Tribal and Subsistence Fishing Beneficial Uses

On May 2, 2017, the State Water Resources Control Board adopted Resolution 2017-0027, which approved the "Tribal and Subsistence Fishing Beneficial Uses and Mercury Provisions”. Resolution 2017-0027 established new beneficial use definitions for use by the State and Regional Water Boards that include Tribal Tradition and Culture (CUL), Tribal Subsistence Fishing (T-SUB) and Subsistence (SUB) beneficial uses. These beneficial uses are meant to protect water quality in waterbodies where activities specific to Native American culture and subsistence fishing occur, including practices not covered by existing beneficial uses. For Tribal Beneficial Uses (TBUs) to be memorialized in a region and for waterbodies to be protected, a Regional Water Board needs to complete one or more Basin Plan Amendment processes to incorporate the definitions for the TBUs into the region’s Basin Plan and to designate waterbodies with the TBUs.

General information regarding Tribal Beneficial Uses is available on the State Water Board Tribal Affairs website.

Information about the Lahontan Water Board's Tribal Beneficial Uses effort is available in a Fact Sheet

Mono Basin Tribal Beneficial Uses Designation Project

The Lahontan Water Board is in the process of developing a Basin Plan amendment to designate Tribal Beneficial Uses to waterbodies in the Mono Basin.

Mono Basin Tribal Beneficial Uses Designation Project Announcements and Documents

• CANCELLED Notice of Adoption Meeting for an Amendment to the Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region to Designate Tribal Beneficial Uses in the Mono Basin (9/26/24)
• Draft Staff Report/Substitute Environmental Document for Amendments to the Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region (3/15/24)
• Draft Basin Plan Amendment to Designate Tribal Beneficial Uses in the Mono Basin (3/15/2024)
• Notice of Public Hearing and Notice of Filing and Opportunity to Comment on an Amendment to the Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region to Designate Tribal Beneficial Uses in the Mono Basin (2/29/24)
• Notice of CEQA Scoping Meeting on February 9, 2023
• CEQA Scoping Meeting Video

Tribal Beneficial Use Designations Outside of the Mono Basin

Lahontan Water Board staff are also working with Tribes on TBU designations for waterbodies in the Lahontan Region outside of the Mono Basin. These efforts are still early in the process.

Tribal Cultural, Tribal Subsistence Fishing and Subsistence Fishing Beneficial Uses Definitions Basin Plan Amendment

The Lahontan Water Board completed a Basin Plan Amendment process to add the definitions for the Tribal Beneficial Uses to the Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region. Documents related to this action are provided below.

• U.S. EPA Letter acknowledging non-substantive Basin Plan updates – (December 1, 2021) – for an electronic copy contact Daniel Sussman
• Office of Administrative Law Approval - (September 22, 2021) – for an electronic copy contact Daniel Sussman
• State Water Board Resolution No. 2021-0017 (May 18, 2021)
• State Water Board May 18, 2021 Meeting Agenda and Materials
• Final Amendment to Chapter 2 of the Basin Plan
• Final Resolution R6T-2020-0057
• Final Staff Report
• Lahontan Water Board September 16, 2020 Meeting Agenda and Materials