big Meadow Creek Success Story Reports.
  Information on the Water Boards' Polluted Runoff/Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Programs.

GLOSSARY

Fully Restored Water Body

A fully restored water body, as defined by USEPA, means that all water quality standards or designated beneficial uses are now being met.

Nonpoint Source-Impaired Water Body

A nonpoint source-impaired water body that is primarily impaired due to the release of pollutants over a diffuse and wide area (also called polluted runoff), as specified in the 2000 or later federal Clean Water Act Section 303(d) lists of impaired waters.

Partially Restored Water Body

A partially restored water body, as defined by USEPA, means that either of two conditions are being met: (1) a water body that has a use that is initially impaired by more than one pollutant, but after restoration efforts meets the criteria for one or more (but not all) of those pollutants, or (2) a water body that initially has more than one use that is less than fully supported, but after restoration efforts one or more (but not all) of those uses becomes fully supported.

( Page last updated:  9/23/11 )