Basin Planning

About The Basin Plan

The Water Quality Control Plan for the Colorado River Basin (Basin Plan) is designed to preserve and enhance water quality in the Region and to protect the beneficial uses of all regional waters for the benefit of present and future generations. The Basin Plan contains the Region’s beneficial uses for ground and surface waters, water quality objectives to protect beneficial uses, and implementation programs to achieve water quality objectives. The Basin Plan fulfills state and federal statutory requirements for water quality planning, thereby preserving and protecting ground and surface waters of the Colorado River Basin Region.

Triennial Review

In accordance with state and federal laws, the Regional Water Board is obligated to keep the Region’s Basin Plan current and accurate via periodic review and to update it as appropriate. States are required to review their water quality standards at least once every three years – a process known as “triennial review” [33 U.S. Code Section 1313(c)]. The triennial review may result in amendments to the Basin Plan over the course of the three-year review cycle. Materials from the current Triennial Review cycle are provided below. For information and materials concerning preceding Triennial Reviews, please reach out to the program manager.

Amendments Under Development

Recently Approved Amendments

Approved Basin Plan Amendments Reflected in the Basin Plan

  • Amendments approved in 2012-2020

    The following amendments are fully reflected in the Basin Plan edition posted on this page. For full amendment text and materials related to the development of each amendment, please contact the program manager.

    • Editorial Changes Updating Language and Graphics Related to the Salton Sea and Correcting General Errors, effective January 8, 2019
    • Revision of the Septic Tank Discharge Prohibition in the Town of Yucca Valley, effective January 30, 2017
    • Onsite Wastewater Treatment System Implementation Program, effective March 11, 2014
    • Corrections and Updates to Language, Tables and Figures, effective November 13, 2012
    • Revision of Indicator Bacteria for a 17-Mile Reach of the Coachella Valley Storm Water Channel, effective August 8, 2012
    • Prohibition of Septic Tank Discharges in the Town of Yucca Valley, effective April 9, 2012

Program Manager

Emma McCorkle, Senior Environmental Scientist
Email: Emma.McCorkle@waterboards.ca.gov
Phone: (760) 340-4521

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Basin Plan

Basin Plan Cover