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Temperature Policy Amendment
Approved Amendment
The revision of Chapter 4 of the Basin Plan to incorporate a Temperature Implementation Policy and TMDL Action Plans for the Mattole, Navarro, and Eel Rivers has been approved by Office of Administrative Law and is now in effect.
- July 18, 2016 - Approved by the Office of Administrative Law (OAL).
- April 8, 2015 - Approved by the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board)
- March 13, 2014 - Approved by the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (Regional Water Board)
Background
The Regional Water Board directed staff to prepare an amendment incorporating a temperature implementation policy into the Basin Plan by adoption of resolution R1-2012-0013.
The Basin Plan amendment describes the approach to implementing the interstate water quality objective for temperature in one cohesive policy. It identifies the regulatory mechanisms staff employ to ensure achievement of the water quality objective for temperature, it describes the significance of stream shade as a factor determining stream temperatures, and it directs staff to address temperature concerns through existing authorities and processes.
The Basin Plan amendment also establishes implementation plans for the Navarro, Mattole, Upper Main Eel, Middle Main Eel, Lower Eel, Middle Fork Eel, North Fork Eel, and South Fork Eel River temperature total maximum daily loads.
Regional Water Board Documents
The Regional Water Board adopted the Policy and Action Plans with minor revisions at a public hearing during the Regional Water Board's March 13, 2014 meeting in Santa Rosa, California. The documents below are the final versions incorporating the minor revisions. The proposed Basin Plan amendment will be heard by the State Water Resources Control Board at a time to be announced in the future. The proposed Basin Plan amendment will be incorporated into the Basin Plan following approvals by the State Water Board, Office of Administrative Law, and the USEPA.
March 13, 2014 Public Hearing Materials
The Regional Water Board considered the Policy and Action Plans at a public hearing during the Regional Water Board's November 20, 2013 meeting in Santa Rosa, California. The Regional Water Board deferred action at that time and directed staff to define the term "site potential effective shade" and clarify the concept, with particular discussion of how the concept is applied and assessed. Staff have developed additional material in response to the Regional Water Board's direction, which are now available for review.
Additional Materials:
There is no public comment period associated with the additional materials, however interested parties can provide comment at the March 13, 2014 public hearing.
November 20, 2013 Public Hearing Materials
The following documents were considered by the Regional Water Board at the November 20, 2013 public hearing:
Public Review Drafts (comment period closed)
Public Review Draft Staff Report Supporting the Policy for the Implementation of the Water Quality Objectives for Temperature and Action Plan to Address Temperature Impairment in the Mattole River Watershed, Action Plan to Address Temperature Impairment in the Navarro River Watershed, and Action Plan to Address Temperature Impairment in the Eel River Watershed, August 30, 2013. (Public Review Draft Staff Report)
Individual Sections of the Public Review Draft Staff Report for ease of downloading:
Draft Basin Plan Amendment Language:
The Draft Policy above incorporates Resolution R1-2012-0013, which was adopted on January 19, 2012, and is not subject to comment.
Peer Review
Peer Review Request for Reviewers, and Approvals
- Summary of TMDL Summary and Implementation Framework and Basin Plan Amendment of Beneficial Uses
- Description of Assertions, Findings, and Conclusions to be Addressed by Peer Reviewers
- List of Participants
Peer Reviewers' Curriculum Vitae
- Mark T. Stacey, Ph.D., Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720
- John C. Stella, Ph.D., Department of Forest and natural Resources Management, State University of New York, Syracuse, New York 13210
- Sally E. Thompson, Ph.D., Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720
Documents Peer Reviewed
Peer Review
Response to Peer Review
