Water Quality Certification Program

Announcements

• On May 1, 2025, the State Water Board issued a Notice of Intent to Adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Removal and Decommissioning of the Kanaka Powerhouse for the Kanaka Hydroelectric Project License Surrender.
• On April 18, 2025, the State Water Board issued a Public Notice for the Courtright Intake/Discharge Gate, Cylinder, and Piping Improvements Project.
• On April 03, 2025, the State Water Board issued a denial without prejudice of water quality certification for United Water Conservation District’s Freeman Diversion Facility Renovation Project.
• On April 1, 2025, the State Water Board issued a denial without prejudice of water quality certification for PG&E's Kerckhoff Hydroelectric Project
• On April 3, 2025, the State Water Board issued a Public Notice for Comment Period on Draft Water Quality Certification for the Anderson Dam Seismic Retrofit Project and License Exemption Surrender.
• On March 21, 2025, the State Water Board issued a Public Notice for the Potter Valley Project Article 52 Amendment Project.
• On February 12, 2025, the State Water Board issued a Public Notice for the Lower Blue Lake Dam Seepage Mitigation and Weir Replacement Project
• On February 4, 2025, the State Water Board issued a Public Notice for the Hell Hole Seasonal Storage Increase Project associated with the Middle Fork American River Project
• On January 27, 2025, the State Water Board issued a Public Notice for Coment Period on Draft Water Quality Certification for the Merced River Hydroelectric Project & Merced Falls Hydroelectric Project.
• On January 14, 2025, the State Water Board issued a Public Notice for the Poe Hydroelectric Project Amendment Request: Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Certification Condition 1 & 9.
• On January 10, 2025, the State Water Board issued a Public Notice for the Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project
• On January 9, 2025, the State Water Board issued a Public Notice for the Don Pedro Hydroelectric Project and La Grange Hydroelectric Project.

Useful Information

Water Quality Certification Program Overview

Application Form (under development)
This document is not yet available. Please use the Water Quality Application Form, or any of the Regional Water Quality Control Board application forms. Transmit the completed form with a cover letter requesting certification from the Division of Water Rights to:

• Eric Oppenheimer, Executive Director
  State Water Resource Control Board
  P.O. Box 2000
  Sacramento, CA 95812-2000

- Executed November 19, 2013
Pre-Application Coordination Activities between State Water Board and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Drought Information

• Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Letter to California Hydropower Licensees – February 6, 2014
  On February 6, 2014, FERC issued a letter offering assistance to California hydropower licensees during the 2014 drought. Additional information related to the State Water Board's drought activities can be found on the State Water Board's Drought Webpage.
• State Water Resources Control Board Letter to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Regarding Drought Assistance for California Hydropower Projects - March 11, 2014
• Response Letter from FERC regarding 2014 California Drought Issues – March 25, 2014
• Letter from California Energy Commission to Electricity Generation Owners - March 27, 2014

Petitions for Reconsideration (Petitions)

• Petitions shall be submitted in writing to and received by the State Water Board within 30 days of any action or failure to act taken by the Executive Director.  Petitions of water quality certifications and related environmental documents for projects handled by the Division of Water Rights (e.g., FERC hydropower projects, projects involving a diversion of water) should be submitted via email or hard copy, as follows:
  • E-mail to: WR401program@waterboards.ca.gov
  • Mail to: State Water Resources Control Board
    Division of Water Rights –  Water Quality Certification Program
    Attention: Parker Thaler, Program Manager
    1001 I Street Sacramento, CA 95812-2000
• Petitions shall meet the requirements outlined in California Code of Regulations, title 23, section 3867.

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

On November 19, 2013, the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) executed a MOU that covers coordination of pre-application activities between the two agencies.

• Executed Memorandum of Understanding – November 19, 2013

MOU Implementation

In accordance with the MOU, State Water Board and FERC staff meet semi-annually to discuss current and upcoming projects as they relate to MOU implementation (see MOU, page 5, item III). Water Quality Certification Dates for Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Hydropower Projects Undergoing Licensing (PDF) is updated semi-annually to provide project-related information for hydropower projects undergoing licensing by FERC.

MOU Development

• PowerPoint Presentation to Board: color | black and white – July 23, 2013
• Notice of Opportunity for Public Comment, June 10, 2013
  • Comments are due by Noon - July 8, 2013
    • California Department of Fish and Wildlife – July 1, 2013
    • California Department of Water Resources – July 5, 2013
    • California Hydropower Reform Coalition – July 8, 2013
    • City and County of San Francisco – July 8, 2013
    • Los Angeles Department of Water and Power – July 8, 2013
    • National Hydropower Association – July 8, 2013
    • Pacific Gas & Electric Company – July 5, 2013
      
• Draft Memorandum of Understanding, June 10, 2013