National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Pesticides - Weed Control

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Overview

The State Water Resources Control Board adopted the Statewide General National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit for Residual Aquatic Pesticide Discharges to Waters of the United States from Algae and Aquatic Weed Control Applications (Water Quality Order 2013-0002-DWQ) in June 2013. The General Permit became effective on December 1, 2013.

Except for discharges on tribal lands that are regulated by a federal permit, this General Permit covers the point source discharge to waters of the United States of residues resulting from pesticide applications using products containing 2,4-D, acrolein, copper, diquat, endothall, flumioxazin, fluridone, glyphosate, hydrogen peroxide, imazamox, imazapyr, penoxsulam, peroxyacetic acid, sodium carbonate peroxyhydrate, and triclopyr-based algaecides and aquatic herbicides, and adjuvants containing ingredients represented by the surrogate nonylphenol.

This General Permit covers only discharges of algaecides, and aquatic herbicides that are currently registered for use in California, or that become registered for use and contain the above-listed active ingredients and ingredients represented by the surrogate of nonylphenol.

Man in boat spraying pesticides on weeds.

Quick Links

Current Permit | State Implementation Policy Exception | Fees

Notices of Intent, Aquatic Pesticide Application Plans, and Notices of Termination | Archives | Contacts

Current Permit

  • Water Quality Order 2013-0002-DWQ NPDES Permit No. CAG990005 (effective 12/01/2013)
    Note, this permit is not conformed for amendments made by Water Quality Order 2014-0078-DWQ on 5/20/2014, Water Quality Order 2015-0029-DWQ on March 3, 2015, and Water Quality Order 2016-0073-EXEC on June 30, 2016.

State Implementation Policy Exception

Section 5.3 of the State Water Board Policy for Implementation of Toxics Standards for Inland Surface Waters, Enclosed Bays, and Estuaries of California (Policy) allows exceptions to meeting priority pollutant criteria/objectives if the State Water Board or Regional Water Quality Control Boards determine the exception to be necessary to implement control measures either:

  1. for resource or pest management (i.e., vector or weed control, pest eradication, or fishery management) conducted by public entities or mutual water companies;
  2. for drinking water conducted to fulfill statutory requirements under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act or the California Health and Safety Code.

Dischargers do not need a Policy exception to get covered under State Water Board Order 2013-0002-DWQ. However, since the Order allows an exception to receiving water limitations for acrolein and copper, which are the only two priority pollutants regulated by the Order, dischargers may apply for an exception at their discretion. To get an exception, dischargers must submit the following information to the Program Staff Contact listed below: to the address shown in Item 4 above:

  1. A detailed description of the proposed action, including the proposed method of completing the action;
  2. A time schedule;
  3. A discharge and receiving water quality monitoring plan (before project initiation, during the project, and after project completion, with the appropriate quality assurance and quality control procedures);
  4. Documentation of compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act;
  5. Contingency plans;
  6. Identification of alternate water supply (if needed); and
  7. Residual waste disposal plans.

Upon completion of the project, the discharger shall provide certification by a qualified biologist that the receiving water beneficial uses have been restored.

Fees

Please Note: The California Water Code requires the State Water Board to adjust the fees each fiscal year to conform with the revenue levels set forth in the California Budget Act. Thus, the fees could change every year.

Notice of Intents, Aquatic Pesticide Application Plans, and Notice of Terminations


Applicant/Discharger Notice of Intent / Aquatic Pesticide Application Plan Comments Due Revised Aquatic Pesticide Application Plan Notice of Termination
Patterson Irrigation District NOI & APAP 02/25/19    
County of San Luis Obispo, Department of Public Works   04/30/19 NOI & APAP  
Waterworks Industries NOI & APAP 04/30/19 NOI & APAP  
Beale Air Force Base   05/03/19 NOI & APAP   
City of Atascadero   05/13/19 NOI & APAP  
Montecito Water District NOI & APAP 06/20/19    
Waterworks Aquatic Management – Treelake Village NOI & APAP 06/27/19 NOI & APAP  
Helix Water District   06/29/19 NOI & APAP  
Department of Water Resources, State Water Project Mitigation and Restoration Branch NOI & APAP 07/12/19    
Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex NOI & APAP 07/14/19    
California Department of Parks and Recreation, Division of Boating and Waterways – Water Hyacinth Control Project   08/09/19 NOI & APAP  
California Department of Parks and Recreation, Division of Boating and Waterways – Egeria Densa Control Program   08/09/19 NOI & APAP  
San Joaquin Area Flood Control Agency NOI & APAP 08/29/19    
San Diego National Wildlife Refuge NOI & APAP 09/30/19    
Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District NOI & APAP 11/18/19    
City of San Jose NOI & APAP 03/20/20    
California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Wildlife Branch NOI & APAP 04/20/20    
Lake of the Pines Association NOI & APAP 05/07/20    
California Park Association   05/10/20 NOI & APAP  
Firebaugh Canal Water District   05/24/20 NOI & APAP  
City of Alameda, Public Works Department   05/30/20 NOI & APAP  
Yolo County Resource Conservation District NOI & APAP 06/04/20    
Vandenberg Air Force Base NOI & APAP 06/22/20    
Gulf South Research Corporation NOI & APAP 11/30/20    
West Stanislaus Irrigation District   12/18/20 APAP  
James Irrigation District   02/19/21 NOI & APAP  
City of San Mateo   04/19021 NOI & APAP  
Indermill Aquatics NOI & APAP

05/10/21

    
Vista Irrigation District NOI & APAP 05/10/21    
City of Santa Cruz   05/12/21 NOI & APAP  
Citizens Development Corporation   6/03/2021 NOI & APAP  
Waterworks Industries Inc   6/21/2021 NOI & APAP  
Woodridge Mutual Water and Property Owners Corp NOI & APAP 7/12/2021    
Fulton-El Camino Recreation & Park District APAP 10/04/2021    
California Department of Water Resources, South Delta Branch NOI & APAP 11/01/2021    
City of Redwood City   11/01/2021 NOI & APAP  

Comments may be submitted via email to: Gurgagn Chand, at Gurgagn.Chand@waterboards.ca.gov or by mail to: Gurgagn Chand, at State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Water Quality, 1001 I St, 15th Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814. Comments received after Noon on the comment due date will not be considered.


Contacts