STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD MEETING

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA

APRIL 26, 2000

 

ITEM:   6 

 

SUBJECT:

 

CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF FINAL REPORT TITLED “1999 REVIEW—WATER QUALITY STANDARDS FOR SALINITY—COLORADO RIVER SYSTEM” (JUNE 1999) AND SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT (OCTOBER 1999) AS FULFILLMENT OF THE 1999 TRIENNIAL REVIEW

 

DISCUSSION:

 

Section 303 of the Federal Clean Water Act requires that water quality standards be reviewed at least once every three years and revised as appropriate.  Salinity standards (referred to as water quality objectives in California) for the Colorado River and a plan of implementation designed to achieve the objectives were recommended beginning in 1975 by the seven states in the Colorado River Basin (Basin) through the Colorado River Salinity Control Forum (Forum).  The Forum is the working body of the Colorado River Salinity Control Advisory Council established under the Federal Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act (P.L. 93-220).  The objectives and implementation plan recommended by the Forum include:

 

1.  Numeric water quality objectives for salinity at three locations in the Basin (below Hoover Dam [723 mg/l], below Parker Dam [747 mg/l], and at Imperial Dam [879 mg/l]). 

2.  A plan of implementation for salinity control projects.

3.  Policies to help maintain the objectives.

The objectives and plan of implementation were reviewed and updated, as necessary, in 1978 and every three years thereafter.  No revisions to the salinity objectives have resulted from the past Triennial Reviews.

 

In 1999, the Forum again reviewed the State-adopted and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)-approved numeric salinity objectives and plan of implementation for salinity control for the Colorado River System.  Changes in hydrologic conditions and water use within the Colorado River Basin and salinity flow relationships were evaluated, and the plan of implementation was updated.  The plan of implementation, as set forth in the 1999 Triennial Review, includes a number of federal and nonfederal measures to maintain the adopted salinity objectives while the Colorado River Basin States continue to develop their compact-apportioned waters.  The Forum prepared and adopted the reports titled “1999 Review—Water Quality Standards for Salinity—Colorado River System” (June 1999) and Supplemental Report (October 1999).

 

Public meetings were held by the Forum in Los Angeles, California, on August 23, 1999 and in Lyman, Wyoming, on August 24, 1999 to review and receive comments on the draft Report.  The comment letters and responses are presented in the Supplemental Report.

 

The SWRCB held a public hearing on April 5, 2000 to receive comments regarding the 1999 Triennial Review.  One comment letter was submitted from the San Diego Water Authority supporting approval of the 1999 Triennial Review.

 

POLICY ISSUE:

 

Should the SWRCB:

 

1.  Approve the 1999 Triennial Review of the Colorado River salinity objectives and plan of implementation as presented in the Forum Reports?

 

2.  Direct the staff to submit the approved Triennial Review and support documents to USEPA pursuant to section 303 of the Federal Clean Water Act?

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

 

This activity is budgeted within the existing program, and no additional fiscal requirements will occur as a result of approving this item.

 

RWQCB IMPACT:

 

Yes.  RWQCBs 4, 7, 8, and 9.

 

STAFF RECOMMENDATION:

 

That the SWRCB:

 

1.  Approves the 1999 Triennial Review of the Colorado River salinity objectives and plan of implementation as presented in the Forum Reports?

 

2.  Directs the staff to submit the approved Triennial Review and support documents to USEPA pursuant to section 303 of the Federal Clean Water Act?

 

Note:  The Forum Report is not available electronically.  For copies, contact:

 

John Ladd/Division of Water Quality/SWRCB/P.O. Box 944213/Sacramento, CA  94244-2130/(916) 657-1016 or FAX (916) 657-2388

_________________________

April 11, 2000 Draft

 

STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD

RESOLUTION NO. 2000-___

 

APPROVAL OF THE FINAL REPORT TITLED “1999 REVIEW—

WATER QUALITY STANDARDS FOR SALINITY— COLORADO RIVER SYSTEM” (JUNE 1999) AND SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT (OCTOBER 1999)

AS FULFILLMENT OF THE 1999 TRIENNIAL REVIEW

 

WHEREAS:

 

1.  In 1975, the seven Colorado River Basin States, including California, established water quality standards (objectives) for salinity for the Colorado River.

 

2.  Section 303 of the Federal Clean Water Act mandates that water quality standards be reviewed and revised, as necessary, at least once every three years (Triennial Review).

 

3.  The seven-state Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Forum (Forum) reviewed the 1975 state-adopted and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)-approved standards in 1978 and every three years thereafter and concluded that the existing salinity standards were adequate.

 

4.  The Forum conducted a review in 1999 and adopted two reports which updated the plan of implementation and reaffirmed the adequacy of existing numeric standards.  The reports are titled “1999 Review—Water Quality Standards for Salinity—Colorado River System” (June 1999) and Supplemental Report (October 1999) (Forum’s Reports).

 

5.  The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) held a Public Hearing on April 5, 2000 regarding the Forum’s Reports and completion of the Triennial Review.  One comment letter was submitted from the San Diego Water Authority supporting the 1999 Triennial Review.

 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

 

The SWRCB:

 

1.  Approves the 1999 Triennial Review of the Colorado River salinity objectives and plan of implementation as presented in the Forum’s Reports?

 

2.  Directs the staff to submit the approved Triennial Review and support documents to USEPA pursuant to section 303 of the Federal Clean Water Act?

 

CERTIFICATION

 

The undersigned, Administrative Assistant to the Board, does hereby certify that the foregoing is a full, true, and correct copy of a resolution duly and regularly adopted at a meeting of the State Water Resources Control Board held on April 26, 2000.

 

Maureen Marché

Administrative Assistant to the Board