The California Water Boards' Annual Performance Report - Fiscal Year 2015-16
REGULATE: WATER QUALITY CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
GROUP:
401 Water Quality Certifications
MEASURE
1, 2
:
NUMBER OF PROJECTS REGULATED DURING FISCAL YEAR 2015-16
NUMBER APPLICATIONS RECEIVED DURING FISCAL YEAR 2015-16
MESSAGE:
The Water Quality Certification program regulated 4,622 active projects and received new 1,289 water quality certification applications during the fiscal year.
Key Statistics for FY 2015-16
Projects regulated statewide
4,622
Applications received statewide
1,289
MEASUREMENTS
- Data Last Updated on:
02-21-2017 (3:43 pm)
Region
Acres
Active Projects
Applications Received
1
12,443,367
590
145
2
2,892,908
868
267
3
7,355,824
373
92
4
2,848,718
343
61
5
37,980,338
1,284
306
6
20,986,959
302
81
7
12,712,384
99
17
8
1,791,532
397
113
9
2,484,354
337
179
SB
0
29
28
Statewide
101,496,384
4,622
1,289
WHAT THE MEASURE IS SHOWING
Statewide, staff regulated 4,622 active projects during the fiscal year and there were 1,289 new applications received. Staff review application information and consult with the applicant and other agencies to ensure project impacts are avoided and minimized to the greatest extent possible and to approve appropriate compensatory mitigation for unavoidable impacts.
WHY THIS MEASURE IS IMPORTANT
Dredge and fill projects are regulated from the start of project construction through the period of any required on-site monitoring to ensure permit compliance. Work associated with managing active projects includes (but is not limited to): approving mitigation plans, reviewing monitoring reports, conducting site inspections and potential enforcement actions. In addition to managing active projects, staff review certification applications. Each certification application represents a project with potential impacts to waters of the state.
TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS
Data Source: CIWQS. Period July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016.
Data Definitions:Measure 1: is the number of WQC Program regulatory measures active during any part of the fiscal year, regardless of the effective date of the certification. Measure 2: is the number of applications received during the fiscal year. Both measures 1 & 2 are for all permit types: individual 401, WDR, and general order enrollees.
401 Water Quality Certification and Wetlands Program
The State and Regional Water Boards issue water quality certifications for projects that may discharge dredged or fill material into a waterbody. The 401 Water Quality Certification and Wetlands Program protects all California surface waters, but has special responsibility for wetlands, riparian areas, and headwaters because these waterbodies have high resource value, are vulnerable to filling, and are not systematically protected by other programs.
Application
Those seeking a water quality certification file an application with the appropriate regional board, depending on project location.
CIWQS
The California Integrated Water Quality System (CIWQS) is a web-based relational database for core regulatory data. Using this system, both staff and the public can access data related to places of environmental interest, permits and other orders, inspections and violations and enforcement activities.
Discharge of Dredge Material
Discharge of Dredged Material means addition of dredged material, material that is excavated or dredged from waters of the state, including redeposit of dredged material other than incidental fallback within, to the waters of state.
Discharge of Fill Material
Means the addition of fill material has the effect of replacing any portion of a water of the state with dry land or changing the bottom elevation of any portion of a water of the state.
Executive Order W-59-93, commonly referred to as California's "no let loss" policy for wetlands.
In accordance with Executive Order W-59-93, the Water Quality Certification Program works to ensure that the Water Board's regulation of dredge and fill activities will be conducted in a manner "to ensure no overall net loss and long-term net gain in the quantity, quality, and performance of wetlands acreage and values." The Water Boards are committed to increasing the quantity, quality, and diversity of wetlands that qualify as waters of the state.
Regulatory Timeclocks
According to state and federal regulation the following regulatory time clocks apply: 30 days-Within 30 days of receipt Water Board staff deem an application complete or incomplete. 60 days-Once an application has been approved, Water Board staff have 60 days to certify the project or ask for a time extension from the United States Army Corps of Engineers. 180 days-Water Board staff must certify or deny a project within 180 days after the latest of two events: issuance of a complete application, or 180 days from a lead agency CEQA determination.
Water Quality Certification Program Goals
Goal 1: To provide efficient, reliable and consistent service to the public Goal 2: To protect the functions and beneficial uses of waters from dredge and fill/excavation activities Goal 3: To ensure dredge and fill/excavation activities do not cause net loss of wetlands
