Plans and Policies

An overview of California’s water quality control plans and state policies for water quality control may be found in California’s continuing planning process report, which is periodically submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

• Continuing Planning Process (CPP) Report (May 2001)

Quick Links

• Plans  |  Policies  |  Policies Under Development

Plans

• Water Quality Control Plan for Enclosed Bays and Estuaries of California – Part 1 Sediment Quality effective August 25, 2009
• Ocean Standards - California Ocean Plan
  • Desalination Facilties and Brine Disposal
  • Model Monitoring, Vessel Discharges and Non-Substantive Amendments
  • State Water Quality Protection Areas & Marine Protected Areas Amendment
  • Trash Control in California's Waters
• California Thermal Plan - Water Quality Control Plan for Control of Temperature in the Coastal and Interstate Waters and Enclosed Bays and Estuaries of California
• San Francisco Bay/Sacramento - San Joaquin Delta Estuary Water Quality Control Plan, December 13, 2006; Approved by OAL on June 27, 2007
  • Appendix I - Plan Amendment Report
  • Appendix II - Referenced Documents
  • Appendix III - Response to Comment
• Regional Board Water Quality Control Plans (Basin Plans)
  • (1) North Coast Region Basin Plan
  • (2) San Francisco Bay Region Basin Plan
  • (3) Central Coast Region Basin Plan
  • (4) Los Angeles Region Basin Plan
  • (5) Central Valley Region Basin Plan
  • (6) Lahontan Region Basin Plan
  • (7) Colorado River Basin Region Basin Plan
  • (8) Santa Ana Region Basin Plan
  • (9) San Diego Region Basin Plan

Policies

• Water Quality Control Policy for Siting, Design, Operation, and Maintenance of onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS Policy)
  • Resolution No. 2012-0032 adopted on June 19, 2012, Approved by OAL November 13, 2012, Effective May 13, 2013
• Recycled Water Policy - Revised on January 22, 2013
  • Resolution No. 2013-0003 adopted on January 22, 2013, Approved by OAL April 25, 2013, Effective April 25, 2013
• Water Quality Control Policy for Low-Threat Underground Storage Tank Case Closure
  • Resolution No. 2012-0016 adopted on May 1, 2012, Approved by OAL July 30, 2012, Effective August 17, 2012
• Use of Coastal and Estuarine Waters for Power Plant Cooling (Once-Through Cooling Policy) - amended on June 18, 2013
  • Resolution No. 2013-0018 adopted on June 18, 2013, approved by OAL on February 27, 2014, effective February 27, 2014
  • Policy Development and Adoption
  • Resolution adopted on May 4, 2010, Effective 10/1/10
• Policy for Maintaining Instream Flows in Northern California Coastal Streams
  Resolution adopted on May 4, 2010, Effective 9/28/10, Vacated 10/16/12
• Water Quality Enforcement Policy
  Resolution adopted on November 17, 2009, Effective 5/20/10
• Supplemental Environmental Project Policy
  Resolution Adopted on February 3, 2009, Effective 9/15/09
• Compliance Schedules in National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permits Policy Resolution
  Resolution adopted on April 15, 2008, Effective 12/17/08
• Addressing Impaired Waters: Regulatory Structure and Options -Water Quality Control Policy
  June 15, 2005, Adopted by Resolution 2005-0050, Approved by OAL 4/10/06
• Developing California's Clean Water Act Section 303(d) List - Water Quality Control Policy
  Adopted September 30, 2004, Approved by OAL 12/13/04, Amended February 3, 2015, Approved by OAL May 15, 2015
• Implementation and Enforcement of the Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Program
  Dated May 20, 2004; Approved by OAL 8/26/04
• NPS Program Plan - California's Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Program
  
• Implementation of Toxics Standards for Inland Surface Waters, Enclosed Bays, and Estuaries of California Policy - As amended February 24, 2005, Approved by OAL 5/31/06
  
  • Proposed Revision
• Guidance on Development of Regional Toxic Hot Spot Cleanup Plans-Water Quality Control Policy Adopted on September 2, 1998, Approved by OAL 11/9/98
• Policies and Procedures for Investigation and Cleanup and Abatement of Discharges Under Water Code Section 13304
  • Resolution 92-49, As amended on April 21, 1994 and October 2, 1996
  • Resolution 96-79, Amended October 2, 1996 and approved by OAL January 13, 1997
• Enclosed Bays and Estuaries of California-Water Quality Control Policy - Resolutions 74-43 and 95-84
  As amended November 16, 1995, Approved by OAL 3/5/96
• Regulation of Discharges of Municipal Solid Waste Policy - Resolutions 93-62 and 2005-58
  As amended July 21, 2005, Approved by OAL 10/4/05
• Pollutant Policy Document for the San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Estuary (Appendices) - Resolution 90-67 - Adopted June 21, 1990
• Sources of Drinking Water Policy - Resolution 88-63
  Amended February 1, 2006, Approved by OAL 4/24/06
  • Proposed Revision
• Use and Disposal of Inland Waters Used for Powerplant Cooling -Water Quality Control Policy - Resolution 75-58 - Adopted June 19, 1975
• Regarding Water Reclamation Policy - Resolution 77-1 - Adopted January 6, 1977
• Maintaining High Quality Water - Resolution 68-16 - Adopted October 24, 1968
  • Antidegradation Policy Implementation for NPDES Permitting (APU 90-004)

Policies Under Development

• Proposed Beneficial Uses: Tribal Traditional and Cultural, Tribal Subsistence Fishing, and Subsistence Fishing
• Proposed Application of the Antidegradation Policy (Resolution 68-16) to Groundwater
• Biostimulatory Substances Objective and Program to Implement Biological Integrity
• Proposed Policy for Toxicity Assessment and Control
• Russian River Frost Protection Regulation
• Proposed Amendment to the Water Quality Control Policy on the Use of Coastal and Estuarine Waters for Power Plant Cooling
  • Notice of Adoption Hearing December 14, 2010
  • Draft Staff Report
    • Appendix A - Proposed Policy Amendment
    • Appendix B - Draft Environmental Checklist
• Trash Control in California's Waters - Developing a Statewide Policy
• Biological Integrity Assessment Implementation Plan
• Proposed Revision to the Bacterial Objectives for Water Contact in Fresh and Marine Water of California
• Proposed Wetlands and Riparian Area Protection Policy (WRAPP)
• Proposed State Policy for Water Quality Control, San Francisco Bay, Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta and Tributaries Mercury Discharge Offset Policy (1/5/07)
  • Notice of Public Scoping Meeting - February 20, 2007
  • Public Comments
  • Informational Document
• Statewide Mercury Program
• Proposed Total Residual Chlorine and Chlorine-Produced Oxidants Policy of California (6/1/05)

(Updated 3/23/17)