The Santa Ana Water Board adopted a Basin Plan amendment for the Fecal Coliform TMDLs for Newport Bay on June 3, 2022 at a public hearing, which was subsequently approved by the State Water Board on November 15, 2022 and the Office of Administrative Law on June 15, 2023. The Basin Plan amendment extends the deadline for attainment of the water quality objectives (WQOs) for the shellfish beneficial use (SHEL) in Newport Bay, from December 31, 2022, to December 31, 2030. The purpose of the extension is to allow additional time to complete studies that are currently in progress to determine whether there is a correlation between fecal indicator bacteria in water and fecal indicator bacteria and pathogens in shellfish tissue. A dry season study of bacteria in the water column and bacteria in shellfish was completed by the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project (Technical Report 1193). The study found no correlation between the SHEL WQOs in water and bacteria and pathogen levels in Pacific oysters in Newport Bay. A similar study for the wet season is currently underway.
Time Schedule Order Number R8-2019-0050 for the County of Orange, the Orange County Flood Control District, and the Cities of Tustin, Irvine, Laguna Hills, Laguna Woods, Costa Mesa, Santa Ana, Orange, Lake Forest and Newport Beach to comply with the Requirements Prescribed in Order Number R8-2009-0030 as amended by Order Number R8-2010-0062 (NPDES Permit Number CAS618030)
(Page last updated 7/13/26)
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