Amendments to the Basin Plan

A list of amendments to the Basin Plan, with links to recent projects, can be found here.
Here is a link to the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Program webpage
The Water Quality Control Plan for the North Coast Region (Basin Plan) contains the regulations adopted by the Regional Water Board to control the discharge of waste and other controllable factors affecting the quality of waters of the state within the boundaries of the North Coast Region. The Basin Plan is amended from time to time to incorporate new beneficial uses (CWC § 13050(f)), water quality objectives (CWC § 13241), and programs of implementation including monitoring programs (CWC § 13242)) and to conduct substantive and non-substantive revisions of existing language. Nonsubstantive amendments include editorial revisions.  Substantive amendments include new and updated water quality standards and programs of implementation, such as TMDL Action Plans. The Regional Water Board is the lead agency for evaluating the environmental impacts of substantive Basin Plan amendments pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Basin Plan amendments, which rely on science as the basis for the amendment, may also require review by a panel of scientific peer reviewers.

For basin plan amendments, which are new or revised water quality standards, requirements of the Clean Water Act also apply.  In conformance with 40 CFR Part 131, USEPA must determine if State-adopted water quality standards are:

  • Consistent with the requirements of the Clean Water Act;
  • Protective of beneficial uses;
  • Legally adopted;
  • Based on appropriate technical and scientific data and analyses; and
  • In conformance with the definition of Water Quality Standards.

As a State regulation, any amendment to basin plan language must also meet the standard of review for regulations as described in Government Code Section 11349 including standards of: necessity, authority, clarity, consistency, reference, and nonduplication. The Office of Administrative Law (OAL) conducts this review following approval of an amendment by the State Water Board.  Amendments to the Basin Plan are in effect upon approval by OAL.

Amendment Title   Regional Board
  Adoption
  State Board
  Approval
  OAL
  Approval
  USEPA
  Approval
  Project Webpage
Amendments Approved by the Regional Board in 2019
  Action Plan for the Russian River Watershed Pathogen TMDL Resolution R1-2019-0038 TBD TBD TBD  Russian River
Amendments Approved by the Regional Board in 2016
  Action Plan for the Upper Elk River Sediment TMDL   R1-2016-0017   2017-0046   2018-0124-03S   Elk River Approval   Elk River
Amendments Approved by the Regional Board in 2015
  Water Quality Objectives Update Amendment   R1-2015-0018   2016-0009   2016-0603-06     Water Quality Objectives
  Editorial Amendment of Chapter 3   Editorial Amendments
  Editorial Amendment of Chapters 1 and 5   R1-2015-0013   2016-0009   2016-0603-06   NA   Editorial Amendments
  Policy in Support of Restoration in the North Coast Region   R1-2015-0004   2015-0034   2016-1003-01   NA   Restoration Policy
  Policy Statement in Support of Restoration   R1-2015-0001
Amendments Approved by the Regional Board in 2014
  Policy for the Implementation of the Water Quality Objectives for Temperature

  R1-2014-0006

  2015-0020   2016-0603-04   NA   Temperature Policy
  Policy Statement for Implementation of Temperature Objective   R1-2012-0013
  Action Plan to Address Elevated Water Temperatures in the Eel River Watershed   R1-2014-0006   2015-0020   2016-0603-04   NA   Eel River
  Action Plan to Address Elevated Water Temperatures in the Navarro River   Watershed   R1-2014-0006   2015-0020   2016-0603-04   NA   Navarro River
  Action Plan to Address Elevated Water Temperatures in the Mattole River   Watershed   R1-2014-0006   2015-0020   2016-0603-04   NA   Mattole River
  Incorporation of the statewide OWTS Policy into the Basin Plan   R1-2014-0009   2015-0036   2016-0603-05   NA   OWTS Policy
Amendments Approved by the Regional Board in 2011-2013
  None
Amendments Approved by the Regional Board in 2010
  Action Plan for the Klamath River TMDL Addressing Temperature, DO, Nutrient,
  and Microcystin Implementations in the Klamath River in California and Lost   River Implementation Plan
  R1-2010-0026   2010-0043       Klamath River
  Site Specific DO Objectives for the Klamath River in California   R1-2010-0025   2010-0043    

  Klamath River
  Water Quality Objectives

Amendments Approved by the Regional Board in 2009
  Action Plan for Low Threat Discharges and Storm Water Discharges   R1-2009-0004   2011-0012     NA   Low Threat Discharges
  Storm Water Discharges
Amendments Approved by the Regional Board in 2007-2008
  None
Amendments Approved by the Regional Board in 2006
  Action Plan for the Shasta River Watershed Temperature and DO TMDL   R1-2006-0052   2006-0093       Shasta River
Amendments Approved by the Regional Board in 2005
  Action Plan for the Scott River Sediment and Temperature TMDLs   R1-2005-0113   2006-0046     NA   Scott River
  Sediment TMDL Implementation Policy   NA   Sediment TMDL
  Implementation
  Sediment TMDL Implementation Policy Statement   R1-2004-0087        
Amendments Approved by the Regional Board in 2004
  Update to Chapter 3, Summary of Anti-degradation Policies   R1-2004-0092   2005-0025       Anti-degradation Policy
  Schedule of Compliance Amendment   R1-2004-0011         Schedule of Compliance
Amendments Approved by the Regional Board 2003
  Update to Chapter 2, Beneficial Uses   R1-2003-0052   2004-0040       Beneficial Uses
Amendments Approved by the Regional Board in 2002
  None
Amendments Approved by the Regional Board in 2001
  Garcia River Watershed Water Quality Attainment Action Plan for Sediment   R1-2001-072   2001-126       Garcia River
Amendments Approved by the Regional Board in 1999-2000
None
Amendments Approved by the Regional Board in 1998
  Water Quality Attainment Strategy (TMDL) for Sediment in the Garcia River   Watershed   98-66   2000-070     Garcia River
Amendments Approved by the Regional Board in 1997
None
Amendments Approved by the Regional Board in 1996
  Policy on the Control of Water Quality with Respect to On-Site Waste Treatment
  and Disposal Practices
  96-16   96-061     NA   OWTS Policy
Amendments Approved by the Regional Board in 1995
  Action Plan for Storm Water Discharges   95-53   95-87   NA   Storm Water Discharges
Amendments Approved by the Regional Board in 1994
  Waste Discharge Prohibitions for the North Coastal Basin 94-49   94-52   NA   Waste Discharge Prohibitions
Amendments Approved by the Regional Board in 1993
  Amendment to Update Description and Correct Inaccuracies   93-89   94-29       1993 Amendment