The Gualala River Sediment TMDL Action Plan was adopted to achieve the necessary sediment load reductions by requiring land managers and regulated entities to follow proven practices that limit runoff from roads, timber operations, and other land‑use activities. The program of implementation relies on existing permits and regulatory frameworks already in place across the watershed, while developing a new roads‑focused permit to address remaining regulatory gaps. By building on long‑standing programs and decades of on‑the‑ground experience, the Action Plan ensures consistent, effective sediment control. The following table lists the programs and links to associated webpages that support this implementation framework.

Permit	Responsible Party and Covered Activity
Timber Harvest WDRs and Waiver	Industrial and non-industrial timber harvests with active THPs on non-federal lands
5C Waiver	Sonoma County and Mendocino County road maintenance and construction
Caltrans Stormwater Permit	Caltrans-owned roads and infrastructure
Construction Stormwater	Parties and projects disturbing >= 1 acre of land
401 Certification	Parties and activities within or adjacent to waters of the State
Vineyard Order	Parties and activities with sediment discharge related to vineyard cultivation
Private Rural Roads Order(s)*	Private landowners with rural roads, including timber roads outside of enrolled timber harvest plans

 

 

• Gualala River Watershed Technical Support Document for the TMDL for Sediment
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December 4, 2026 – Public Workshop to consider Resolution No. R1-2025-0055 

The public meeting to consider this adoption was originally scheduled for December 4, 2025. However, government code section 11123.2 requires a majority of Regional Water Board members to be physically present at Board meetings in order to adopt official decisions of the Board. A quorum of the Board was not present at the Regional Water Board office in Santa Rosa for the December 4, 2025 Board Meeting. As a result, no action was taken to adopt the Action Plan for the Gualala River Sediment TMDL. Instead, staff provided an informational update at that public meeting, during which Board members and the public were invited to ask questions and offer verbal remarks. The agenda and associated documents can be viewed at here: https://waterboards.ca.gov/northcoast/board_info/board_meetings/12_2025/index.html

July 11 – August 25, 2025 – Public Comment Period

The 45-day public comment and review period for the draft Action Plan for the Gualala River Sediment TMDL and draft Staff Report Supporting the Gualala River Sediment TMDL Action Plan ended on August 25, 2025. A public workshop was held on August 14, 2025. Relevant documents can be found below:

• Notice of Public Comment Opportunity, Board Workshop, and Public Hearing to Consider Adoption of a Basin Plan Amendment Regarding the Action Plan for the Gualala River Sediment Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)
• Draft Action Plan for the Gualala River Sediment TMDL
• Draft Staff Report Supporting the Gualala River Sediment TMDL Action Plan
• Appendix A: Gualala River Total Maximum Daily Load for Sediment
• Appendix B: Gualala River Watershed Technical Support Document for Sediment
• Appendix C: Gualala River Sediment TMDL Action Plan California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Draft Environmental Checklist
• Appendix D: External Peer Review Exemption for Gualala River Sediment TMDL Action Plan
• Appendix E: Gualala River Watershed Monitoring Data Assessment
• Public Workshop Presentation
• Response to Public Comments
• Public comments (available upon request):
  • California Licensed Foresters Association, 8/15/2025
• Sonoma County Farm Bureau, 8/21/2025
• Eva Lopez, 8/16/2025
• California Native Plant Society, 8/25/2025
• Forest Landowners of California, 8/25/2025
• Gualala Redwood Timber, 8/25/2025

May 24 – July 8, 2024 – 45 Day CEQA Scoping

The North Coast Water Board hosted two public California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) scoping meetings for the Gualala River TMDL Action Plan during the public scoping period. The first meeting was online on Monday June 3, 2024, and the second meeting was in-person on Wednesday June 5, 2024.

• Gualala River Sediment TMDL Action Plan CEQA Scoping Meeting Notice
• Gualala River Sediment TMDL CEQA Draft Environmental Checklist
• CEQA Scoping Public Meeting Presentation
• Public comments (available upon request):
• California Forestry Association, 7/8/2024
• Friends of the Gualala, 7/8/2024
• Gualala Redwood Timber, 7/8/2024
• Zoe Smith, 7/8/2024
• Michael Baroni, 6/7/2024

Quarterly Project Status Updates

• January 2025 Project Status Update
• October 2024 Project Status Update
• July 2024 Project Status Update
• April 2024 Project Status Update
• January 2024 Project Status Update
• October 2023 Project Status Update