Water Quality Control Plan for the Santa Ana River Basin

The Water Quality Control Plan for the Santa Ana River Basin (Basin Plan) contains the water quality standards (water quality objectives, beneficial uses, and anti-degradation policy) for the protection of surface and groundwaters within the Santa Ana Region. Additionally, the Basin Plan includes comprehensive watershed and groundwater management programs to implement water quality objectives, including total maximum daily loads salt nutrient management measures, and implementation plans.

The Basin Plan is reviewed periodically and updated as necessary. Basin Plan amendments are adopted by the Santa Ana Water Board and approved by the State Water Resources Control Board, and the Office of Administrative Law. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) approves water quality standards contained in the Basin Plan, as required by the Clean Water Act.

The Basin Plan for the Santa Ana Region includes the upper and lower Santa Ana River watersheds, the San Jacinto River watershed, and several other small drainage areas. The Santa Ana Region covers parts of southwestern San Bernardino County, western Riverside County, and northwestern Orange County.

The Basin Plan was updated in April 2025 to comply with the current regulations and improve accessibility in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. In addition, Chapters 3 and 4 of the Basin Plan were updated to incorporate recent amendments effective on or before July 27, 2023.

Basin Plan Cover

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2024-2027 Triennial Review

The Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board (Santa Ana Water Board) is initiating the triennial review of the Water Quality Control Plan for the Santa Ana River Basin (Basin Plan). Section 13240 of the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act and section 303(c)(1) of the federal Clean Water Act require the Basin Plan be reviewed periodically (at a minimum every three years) to incorporate key changes in regulations, policies, and physical changes within the region.

The triennial review assists in identifying potential priority issues to address through subsequent Basin Plan amendment projects. These Basin Plan amendment projects are referred to as the Triennial Review High Priority List. The Triennial High Review Priority List provides prioritization informed by multiple factors, including but not limited to Santa Ana Water Board's stated priorities, stakeholder input, and anticipated project completion. In addition to the Triennial Review High Priority List, Santa Ana Water Board staff have developed a Medium Priority List for projects, which are unlikely to be completed during this triennial review period because of other high regional priorities. The Santa Ana Water Board solicits written and oral input, which it will consider before adopting a prioritized list of basin planning projects. Following an opportunity for public review and a formal public hearing, the Santa Ana Water Board will adopt the prioritized list of projects.

Notice of Public Hearing for Triennial Review of the Water Quality Control Plan for the Santa Ana River Basin Fiscal Years 2024-2027

Notice of Public Hearing - August 15, 2024

Tentative Resolution

Attachment A: Work Plan

Attachment B: High-Priority List Project Descriptions

Attachment C: Medium-Priority List Project Descriptions

Staff Report

Response to Comments

Revised Response to Comments

Comment Letters (follow this link for instructions on how to download comment letters)

Please contact Claudia Tenorio at Claudia.Tenorio@waterboards.ca.gov

The Basin Plan Portal is home to the California Basin Plan Mapping Project (BPMP), a GIS dataset that contains information about beneficial use designations and waterbody segments identified in regional Basin Plan.

On January 22, 2004, the Santa Ana Water Board adopted a Basin Plan Amendment (Resolution No. R8-2004-0001). The amendment updated the groundwater basin boundaries and water quality objectives of total dissolved solids (TDS) and nitrogen. The updated Basin Plan also incorporated a revised salt and nitrogen management plan, which included revised nitrogen and TDS waste load allocations for discharges to the Santa Ana River and its tributaries, revised findings regarding assimilative capacity in ground water, and a plan for wastewater reclamation in the Region

Resolutions for Basin Plan amendments are listed below:

Years 2020-2029

  • Resolution No. R8-2022-0017 Approving Amendment to the Water Quality Control Plan for the Santa Ana River Basin to Revise the Schedule for Attaining the Fecal Coliform Total Maximum Daily Loads for the Shellfish Harvesting Beneficial Use in Newport Bay
  • Resolution No. R8-2021-0044 Resolution Amending the Water Quality Control Plan for the Santa Ana River Basin to Establish Maximum Benefit TDS and Nitrate Groundwater Quality Objectives and a Salt and Nutrient Management Plan for the Elsinore Groundwater Management Zone
  • Resolution No. R8-2020-0004 Expand Exemptions to a Waste Discharge Prohibition on the Use of Onsite Septic Tank-Subsurface Disposal Systems in the Quail Valley Area of the City of Menifee, Riverside County
  • Resolution No. R8-2021-0025 Resolution Amending the Water Quality Control Plan for the Santa Ana River Basin to Revise and Update the Total Dissolved Solids and Nitrogen Management Program
  • Resolution No. R8-2020-0038 Upper Temescal Valley Groundwater Management Zone (GMZ) and Associated TDS and Nitrate Water Quality Objectives, and Implementation Tasks in the Salt and Nutrient Management Plan for the GMZ

Years 2010-2019

  • Resolution No. R8-2017-0036 Water Quality Objective for Nitrate-as-Nitrogen in the Chino-South Groundwater Management Zone
  • Resolution No. R8-2017-0019 Revised Compliance Schedule for Fecal Coliform TMDL for Shellfish Harvesting (SHEL) in Newport Bay
  • Resolution No. R8-2017-0014 TMDL for Selenium in Freshwater, Newport Bay Watershed, Orange County
  • Resolution No. R8-2014-0005 Updates Related to the Salt Management Plan
  • Resolution No. R8-2012-0002 Updates Related to the Salt Management Plan
  • Resolution No. R8-2012-0001 Bacteria Quality Objectives and Implementation Strategies, Recreation Beneficial Uses, the Addition and Deletion of Certain Waters Listed in the Basin Plan and Designation of Appropriate Beneficial Uses
  • Resolution No. R8-2011-0037 Organochlorine Compounds TMDL for San Diego Creek, Upper and Lower Newport Bay, Orange County
  • Resolution No. R8-2010-0039 Maximum Benefit Salt Management Plan for the San Jacinto Upper Pressure Management Zone

Years 2020-2009

  • Resolution No. R8-2006-0024 Onsite Septic Tank-subsurface Disposal System in Quail Valley Area
  • Resolution No. R8-2006-0023 Dry Hydrological Conditions for Big Bear Lake TMDL
  • Resolution No. R8-2005-0001 Middle Santa Ana River Watershed Waterbodies TMDL
  • Resolution No. R8-2004-0037 Lake Elsinore and Canyon Lake Nutrient TMDL
  • Resolution No. R8-2004-0001 Updated Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and Nitrogen Management Plan
  • Resolution No. R8-2003-0039 Diazinon and Chlorpyrifos in the Upper Newport Bay Watershed TMDL
  • Resolution No. 00-27 Language Authorizing Compliance Schedules in NPDES

Contacts Us

Regional Programs Section
Jagroop.Khela@waterboards.ca.gov
(951) 782-3288
Environmental Program Manager I (Supervisor)