Plans and Policies
An overview of California’s water quality control plans and state policies for water quality control may be found in California’s continuing planning process report, which is periodically submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
- Continuing Planning Process (CPP) Report (May 2001)
Quick Links
Plans
- Water Quality Control Plan for Enclosed Bays and Estuaries of California – Part 1 Sediment Quality effective August 25, 2009
- California Ocean Plan
- California Thermal Plan - Water Quality Control Plan for Control of Temperature in the Coastal and Interstate Waters and Enclosed Bays and Estuaries of California
- San Francisco Bay/Sacramento - San Joaquin Delta Estuary Water Quality Control Plan, December 13, 2006; Approved by OAL on June 27, 2007
- Appendix I - Plan Amendment Report
- Appendix II - Referenced Documents
- Appendix III - Response to Comment
- Regional Board Water Quality Control Plans (Basin Plans)
- (1) North Coast Region Basin Plan
- (2) San Francisco Bay Region Basin Plan
- (3) Central Coast Region Basin Plan
- (4) Los Angeles Region Basin Plan
- (5) Central Valley Region Basin Plan
- (6) Lahontan Region Basin Plan
- (7) Colorado River Basin Region Basin Plan
- (8) Santa Ana Region Basin Plan
- (9) San Diego Region Basin Plan
Policies
- Water Quality Enforcement Policy
Resolution adopted on November 17, 2009, Effective 5/20/10 - Supplemental Environmental Project Policy
Resolution Adopted on February 3, 2009, Effective 9/15/09 - Recycled Water - Adoption of a Policy for Water Quality Control
Resolution adopted on February 3, 2009, Effective 5/14/09 - Compliance Schedules in National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permits Policy
Resolution adopted on April 15, 2008, Effective 12/17/08 - Addressing Impaired Waters: Regulatory Structure and Options -Water Quality Control Policy
June 15, 2005, Adopted by Resolution 2005-0050, Approved by OAL 4/10/06 - Developing California's Clean Water Act Section 303(d) List - Water Quality Control Policy
Adopted September 30, 2004, Approved by OAL 12/13/04 - Implementation and Enforcement of the Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Program
Dated May 20, 2004; Approved by OAL 8/26/04 - NPS Program Plan - California's Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Program
- Implementation of Toxics Standards for Inland Surface Waters, Enclosed Bays, and Estuaries of California Policy - As amended February 24, 2005, Approved by OAL 5/31/06
- Guidance on Development of Regional Toxic Hot Spot Cleanup Plans-Water Quality Control Policy Adopted on September 2, 1998, Approved by OAL 11/9/98
- Policies and Procedures for Investigation and Cleanup and Abatement of Discharges Under Water Code Section 13304
- Resolution 92-0049, Adopted June 18, 1992 and disapproved by OAL September 1993
- Resolution 96-0079, Amended October 2, 1996 and approved by OAL January 13, 1997
- Enclosed Bays and Estuaries of California-Water Quality Control Policy - Resolutions 74-43 and 95-84
As amended November 16, 1995, Approved by OAL 3/5/96 - Regulation of Discharges of Municipal Solid Waste Policy - Resolutions 93-62 and 2005-58
As amended July 21, 2005, Approved by OAL 10/4/05 - Pollutant Policy Document for the San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Estuary - Resolution 90-67 - Adopted June 21, 1990
- Introduction
- Table of Contents
- 1.0 Executive Summary
- 2.0 Pollutant Sources and Loadings Identified in the San Francisco Bay-Delta
- 3.0 Problem Assessment
- 4.0 Recommended Pollutant Policy Actions
- 5.0 Bay - Delta Pollutant Monitoring and Assessment Program
- 6.0 References
- Sources of Drinking Water Policy - Resolution 88-63
Amended February 1, 2006, Approved by OAL 4/24/06 - Use and Disposal of Inland Waters Used for Powerplant Cooling -Water Quality Control Policy - Resolution 75-58 - Adopted June 19, 1975
- Regarding Water Reclamation Policy - Resolution 77-1 - Adopted January 6, 1977
- Maintaining High Quality Water - Resolution 68-16 - Adopted October 24, 1968
Policies Under Development
- Biological Objectives
- Proposed Revision to the Bacterial Standards for Water Contact in Fresh Waters of California.
- Notice of Public Scoping Meetings, Oct. 6 and 22, 2008
- Informational Document
- Updates - To receive updates by e-mail regarding the proposed revision to the Bacterial Standards for Water Contact Recreation in Fresh Waters of California, subscribe on-line to the "Bacterial Standards Rec-1 Waters" mailing list
- Public Comments
- Proposed Wetlands and Riparian Area Protection Policy (WRAPP)
- Proposed Water Quality Control Policy on the Use of Coastal and Estuarine Waters for Power Plant Cooling (March 2008)
- Notice of Public Scoping Meetings, May 8 and 13, 2008
- Scoping Document (March 2008)
- Proposed State Policy for Water Quality Control, San Francisco Bay, Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta and Tributaries Mercury Discharge Offset Policy (1/5/07)
- Notice of Public Scoping Meeting, February 20, 2007
- Public Comments
- Informational Document
- Proposed Methylmercury Water Quality Objectives (1/5/07)
- Notice of Public Scoping Meeting, February 20, 2007
- Public Comments
- Informational Document
- Proposed Total Residual Chlorine and Chlorine-Produced Oxidants Policy of California (6/1/05)