Public Records Requests
This page contains the key information needed to request access to public records maintained by the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (Regional Board).
The Regional Board maintains extensive public records going back decades concerning water quality, waste discharges, beneficial uses of water, and water quality regulatory programs in the Central Coast region. The public records created and received by the Regional Board in the course of administering California's water quality protection programs in our region are a vital resource. They serve to document the history of the Regional Board organization, a record of past events, and the basis for future actions.
Internet Access to Information
Before making a request for Regional Board public records, you may wish to determine if the information is already available online. Many of the Regional Board's records are readily available online for viewing or downloading at the following resources:
- GeoTracker - A database and geographic information system (GIS) that provides access to environmental data beginning in 1965, including: underground storage tanks (USTs), Department of Defense (DoD), Spills-Leaks-Investigations-Cleanups (SLIC), Landfills, The database also contains information about public drinking water wells.
- SMARTS - Provides a platform where dischargers, regulators, and the public can enter, manage, and view storm water data including permit registration documents, compliance, and monitoring data associated with California's Storm Water General Permits. Data begins in 2005.
- CIWQS - California Integrated Water Quality System is a computer system used by the State and Regional Water Quality Control Boards to track information about places of environmental interest, manage permits and other orders, track inspections, and manage violations and enforcement activities. Publicly available data, from about 1990 onward, includes reports on regulated facility ownership, applicable regulations, violations, monitoring, and enforcement as well as NPDES and sewer system spill reports.
- Board Information – Information concerning board members and executive officers; board meeting schedules, minutes, and archived recordings; and resolutions, permits, and waivers.
Submitting Public Records Requests
In the event that the records you are seeking are not available at the above resources, you can submit a request by email, post, or in-person. Note that, in order to ensure timely provision of requested records, all requests should be specific and focused so that identification, location, and retrieval of the records can be achieved without undue burden. Requests cannot interfere with ordinary business operations.
While many records can be transmitted electronically via email or FTP, in cases where in-person review is necessary or desired, we encourage you to make an appointment ahead of time. Appointments can be made by email, phone, or in-person and files can be reviewed at the Regional Board office weekdays from 8:30am to 4:30pm, excluding holidays.
Before submitting a request, we recommend reading the Water Board’s Public Records Act Guidelines
Requests for Public Records
Requests can be made by mail or email
Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board
Attention: File Review Request
895 Aerovista Place, Suite 101
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
