National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Pesticides - Weed Control
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.
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:
- for resource or pest management (i.e., vector or weed control, pest eradication, or fishery management) conducted by public entities or mutual water companies;
- 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:
- A detailed description of the proposed action, including the proposed method of completing the action;
- A time schedule;
- 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);
- Documentation of compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act;
- Contingency plans;
- Identification of alternate water supply (if needed); and
- 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
- Fee Schedule (NPDES Permit 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 | ||
| Turlock Irrigation District | 2/06/2022 | NOI & APAP | ||
| Henry Miller Reclamation District | 4/13/2022 | NOI & APAP | ||
| Central California Irrigation District | 4/13/2022 | NOI & APAP | ||
| Reclamation District 70 | NOI & APAP | 5/30/2022 |
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
- Gurgagn Chand
- Gurgagn.Chand@waterboards.ca.gov
- (916) 341-5780
