The California Water Boards' Annual Performance Report - Fiscal Year 2009-10

ALLOCATE: POLICIES AND PERMITS

MEASUREMENTS

Statewide Policy Instream Flow Policy (AB 2121)

WHY THIS MEASURE IS IMPORTANT

While California's diverse geography, landscape, population, social, cultural, and economic conditions and issues are mostly addressed by the Regional Water Boards' individual water quality protection efforts, such as through basin planning and permitting, there is also a need for policy and permitting on a statewide basis. Statewide policies and permits adopted by the State Water Board address concerns and issues for surface waters and groundwaters that overlap Regional Water Board boundaries, are statewide in scope, or are otherwise considered significant on a statewide level. By adopting statewide policies and permits to address specific issues, in lieu of each Regional Water Board taking action individually, the State Water Board helps to promote effectiveness, efficiency, and appropriate consistency. Consistency in policies and permits helps to ensure that stakeholders receive equitable treatment, clearly understand requirements, and work towards common water quality and water rights goals.

Statewide Policies

The State Water Board adopts overarching policies to provide guidance and a framework from which the Regional Water Boards can appropriately tailor their actions for their regions. The State Water Board has developed and adopted a number of statewide policies to help guide the Water Boards planning and permitting processes. Statewide plans, adopted by the State Water Board, and regional water quality control plans (basin plans), adopted by the Regional Water Boards, must adhere to statewide policies. Policies have the force and effect of regulation, and are subject to approval by the Office of Administrative Law. In addition, state policies that implement water quality standards must be approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Instream Flow Policy (AB 2121)

On May 4, 2010, the State Water Board adopted a policy for water quality control titled Policy for Maintaining Instream Flows in Northern California Coastal Streams. The policy contains principles and guidelines for maintaining instream flows for the purposes of water right administration. The geographic scope of the policy encompasses coastal streams from the Mattole River to San Francisco and coastal streams entering northern San Pablo Bay and extends to five counties: Marin, Sonoma, and portions of Napa, Mendocino, and Humboldt counties. For more information.

( Updated 9/20/11 )