Water Accomplishments and Priorities 2001 Cal/EPA Report

The mission of the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) is to preserve and enhance the quality of California's water resources and ensure their proper allocation and efficient use for the benefit of present and future generations.

Water rights focus on the equitable allocation of water for urban, agricultural and environmental interests. Water rights activities and decisions are of paramount importance to all of California. SWRCB and Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) staffs have pursued efforts on several fronts during this period as follows:

1. Bay-Delta Program: SWRCB held a series of workshops, the Phase 8 portion of the Bay-Delta hearings, to determine responsibilities of Sacramento River Basin water right holders. The operators of the state and federal projects reached an agreement with the Sacramento Basin and project contractors that the operators would assume responsibility for Bay-Delta standards compliance while the parties identify and implement projects to increase the Sacramento Basin yield. Should cooperative efforts falter, the project operators will request the SWRCB to reactivate its hearings.

2. Yuba River: SWRCB adopted Order 1644 on March 1, 2001, establishing fishery flows, temperature control efforts, and diversion system improvements. This action was the result of thirteen years of efforts and implemented public trust protections for flows and fishery protection.

3. Delta Wetlands: SWRCB adopted Decision 1643 on February 15, 2001, and issued a permit for the proposed project that will flood two islands in the Delta during the rainy season and store the water for use later during low times, thus protecting Bay-Delta ecosystems.

4. Water Rights Workshops and Workgroups: Workgroups were convened and a consultant retained to investigate and report on the SWRCB's role in the permitting of appropriations from subterranean streams. SWRCB also conducted workshops to develop ways to streamline the water rights application process. A final report is scheduled to be produced for the spring of 2002.

1. Bay-Delta Program: SWRCB will closely monitor the progress of the parties to the Sacramento Basin settlement agreement. Staff will also review the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) developed to support SWRCB's actions and develop a plan for its ultimate revision to support any necessary future actions.

2. Westlands Water District (WWD): Westlands submitted a petition and an application to appropriate 750,000 acre-feet of water from the San Joaquin River. The Division of Water Rights denied the petition and the application is proceeding. The water that Westlands seeks to appropriate is currently a supply source for the Friant Dam Project. Westlands will be instructed to attempt to settle unresolved protests and to prepare the required EIR.

3. Imperial Irrigation District (IID)/San Diego County Water Authority: IID and San Diego County Water Authority are proposing a long-term transfer of water from IID to San Diego, using the conveyance systems belonging to the Metropolitan Water District. Completion of an EIR by IID is taking longer than originally anticipated. Completion is now scheduled for fall of 2001, and will likely delay any SWRCB action on the matter until 2002.

4. Imperial Irrigation District (IID)/San Diego County Water Authority: IID and San Diego County Water Authority are proposing a long-term transfer of water from IID to San Diego, using the conveyance systems belonging to the Metropolitan Water District. Completion of an EIR by IID is taking longer than originally anticipated. Completion is now scheduled for fall of 2001, and will likely delay any SWRCB action on the matter until 2002.

Bacteria from storm water runoff, urban runoff, sewage spills and other unknown sources have caused periodic closures of many Southern California beaches. While beach closures serve to protect public health, significant losses occur with respect to recreational, social and economic aspects of the region. With the objective of eliminating beach closures, SWRCB and RWQCB staffs have pursued efforts on several fronts during this period as follows (also see storm water permits below):

1. Clean Beach Initiative: Update to include budget action. Through the Governor’s Office, the SWRCB and Cal/EPA developed a Clean Beaches Initiative. The Initiative will coordinate regulatory, public outreach, education and financial assistance activities to further the protection of coastal waters. A Clean Beaches Coordinator was hired to coordinate actions of different programs within the SWRCB and RWQCB that have a role in reducing bacterial contamination of beaches.

2. Beach Data System: SWRCB and a consortium of local, state, and federal agencies have developed a pilot data collection and reporting system to interconnect laboratories, public health departments, regional and state boards, and U.S. EPA. This will reduce the amount of effort required by the counties to report on beach conditions and will allow public reporting of current beach conditions. The pilot database will be housed at the Los Angeles Regional Board Web server.

3. Source Investigations of Storm Drains: A report was prepared and submitted to the State Legislature in April 2001. The report will allow SWRCB and RWQCB and the public to identify key sources of contamination.

1. Bacteria Objectives: The Los Angeles Region Board plans to hold a public hearing to consider modification of the region’s bacteria objectives. The proposed change would make the region’s bacteria objectives consistent with those of the U.S. EPA and with legislatively mandated beach closure requirements.

2. Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL): TMDL's provide a means of restoring the health of the State's 509 listed impaired surface waters. The TMDL process involves identifying and addressing all sources of a specific pollutant causing impairments of beneficial uses. Ultimately, each pollutant source is allocated a daily permissible discharge loading. Diverse interests in a watershed are involved in drafting and negotiating TMDLs. The following highlights the most significant activities during this period:

TMDL's provide a means of restoring the health of the State's 509 listed impaired surface waters. The TMDL process involves identifying and addressing all sources of a specific pollutant causing impairments of beneficial uses. Ultimately, each pollutant source is allocated a daily permissible discharge loading. Diverse interests in a watershed are involved in drafting and negotiating TMDLs. The following highlights the most significant activities during this period:

1. San Lorenzo River, Morro Bay, Salinas River, Pajaro River, Chorro Creek, Las Tablas Creek and San Luis Obispo Creek Watersheds: The Central Coast Regional Board staff completed implementation and monitoring plans for the Siltation TMDL for Morro Bay Watershed, the Nutrient TMDL for Morro Bay Watershed, the Mercury TMDL for Las Tablas Creek and the Siltation TMDL for San Lorenzo River Watershed. These TMDLs have been prepared with ongoing input from stakeholders and technical advisory review. Staff also initiated stakeholder involvement and completed preliminary components (Problem Statements, Numeric Targets and/or Source Analysis) for the Nutrient TMDL for San Luis Obispo Creek, the Pathogen TMDL for the Morro Bay Watershed, the Nutrient TMDL for Pajaro River Watershed, and the Siltation TMDL for the Salinas River Watershed.

2. Los Angeles River: The Los Angeles Regional Board adopted a Trash TMDL Basin Plan amendment for the Los Angeles River on January 25, 2001. Los Angeles County, through the Municipal Storm water System and the California Department of Transportation will be responsible for implementing the TMDL. The TMDL establishes a baseline for trash loadings, and then reduces these loads by ten percent a year for ten years.

3. Ballona Creek: The Los Angeles Regional Board released a draft Basin Plan amendment for a trash TMDL in Ballona Creek on March 9, 2001.

4. Heavenly Valley Creek, Haiwee Reservoir and Indian Creek Reservoir: The Lahontan Regional Board adopted a Basin Plan amendment that included a TMDL for Heavenly Valley Creek and completed and transmitted to U.S. EPA, technical TMDLs for Haiwee Reservoir and Indian Creek Reservoir.

1. San Lorenzo River, Morro Bay, Chorro Creek, Las Tablas Creek, and San Luis Obispo Creek Watersheds: The Central Coast Regional Board will consider delisting for Metals in Chorro Creek and Priority Organics in San Luis Obispo Creek. Staff will complete Basin Plan Amendment documents, in preparation for Regional Board hearings, for the Siltation TMDL for Morro Bay Watershed, the Nutrient TMDL for Morro Bay Watershed, the Mercury TMDL for Las Tablas Creek and the Siltation TMDL for San Lorenzo River Watershed. Additionally, staff will complete the Pathogen TMDL (with implementation and monitoring plan) for Morro Bay Estuary, and the Nutrient TMDL (with implementation and monitoring plan) for San Luis Obispo Creek.

2. Santa Clara River, Santa Monica Bay, Ballona Creek: The Los Angeles Regional Board will consider Basin Plan amendments for chlorides in the Santa Clara River and Calleguas Creek, pathogens in Santa Monica Bay, pathogens and nutrients in the Los Angeles River; and trash in Ballona Creek.

3. New River, Alamo River and the Salton Sea: The Colorado River Basin Regional Board will consider for adoption a pathogen and a sedimentation/siltation TMDL for the New River and a sedimentation/siltation TMDL for the Alamo River. These will be Basin Plan Amendments. Other TMDLs under development include a nutrient TMDL for the Salton Sea and pathogen and bacteria TMDLs for the Palo Verde Outfall.

4. Chollas and Rainbow Creeks, Shelter Island Yacht Harbor: The San Diego Regional Board will consider Basin Plan amendments to implement TMDLs for diazinon in Chollas Creek and nutrients in Rainbow Creek. The San Diego Regional Board will also consider Basin Plan amendments to implement TMDLs for metals in Chollas Creek and copper in the Shelter Island Yacht Harbor area of San Diego Bay.

5. Sacramento, Feather and San Joaquin Rivers, Clear Lake: The Central Valley Regional Board is developing a TMDL for organophosphorus pesticides in the Sacramento River, Feather River, San Joaquin River and Delta. A draft target report has been prepared and preliminary source analysis completed. A pesticide focus group has completed a draft management strategy to reduce levels of diazinon entering the Sacramento and Feather Rivers. Draft technical reports have also been completed for the Clear Lake Mercury TMDL and the Upper Sacramento River TMDL.

6. Central Valley: RWQCB will conduct a workshop to review the policy of waiving waste discharge requirements for irrigation return waters, which could potentially impact most of the irrigated agriculture in the Central Valley. SWRCB has received a Petition requesting rescission of this waiver policy. The workshop will review alternatives to regulating agricultural return waters, and allow comment from interested parties.

7. Haiwee Reservoir and Indian Creek Reservoir: The Lahontan Regional Board will prepare and circulate draft Basin Plan amendments that will include a plan to implement the technical TMDLs for Haiwee Reservoir and Indian Creek Reservoir.

8. San Diego Creek and Newport Bay: Santa Ana Regional Board staff substantially completed draft technical TMDLs for diazinon, chlorpyrifos and selenium for San Diego Creek and Newport Bay. Staff’s efforts complement those of U.S. EPA, which will be completing technical TMDLs for other toxic substances in Newport Bay by early 2002, as required by a consent decree. Staff will also make progress on implementation plans and in incorporating the TMDLs into the Basin Plan.

9. Newport Bay TMDL: Santa Ana Regional Board staff expects to complete TMDL development efforts for diazinon, chlorpyrifos and selenium for San Diego Creek and Newport Bay. The technical TMDLs will include basic elements and staff also expects to make significant progress on implementation plans for the TMDLs and incorporation of the TMDLs into the Basin Plan. Staff’s efforts complement those of U.S. EPA, which will be completing technical TMDLs for other toxic substances in Newport Bay by early 2002, as required by a consent decree.

Roughly 40 percent of the state's drinking water comes from groundwater resources. These resources are threatened by a legacy of problems associated with past practices of handling materials and wastes. The most prevalent problems include leaking underground storage tanks containing fuel or solvents and the disposal of spent chemicals. Containment and cleanup of groundwater contaminants, improvements in waste and material handling practices, the use of graphical information systems and deploying the best science available are all components of the state's groundwater protection program. The following highlights the most significant activities during this period:

1. MTBE: The regional boards and local agencies prioritized over 5,000 MTBE release sites within the framework proposed in the Guidelines. The Los Angeles and San Diego Regional Boards have begun implementing the SWRCB’s Final Draft MTBE Guidelines for the Investigation and Cleanup of MTBE and other oxygenates. Additionally, in the Los Angeles Region, an aquifer remediation system was constructed and pilot testing completed in the City of Santa Monica’s Arcadia well field. Once permitted, the treated water from the well field will be routed to the City of Santa Monica treatment plant and blended with other water. This will return the Arcadia well field to full use as a domestic water supply for the City of Santa Monica. The Santa Ana Regional Board required ARCO, Texaco and Tosco Corporation to conduct a combined regional hydrologic investigation to define the extent of MTBE in the City of Anaheim’s municipal wells. This work will assist in understanding environmental conditions and protecting other municipal water supply wells in the area.

2. Chromium 6, San Fernando Valley and Central and West Coast Groundwater Basins: The Los Angeles Regional Board identified 252 suspected chromium 6 sites; 172 have been sent chemical use questionnaires (80 property owners have not been identified). The Los Angeles Regional Board identified and is working on 13 chromium 6-affected sites.

3. Leaking Underground Storage Tanks (LUST) Regulations: SWQCB adopted regulations requiring enhanced leak detection for Underground Storage Tanks (USTs) with a single-wall component that are located within 1,000 feet of a public water supply well. Regulations became effective May 14, 2001. SWQCB also adopted emergency regulations requiring responsible parties to submit electronically, the sampling results of monitoring well analyses at leaking UST sites.

4. Unocal Guadalupe Oil Field: Under the direction of the Central Coast Regional Board, Unocal completed the beach phase of its cleanup at the former Guadalupe oil field in San Luis Obispo County. The cleanup involved excavation of about 300,000 cubic yards of soil saturated with petroleum products. These spills were in close proximity to surface waters and had caused or threatened to cause releases of petroleum products to the Santa Maria River and the ocean. Cleanup of other parts of the oil field continues.

5. San Gabriel Valley Groundwater: The Los Angeles Regional Board issued four additional Cleanup and Abatement Orders (CAOs) for the Baldwin Park Operable Unit. The CAOs primarily address chlorinated compounds, perchlorate, 1,4-dioxane, N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), and heavy metals in soils. In addition, 90 chemical use questionnaires were mailed to various businesses in the Alhambra Operable Unit. These questionnaires are used to identify potential sources of chlorinated compounds that have affected underlying groundwater.

6. Santa Rosa TCE and PCE contaminations: The North Coast Regional Board used Cleanup and Abatement Account funds to address tetrachloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE) contamination in three Santa Rosa neighborhoods. The funds were used for sampling wells, soil-gas monitoring, monitoring indoor air quality, conducting investigation, providing wellhead treatment systems, conducting public health outreach, and connecting residents with contaminated wells to city water.

7. Cleanups for Napa River Flood Control Project: In February 2001, the San Francisco Regional Board staff conditionally approved a cleanup plan for petroleum-impacted sites near the Napa River. The San Francisco Regional Board is scheduled to consider issuing final site cleanup requirements to the Napa County flood control agency and other responsible parties in June 2001.

8. Onsite wastewater disposal systems: In February, the Los Angeles Regional Board adopted General Waste Discharge Requirements for small commercial and multifamily residential subsurface sewage disposal systems. The General Requirements allow dischargers to enroll in the permit rather than seeking an individual permit. The requirements apply to small commercial and multifamily sewage disposal systems with a maximum average daily flow of 20,000 gallons.

The SWQCB will investigate the prevalence of hexavalent chromium pollution in municipal water wells throughout the State. SWQCB hopes to expand the existing information base to include small wells across the State and to undertake preliminary site characterization at two “worst-case” sites; one each in the Los Angeles and Central Valley Regions. Contractors for these two objectives should be selected by December 31, 2001.
The Los Angeles Regional Board is working with the Water Replenishment District to identify sources of chromium 6 that have affected water supply wells near the cities of South Gate, Bell Gardens and Cudahy.
The Lahontan Regional Board is requiring PG&E to further identify the extent of the chromium 6 plume under the San Bernardino town of Hinkley. Additionally, the Lahontan Regional Board will be sampling some private wells near the existing plume to support the public health assessment being conducted by the State Department of Health Services.

2. MTBE Sampling at Operating Stations: San Francisco Regional Board staff will review results of groundwater MTBE sampling at up to 40 operating gas stations in Santa Clara Valley and will require appropriate follow up actions if MTBE is detected. This activity is being closely coordinated with the Santa Clara Valley Water District and the SWQCB’s Underground Storage Tank leak detection unit.

3. Electronic Reporting and Geotracker: SWQCB will implement an electronic reporting program for sampling results of monitoring wells at leaking UST sites. Electronic data will be stored in Geotracker, the SWQCB's Internet accessible database with a geographic information system interface www.swrcb.ca.gov. All regional boards will have online access to Geotracker. Regional board caseworkers will be better able to track and manage UST cases as well as identify nearby public supply wells which may be threatened by a UST release.

4. Leaking Underground Storage Tank Regulations (LUST): SWQCB will notify owners of UST facilities with single-wall components within 1,000 feet of a public water supply well of enhanced leak detection requirements. SWQCB adopted emergency regulations in April 2001 requiring responsible parties to electronically submit the sampling results of monitoring well analyses at LUST sites, initiated a field-based research program to test upgraded underground storage tanks, and completed initial testing in one of six areas in the state.

5. Rail Spur in East Palo Alto: San Francisco Regional Board staff will review spring 2001 soil sampling results to determine what additional investigation and cleanup is needed to address arsenic contamination in shallow soils along an abandoned rail spur located adjacent to about 100 single-family homes. SWQCB may issue an enforcement order if additional work is necessary.

6. Unocal Avila Beach: The Central Coast Regional Board is working with Unocal to determine the human health and ecological risks posed by petroleum products remaining in the subtidal area of Avila Beach. The effort includes a report on coastal processes that could potentially mobilize the contamination. SWQCB will make a determination on whether or not cleanup is required by the end of the year.

7. NPDES General Permit for Groundwater Cleanups: San Francisco Regional Board staff will circulate a draft updated NPDES general permit for underground fuel storage tank cleanup discharges. The draft will propose modifications to address new permitting requirements and fuel oxygenates

Water Quality Control Plans provide the blueprint or general plan for achieving water quality goals and objectives for the State’s waters. These plans are the basis for the permitting of discharges to the state’s waters. Typically, plans define the waters and their respective beneficial uses to be protected, allowable pollutant levels and measures to achieve goals. These plans have been developed by each Regional Water Board at the regional level (major watersheds) and by the SWQCB at the statewide level for waters and issues common to more than one region. All Water Quality Control Plans are subject to SWQCB approval. The following highlights the most significant activities during this period:

1. Inland Surface Waters/Enclosed Bays and Estuaries Implementation Policy: SWQCB executed a contract in Spring 2001 to assess the standards used for waters that are largely comprised of flows from effluent discharges. Workshops were held in Spring 2001 to seek public comment regarding these water bodies.

2. Thermal Plan: SWQCB staff will complete the review and update of the Water Quality Control Plan for Control of Temperature in the Coastal and Interstate Waters and Enclosed Bays and Estuaries of California (Thermal Plan). This plan is of significant relevance to power generating facilities.

3. Central Valley Basin Plan: pH and Turbidity: The Central Valley Regional Board will consider a Basin Plan amendment to address pH and turbidity standards. This issue is of critical importance for situations where discharges comprise most of the flows in a water body. Staff has worked with State and Federal Fish and Wildlife agencies and the El Dorado Irrigation District to develop a draft Basin Plan amendment and environmental document for pH, turbidity and temperature in Deer Creek. The draft amendment and accompanying environmental document are undergoing peer review.

4. Water Quality Criteria Update: San Francisco Bay Regional Board staff presented a work plan was presented to SWQCB to update water quality objectives in the San Francisco Bay Region Basin Plan.

5. San Francisco Bay Dredging: The San Francisco Regional Board considered proposed basin plan amendments related to the disposal of dredge material in San Francisco Bay. These amendments mark the culmination of a 10-plus years process to develop a cooperative management plan for the shift from dispersion in the Bay to increased use of the designated deep ocean disposal site and beneficial reuse of the material for a variety of purposes including wetland restoration projects.

1. Water Quality Assessment: All regional boards will be preparing the Water Quality Assessment and the list of impaired water bodies as required by the federal Clean Water Act (Sections 305(b) and 303(d) respectively).

2. Triennial Basin Plan Review: The North Coast Regional Board commenced its Triennial Basin Plan Review and work will continue through 2001. The first public report of Basin Planning issues was circulated in May. A hearing on adoption of the 2001 - 2004 priority list is scheduled August 2001. The North Coast Regional Board will also adopt its three-year priority list for basin planning activities. Public workshops and the adoption hearing are scheduled for early 2002.

3. Basin Plan Amendments for pH, Turbidity and Temperature: Central Valley Regional Board staff expects to bring proposed Basin Plan amendments for pH, turbidity and temperature in effluent dominated water bodies for consideration in winter of 2001. Dischargers to effluent dominated streams often cannot comply with the current standards.

4. Los Angeles Basin Plan: The Los Angeles Regional Board will consider modification of Basin Plan bacteria objectives to achieve consistency with USEPA and statewide beach closure criteria. The regional board has designated the bacteria objectives as a high priority and will address the matter later in the year.

5. Onsite Systems: Priorities will include revision and re-prioritization of the Triennial Review list. Region staff is participating in a U.S. EPA Technical Advisory Group to develop numeric nutrient criteria for adoption into the basin plan, and beginning an update of onsite septic tank policy.

Statewide assessments of water quality conditions show that nonpoint sources of pollution have the greatest effect on the state's water quality. Unlike point sources of pollution, which are typically controlled through treatment facilities and authorized by permits, nonpoint sources are diffuse and not readily controlled by conventional means. Diffuse activities such as the cultivation or development of land contribute to concerns about pollutants in runoff. Controlling nonpoint sources requires the use of preventative plans and practices by those directly involved and those overseeing such activities. The following highlights the most significant activities during this period.

1. Guadalupe River Flood Control Project: The San Francisco Board adopted an order approving the Guadalupe River flood control project that will provide flood protection to downtown San Jose. This approval was the result of a collaborative process amongst stakeholders in the Guadalupe watershed and will be protective of habitat and will result in the restoration of a portion of Guadalupe Creek higher in the watershed.

2. Vineyards: The North Coast Regional Board has continued an active inspection, enforcement, and educational outreach program for erosion control and stream protection related to vineyard development and management. These efforts are supported with federal Clean Water Act Section 319(h) funds for control of nonpoint source pollution discharges. Staff will have completed approximately 50 field inspections, commenced six staff enforcement actions, and have participated in about ten presentations to public and industry groups.

3. Invasive Species: The San Diego Regional Board conducted extensive public outreach to combat the invasive algae species Caulerpa taxifolia through the development and distribution of fact sheets, brochures (English and Spanish), presentations, and information on the Web site.

4. Invasive Marine Algae in Huntington Harbor: Funded from the Cleanup and Abatement Account, and under the direction of the Santa Ana Regional Board staff, a plan to control infestations of this invasive marine algae in the Huntington Harbor area was developed and implemented. The infested areas were treated with chlorine and are being re-inspected to ensure that there is no re-growth. The remainder of the Harbor will be surveyed. An extensive public outreach program was and is being conducted. Volunteer divers will survey other marine waters (Newport Bay) to determine whether there are other infestations.

1. Stream Maintenance Program for Santa Clara County: San Francisco Regional Board plans to adopt a ten-year Stream Maintenance Program for Santa Clara County that includes appropriate mitigation and Best Management Plans. This should become the model for ensuring necessary stream repair and maintenance is accomplished in a manner protective of water quality.

Enforcement is the backstop of regulatory programs; violations must be corrected. Effective enforcement fosters compliance as the norm and holds accountable those who violate. To reinforce these outcomes, the SWRCB and RWQCB’s have embarked on initiatives to more fully implement fair, firm and consistent enforcement of water quality and water rights laws and regulations. The following highlights the most significant activities during this period:

1. City of Los Angeles: In January 2001, U.S. EPA and Los Angeles Regional Board filed suit against the City of Los Angeles for repeated sanitary sewer overflows from the City's wastewater collection system. U.S. EPA and the Los Angeles Regional Board also filed a motion to combine the suit with the Santa Monica Baykeeper's lawsuit, filed in 1998, against the City's similar violations of the Clean Water Act. The lawsuit addresses both dry weather and wet weather overflows, including capacity, maintenance, infiltration, grease control and odor issues.

2. Timber and municipal discharges: The North Coast Regional Board, with increased staffing resources, performed enhanced surveillance and monitoring of proposed timber harvest plans, active timber harvest plans, and completed plans throughout the region. The North Coast Regional Board also issued four Administrative Civil Liability Complaints (ACLCs) for mandatory minimum penalties.

3. San Diego Sewage Spill, Bay permit discharges: The San Diego Regional Board assessed a $1,589,000 penalty against the City of San Diego for a 1.5 million gallon sewage spill to Tecolote Creek and Mission Bay. The board also issued complaints for Administrative Civil Liability against three San Diego Bay shipyards for NPDES permit violations involving toxicity in discharges to the Bay.

4. PG&E Diablo Canyon: The Central Coast Regional Board finalized its settlement with Pacific Gas and Electric Company regarding cooling water at the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant. The settlement is in the $16 million to $26 million range, with the centerpiece being conservation of over 2,000 acres of coastal lands, protecting 5.7 miles of coastal marine habitats as appropriate for these areas. The Central Coast Regional Board will initiate monthly monitoring of 30 coastal lagoons and estuaries.

5. Enforcement Policy: SWRCB adopted a draft enforcement policy for the state. This policy would set priorities for enforcement actions and recommend procedures for calculating penalties.

6. Crystal Cove: SWRCB upheld the Santa Ana Regional Board’s Cease and Desist Order prohibiting direct discharges of waste to the Crystal Cove portion of the Irvine Coast Area of Special Biological Significance, but granted Caltrans and the Department of Parks and Recreation an additional year to submit and implement plans to cease those discharges. (The Cease and Desist Order originally required submittal of these plans in May 2001.) Regional board staff met with The Irvine Company, Caltrans, and State Parks and Recreation to review their plans to comply with the Cease and Desist Order.

7. City of Sacramento Sewage Spill: Last September approximately 950,000 gallons of raw sewage was pumped into a storm drain that discharged into the American River. The Central Valley Regional Board imposed a $400,000 fine issued against the City, which has been paid. The City has implemented improved measures to prevent future accidents.

8. Lahontan Regional Water Board Actions: The Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board took a series of enforcement for numerous actions in violation of laws and permits. They include four cleanup and Abatement orders to Molycorp to assist in cleanup of contaminated groundwater from mining wastes in San Bernardino County; referral to the State Attorney General of historic and ongoing violations of waste discharge requirements and Basin Plan prohibitions by the Squaw Valley Corporation; requesting the State Attorney General to seek an injunction requiring the responsible parties for the Tahoe Toms UST site in South Lake Tahoe to comply with cleanup and abatement order requirements; and acceptance of a supplemental environmental project (SEP) proposed by Caltrans in lieu of paying an administrative civil liability complaint for the discharge of sediment into Lee Vining Creek. The SEP will result in the treatment of storm water runoff from the town of Lee Vining.

9. Coachella Valley Water District: The Colorado River Basin Regional Board Executive Officer issued an Administrative Civil Liability Complaint and Cleanup and Abatement Order to Coachella Valley Water District for two significant non-compliance discharges to State waters.

1. Dairies: Santa Ana Regional Board staff will develop a proposed amendment of an existing Cease and Desist Order that specifies a time schedule for dairies to implement engineered waste management plans.

2. Webber Creek sediment spill: El Dorado Irrigation District opened the lower outlet valve on Webber Creek Reservoir in February 2001, flushing years of accumulated sediments into Webber Creek below the dam. Sediments up to three feet thick smothered fish and wildlife for more than a mile downstream of the dam. The Central Valley Regional Board has issued a cleanup and abatement order and is working with the District and Fish and Game to remove the sediments prior to this next winter’s runoff.

With the recent adoption of federal rules and state policies to establish numeric standards for toxics in surface waters, regional boards are now developing and adopting discharge permits that reflect these new standards. Another significant change in permit activities involves the federal storm water permit program; situations required to be under permit are being expanded to smaller populations and activities. Examples of the most significant permit activities during this period are highlighted below:

1. General Construction Activities Storm Water Permit: The SWRCB adopted revisions of the statewide construction storm water activities permit to address discharges to water bodies impaired by sediment, turbidity, or siltation.

2. Municipal Storm Water Permits: The San Francisco and San Diego Regional Boards adopted municipal storm water permits for Santa Clara and San Diego counties, respectively, and their incorporated cities. The permits will: require pollution control activities from new development and redevelopment; increase enforcement by the County and cities; address issues related to sewage spills and leaks; and require the implementation of TMDLs.

3. Caltrans Storm Water Management Plan: SWRCB approved in May a revised storm water management plan for Caltrans. The plan took effect immediately.

1. NPDES Storm Water Program (Phase II): SWRCB staff will draft and release for review a proposed policy to implement Phase II of the NPDES Storm Water Program. Phase II will affect municipal separate storm sewer systems serving a population of less than 100,000 persons, state and federal facilities in areas subject to municipal storm water permits, and construction activities resulting in a land disturbance of between one and five acres.

2. Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties Municipal Storm Water Permits: The Santa Ana Regional Board will consider adoption of a new municipal storm water permit for Orange Riverside and San Bernardino Counties and their incorporated cities. The permits will make new development performance standard consistent with design standards specified for Los Angeles in its storm water permit.

3. Morro Bay Power Plant: Under the direction of Central Coast Regional Board staff, the Morro Bay Power Plant Technical Work Group will complete required studies required to complete the application process for the new Duke Energy, Morro Bay Power Plant. Permit consideration by the Regional Board is scheduled for fall of 2001.

4. U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission’s International Water Treatment Plant: The San Diego Regional Board will reissue the NPDES permit and adopt a revised Cease and Desist Order to regulate the discharge from the U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission’s International Wastewater Treatment Plant, as well as reissuing a NPDES permit for the Duke Energy South Bay Power Plant discharge to South San Diego Bay.

5. Stockton Permit Renewal: The City of Stockton discharges treated wastewater into the San Joaquin River, an impaired water body. Renewal of this permit involves a variety of complex issues. A tentative permit has been circulated for public review and staff is currently reviewing extensive comments in preparation for a hearing in the second half of 2001.

6. Orange County Municipal Storm Water: Santa Ana Regional Board will consider permit re-issuance of a draft municipal storm water permit for Orange County and its incorporated cities. The proposed draft order will address issues in common with the Los Angeles Region controls on new development and redevelopment, increased enforcement by the County and cities, issues related to sewage spills and leaks, and the implementation of Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs).

About 70 percent of the State Board 's annual budget is comprised of funds that are passed on to others in the form of financial assistance. These funds provide grants for cleanups of leaking underground fuel tanks, loans and grants for wastewater treatment facilities, water recycling projects, nonpoint source projects, watershed projects and other authorized projects. The most significant activities during this period are highlighted below:

1. Energy Projects: SWRCB approved a State Revolving Fund loan of $240,000 for an energy recovery project (Microturbine Power Station) at the San Elijo Joint Powers Authority (SEJPA), San Elijo Water Reclamation Facility.

2. Proposition 13 Grant Funds: Phase I Grant proposals under Proposition 13 were submitted to the State Board in February 2001. The North Coast Regional Board received 52 proposals, which were evaluated and ranked. Twenty-two proposals were submitted to the SWRCB and nine are proposed for funding. Phase I workshops were conducted in April 2001 and those projects that receive grant awards will be managed by the North Coast Regional Board staff for the remainder of 2001. The Phase II Request for Proposal will be released in June 2001. Regional board staff will conduct Phase II workshops on June 26 in Santa Rosa and July 26 in Eureka. Phase II proposals are due by October 1, 2001. Proposals will be evaluated and ranked and submitted to the State Board in October and November 2001.

3. Water Recycling: The SWRCB adopted of a priority list in January 2001, containing projects with a total cost of $2.9 billion and funding requests totaling $1.5 billion. At the May meeting, SWRCB approved a contract for $1 million for the WateReuse Foundation to match $1 million from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and unspecified amounts from other sources for research and development studies.

4. Small Community Grants: SWRCB has committed all remaining funds provided by Proposition 13 for this function. The State Board made 25 grants for $31.3 million.

5. Wastewater Construction Grants: SWRCB made a planning grant to Orange Cove for $750,000.

1. State Revolving Fund (SRF) Loan Program: Working within the governor’s infrastructure bank has allowed the SWRCB to expand the SRF to include nonpoint source pollution control projects.

Leveraging the SRF. SWRCB is planning to sell revenue bonds to leverage the SRF Loan Program to meet projected funding needs. SWRCB is working with the Trade and Commerce Agency to develop a revenue bond program and to be able to sell revenue bonds when needed to meet cash flow demands.
Commitments by the SRF. Staff estimates that 15 projects with funding needs of $463 million will be presented to the SWRCB for consideration of funding commitment.

Water Recycling Construction Projects. SWRCB anticipates funding four construction projects totaling $12.2 million in grants and $21.7 million in loans.
Wastewater Construction Grants. SWRCB will consider approval of a grant for Manteca for $8.3 million.

The state’s surface waters are threatened by a legacy of problems associated with past practices of handling materials and wastes. The following highlights the most significant activities during this period:

1. The San Diego Regional Board negotiated an agreement between the San Diego Unified Port District, the City of San Diego, and San Diego Bay shipyard operators on site assessment protocols for contaminated sediment areas in San Diego Bay.

1. Leviathan Mine: The Lahontan Regional Board, under an agreement with U.S. EPA, will treat approximately six million gallons of acid mine drainage in order to eliminate the chance of pond overflows in spring 2002. Additional site activities will include revegetation, ongoing site maintenance, and water quality monitoring.

2. National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES): San Francisco Regional Board staff will reduce the permit backlog through re-issuance of the permits for fourteen major dischargers. Staff will also develop performance-based limits for toxic metals using regional discharge data.

Monitoring and assessment of waters provides vital information for determining the health of waters, trends in water quality conditions, the need for follow-up investigations and the basis for prescribing waste discharge limitations in permits. The following highlights the most significant activities during this period.

1. Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program: The North Coast Regional Control Board started the new Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program (SWAMP). Permanent monitoring stations were established as well as rotating intensive basin surveys. Data will be used in watershed assessments and defining problem areas and documenting water quality.

2. Ambient Monitoring Program: The Central Coast Regional Board’s ambient monitoring program (CCAMP) completed its third year of watershed monitoring and has initiated new program elements. Regional ocean monitoring activities in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary have also been initiated. Central coast watershed and coastal confluence rivers and creeks monitoring has been added. Monthly sampling was conducted in the Santa Maria Watershed, which included springtime invertebrates, sediment chemistry, and fish tissue chemistry. A draft characterization document was written for the Salinas watershed assessment for 1999 monitoring. Ocean dischargers to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary collaborated with the Regional Board staff to develop a regional water quality monitoring program for the Sanctuary. The Central Coast Long-term Environmental Assessment Network program developed a data management tool that provides easy graphic and mapping capability, exports information into Cal/EPA’s database, and automatically generates maps and graphics for the Network Web site. This tool is serving as a prototype for use by the Storm Water Ambient Monitoring Program and as a front-end for data entry into Storm Water IM II.

1. Watershed Characterization: In the Central Coast Region, CCAMP watershed characterization monitoring will be completed in the Santa Maria watershed and will begin in the Santa Barbara area. Staff will participate in a series of SWAMP workshops designed to promote better consistency across regions in field, lab, and data management methodologies. A work plan is being developed for FY 2001-02 funds. Basin Planners will begin working with CCAMP monitoring data to develop watershed assessment information for use in development of site-specific objectives or other Basin Planning activities. Data will also be used to update the Section 303(d) list.

2. Data Management Coordination: SWRCB staff will begin activities that focus on management of major groundwater databases, including those from Department of Health Services and the U. S. Geologic Survey.

3. Lake Tahoe: The Lahontan Regional Board will be initiating a study of the effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Lake Tahoe and Donner Lake. The study will be completed in 2002. Additionally, the regional board will be initiating a study to better define the nutrient loading to Lake Tahoe from areas that drain directly to the Lake. This effort will support the prioritization of projects to reduce nutrient discharges.

1. Operator Certification Program: The wastewater industry has undergone dramatic changes in technology and management techniques in recent years. SWRCB will review the current program to determine if changes are necessary to meet the needs of the regulated community. SWRCB will organize a workgroup of interested parties to review the current program and make recommendations for any changes to existing laws and regulations.

2. Strategic Plan: SWRCB and RWQCB’s are working on the strategic plan. Cal/EPA's Strategic Vision provides guidance. The boards' executive management team approved the plan's framework and project milestones in October. Since then, a series of interviews have been held with internal and external partners and stakeholders throughout the state. Participants shared their long-term and short-term visions for the boards, identified future challenges and opportunities, and provided ideas for outcomes by which the boards can measure their future success in protecting California's waters.

3. E-Government - Transactions on Internet: The Division of Water Rights processes 13,000 reports each year under the Annual Water Right Reports Program. In June 2001, SWRCB launched a service to provide water users with the convenience of accessing and submitting annual reports through the Internet. See www.waterrights.ca.gov.

State Water Resources & Regional Water Quality Control Boards