Requesting Feedback on Draft Guidance on Designating Tribal Beneficial Uses
Overview of the Draft Guidance
Since time immemorial, California Native American Tribes have used California’s waterbodies to support cultural, spiritual, ceremonial, subsistence and/or traditional practices, lifeways and rights.
For many years, Native American Tribes advocated to the Water Boards that the existing beneficial use categories did not adequately reflect how Tribes use water. This initiated a collaboration between several Tribes and the State Water Board to develop the definitions for the two Tribal Beneficial Uses. In 2017, the State Water Board adopted Resolution 2017-0027 which adopted Part 2 of the Water Quality Control Plan for Inland Surface Waters, Enclosed Bays, and Estuaries of California—Tribal and Subsistence Fishing Beneficial Uses and Mercury Provisions. This Plan (often referred to as the ISWEBE Plan) established and defined the Tribal Beneficial Uses.
Tribal Beneficial Uses recognize and honor Tribal Nations’ unique and ongoing relationships with water and ensure that these uses are considered and safeguarded in water quality policies, planning, and permitting regulatory processes. The establishment of the Tribal Beneficial Uses definitions is an important step, and now all ten Water Boards are working to designate those uses in water quality control plans (also known as basin plans).
The newly released Draft Guidance on Designating Tribal Beneficial Uses explains the history of Tribal Beneficial Uses, what TBUs are, how TBUs are designated into water quality control plans, and how to engage in the process. This draft guidance does not create any legal requirements or make them more specific, rather it is intended only to describe existing requirements and practices.
The State Water Board is currently seeking feedback on the draft guidance. There are three opportunities to provide your input:
- Submit Written Comments
- Request Tribal Consultation
- Participate in the State Water Board Workshop
Submit Written Comments
We respectfully request written comments be received by August 31, 2026.
To submit written comments, please email Tribal-liaison@waterboards.ca.gov with the subject line “Consultation: TBU Guidance Document.”
If you would like to mail written comments, please send them to:
Attn: Adriana Renteria, Director - Tribal Liaison
State Water Resources Control Board
P.O. Box 100, 19th Floor Sacramento, CA 95812-0100
Request Tribal Consultation
We respectfully request consultations conclude by August 31, 2026.
To request a consultation, please email Tribal-liaison@waterboards.ca.gov with the subject line “Consultation: TBU Guidance Document.”
Participate in State Water Board Workshop
The State Water Board will host a workshop to review the draft guidance and gather feedback from tribes and other partners. The workshop will also highlight progress taking place across the state, with updates from Tribal representatives and Water Board staff. Participants may choose to watch the workshop or provide verbal comments during the public comment portion.
- Date: Wednesday, July 22, 2026
- Time: 9AM–6PM
- Location: Coastal Hearing Room (second floor), CalEPA Headquarters, 1001 I street, Sacramento, CA 95814
- Watch via webcast: video.calepa.ca.gov OR youtube.com/user/BoardWebSupport
- Provide comment: Submit a speaker card using the online form. Indicate whether you will be providing comment in-person or virtually. More information can be found on the State Water Board remote meeting website.
- Agenda: Agendas can be found on the Board Meeting Calendar.
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Contact Us
Regional/Divisional Tribal Coordinators
Adriana Renteria, Tribal Liaison
Email: Tribal-Liaison@waterboards.ca.gov
Phone: (916) 341-5501
