Water Quality Control Plan for the Central Coastal Basin (Basin Plan)

The Water Quality Control Plan for the Central Coastal Basin (Basin Plan) is the Board's master water quality control planning document.  It designates beneficial uses and water quality objectives for waters of the State, including surface waters and groundwater.  It also includes programs of implementation to achieve water quality objectives.

Basin Plan

The current Basin Plan consists of the 2019 Basin Plan edition and all amendments fully-approved after March 2019 as listed below:

Basin Plan amendments approved and in effect (approved by Office of Administrative Law) since March 2019:

Historical Editions of the Basin Plan

Quick Links


Basin Plan Portal Map

Contact

John.Inman@waterboards.ca.gov, (805) 542-4646

Adopted Amendments Pending Further Approval

Basin Plan amendments do not become effective until sequentially adopted by the Regional Water Board, and approved by the State Water Board and the California Office of Administrative Law. Amendments containing new or revised water quality standards also require the approval of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Consideration of Proposed Amendments to the Water Quality Control Plan for the Central Coastal Basin to Improve and Clarify Waste Discharge Prohibition Language.

Adopted by Regional Board on February 18, 2022. Approved by State Board on June 7, 2022. Approved by Office of Administrative Law (OAL) on December 8, 2022 (effective date). Pending U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) approval.

Staff Report
  • Attachment 1: Resolution No. R3-2022-0001
    • Attachment A: Strikeout and underline version of the proposed Basin Plan amendments
  • Attachment 2: Project Report including the CEQA Checklist
  • Attachment 3: Notice of CEQA Scoping Meeting – Oct 2018
  • Attachment 4: Notice of Public Hearing and Opportunity to Comment – Jan 2020
  • Attachment 5: Notice of Public Hearing and Opportunity to Comment – Sept 2021
  • Attachment 6: Public comments and staff responses
State Water Board Resolution No. 2022-0022

Consideration of a Proposed Amendment to the Water Quality Control Plan for the Central Coastal Basin to Adopt Total Maximum Daily Loads for Turbidity in the Gabilan Creek Watershed, Monterey County, California.

Adopted by Regional Board on February 18, 2022. Approved by State Board on June 7, 2022. Pending Office of Administrative Law (OAL) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) approval. The TMDLs become effective upon OAL approval.

  • Staff Report
    • Attachment 1: Proposed Resolution R3-2022-0002, including Attachment A (Proposed Basin Plan Amendment)
    • Attachment 2: TMDL Project Technical Report
      • Attachment 2: Appendix 1: Determination of Natural Turbidity Water Quality Conditions in the Lower Gabilan Creek Watershed based on the Reference Streams in Watersheds with Similar Hydrogeomorphic Conditions
      • Attachment 2: Appendix 2: Proposed Methodology to Derive Natural Conditions for Turbidity and Development of Site-Specific Water Quality Criteria for Turbidity in the Central Coast Region
      • Attachment 2: Appendix 3: Cooperative Monitoring Program (CMP) Data Summary
    • Attachment 3: CEQA Checklist and Analysis
    • Attachment 4: TMDL Economic Analysis
    • Attachment 5: Scientific Peer Review and Staff Responses to Comments
    • Attachment 6: Notice of Public Hearing – Notice of Opportunity to Comment
    • Attachment 7: Public Comments and Staff Responses to Comments

State Water Board Resolution No. 2022-0023

Historical Basin Plan Amendments

Amendment to Revise Turbidity Water Quality Objective Units

Amending the Water Quality Control Plan for the Central Coastal Basin to Revise Beneficial Use Designations and to Make Editorial Changes.

Triennial Review

The California Water Code and the Clean Water Act and require Basin Plans to be reviewed and updated periodically (at a minimum every three years).

Go to the Central Coast Basin Plan Triennial Review Process page.

Information Tools and Links