Clean Water Act Section 303(d) List and 305(b)

Integrated Report 2008 Report and List Update

Process and Schedule

Bruce GwynneEnvironmental Scientist

North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board

February 7, 2007

Table of Contents

• 305(b) Assessment Report• Integrated Report• 303(d) list• What happens when a waterbody is

placed on the 303(d) list• 303(d) List - 2006 Changes• 2008 - 303(d)/305(b) update process

What is the 305(b) Assessment Report?

• Section 305(b) of the Clean Water Act requires states to assess and report on the condition of waters and their beneficial uses

• Required every two years, in April of even numbered years, as a submission to USEPA for biennial report to Congress

• Identifies what is known about state waters, and where information gaps exist

• Includes 303(d) list of impaired waters

What is the Integrated Report?

Assessment of State waters into five categories

• Category 1: All designated uses are supported, no use is threatened;

• Category 2: Available data and/or information indicate that some, but not all of the designated uses are supported;

• Category 3: There is insufficient available data and/or information to make a use support determination;

What is the Integrated Report?(continued)

• Category 4: Available data and/or information indicate that at least one designated use is not being supported or is threatened, but a TMDL is not needed;

• Category 5: Available data and/or information indicate that at least one designated use is not being supported or is threatened, and a TMDL is needed.

• http://www.epa.gov/owow/tmdl/2006IRG/report/2006irg-report.pdf

What is the 303(d) list?

• Waters identified as category 4 or category 5 under 305(b) assessment are candidates for 303(d) listing

• Section 303(d) of Clean Water Act requires States to identify impaired waterbodies

What is the 303(d) list? (continued)

• “Impaired” means water quality objectives are not being met, or beneficial uses are not being supported

• The pollutant or stressor causing impairment must be identified

What is included on the 303(d) list?

• Name of impaired waterbody• Pollutant or stressor causing

impairment• Source of pollutant/stressor• Priority and schedule for

developing pollution control plan

What happens when a waterbody is placed on

the 303(d) list?

• Trigger development of a pollution control plan, called a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)

• TMDL serves as means to attain and maintain water quality standards

How often is the list updated?

• The 303(d) list is typically updated every two years in conjunction with 305(b) Report on Water Quality

• The list was last updated in 2006

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KLAMATH RIVER

EEL RIVER

TRINITY RIVER

RUSSIAN RIVER

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SMITH RIVER

MA

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CA

PE

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BODEGA

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INID

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Regionwide Changesto 303(d) List

(2004-06 SWRCB update):

0 10 20 30 40 505

Miles

Explanation

Hydrologic Unit Outline

Newly-Listed

Klamath Glen - Sedimentation/Siltation

Trinity River, East Fork - Mercury

Trinity Lake (Clair Engle Lake) - Mercury

Pudding Creek - Temperature

Noyo River - Temperature

Albion River - Temperature

Big Sulphur Creek -Specific Conductance

Laguna de Santa Rosa - Mercury (new listing)

Guerneville HSA, Pocket Canyon - pH

Bodega Harbor - Exotic Species

Humboldt Bay - Dioxin

De-Listed

Guerneville HSA: (turbidity)

Salmon River HA (nutrients)

Lower Lost River HSA (temperature)

Upper Lost River HSA (nutrients and temperature)

Map prepared by Bruce Gwynne NCRWQCB bgwynne@waterboards.ca.gov

Lower Lost River:De-list for

Temperature

Salmon River:De-listed for

Nutrients

Bodega Harbor

Upper Lost River:De-list for

Nutrients andTemperature

BigSulphurCreek

PocketCanyon

Guerneville HSA

Lagunade

Santa Rosa

Humboldt Bay

Pudding CreekNoyo River

Albion River

Trinity RIver, East Fork

Clair Engle Lake

Klamath Glen

303(d) List - 2006 Changes- De-listings

Waterbody Pollutant

Salmon River Nutrients

Lost River HA Temperature

Upper Lost River HSA Nutrients

Guerneville HAS (Russian River) Turbidity

Waterbody Pollutant

Noyo River Temperature

Albion River Temperature

Pudding Creek Temperature

Laguna de Santa Rosa Mercury

Claire Engle (Trinity) Lake Mercury

Trinity River, East Fork Mercury

Klamath Glen HSA Sediment/siltation

Humboldt Bay Dioxin

Bodega Harbor Exotic Species/crabs

Pocket Canyon Creek (Russian River)

pH

Big Sulphur Creek (Russian River) Conductivity

303(d) List - 2006 Changes-New listings

R

ED

WO

OD

CR

EE

K

EUREKAPLAIN

KLAMATH RIVER

EEL RIVER

TRINITY RIVER

RUSSIAN RIVER

ME

ND

OC

INO

CO

AS

T

SMITH RIVER

MA

D R

IVE

R

CA

PE

ME

ND

OC

INO

BODEGA

TR

INID

AD

Regionwide Changesto 303(d) List

(2004-06 SWRCB update):

0 10 20 30 40 505

Miles

Explanation

Hydrologic Unit Outline

Newly-Listed

Klamath Glen - Sedimentation/Siltation

Trinity River, East Fork - Mercury

Trinity Lake (Clair Engle Lake) - Mercury

Pudding Creek - Temperature

Noyo River - Temperature

Albion River - Temperature

Big Sulphur Creek -Specific Conductance

Laguna de Santa Rosa - Mercury (new listing)

Guerneville HSA, Pocket Canyon - pH

Bodega Harbor - Exotic Species

Humboldt Bay - Dioxin

De-Listed

Guerneville HSA: (turbidity)

Salmon River HA (nutrients)

Lower Lost River HSA (temperature)

Upper Lost River HSA (nutrients and temperature)

Map prepared by Bruce Gwynne NCRWQCB bgwynne@waterboards.ca.gov

Lower Lost River:De-list for

Temperature

Salmon River:De-listed for

Nutrients

Bodega Harbor

Upper Lost River:De-list for

Nutrients andTemperature

BigSulphurCreek

PocketCanyon

Guerneville HSA

Lagunade

Santa Rosa

Humboldt Bay

Pudding CreekNoyo River

Albion River

Trinity RIver, East Fork

Clair Engle Lake

Klamath Glen

2008 - 303(d)/305(b) Update

• Regional Board lead

• Integrated report

• Standardized guidance from SWRCB

• http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/tmdl/303d_listing.html

2008 - 303(d)/305(b) update process

• Public Notice of statewide 90-day public solicitation of water quality information distributed by SWRCB – December 2006

• Staff reviews, compiles and summarizes public solicitation and in-house information – Spring 2007

2008 - 303(d)/305(b) update process (continued)

• Staff presents draft recommended list to Board and receives Board input – Summer 2007

• Staff presents recommended list as resolution of the Board – Fall 2007

• Staff forwards Board recommendation to SWRCB – Fall 2007

2008 - 303(d)/305(b) update process (continued)

QUESTIONS?