Water Quality Management

Adam Laputz Central Valley Water Board

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Presentation Outline Water Boards background Challenges Management needs Tools

Nine Regional Water Boards

Implement State and federal water quality laws based on region specific conditions

Regulate discharges of waste

Central Valley Region

Water Boards

Mission of the Regional Water Boards

To preserve and enhance the quality of California's water resources for the benefit of present and future generations.

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Program Implementation Regional Water Boards

Federal Clean Water Act – National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System

Permits – regulate pollutant discharges to surface waters only

California Water Code -Porter Cologne Act – Regulate waste discharge to surface and

groundwater of the State – Tools include waste discharge requirements,

conditional waivers, enforcement orders

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Sacramento River Basin Largest Central Valley Basin (>27,000 sq mi)

Much of Central Valley’s surface water supply

Basin drains ~1/3 of total runoff in the state

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Sacramento River Basin Water Board Regulated activities include

– >2 million acres of irrigated cropland – Major portion of 3 million acres of timber harvest in

Central Valley – Wastewater treatment plants – Industry (e.g., olive processing) – Municipal storm water – Dairies

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Basin info 13 Subwatersheds

across 21 counties 88 Groundwater

basins/subbasins

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Management Challenges Water Quality

– Pesticides, mercury, sediment, nitrates, salts

Severe weather and climate concerns – Drought, flooding, less snowpack

Resources and focus Program integration

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Challenges

Approx. 47, 000 abandoned mines

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Challenges

Sediment-

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Management Needs Multiple watershed concerns cannot be

considered independently of each other Solutions need to consider the “big

picture” and long-term goals of water management

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Management Needs - Example

Storm water, recycled wastewater – Resource supply if

managed correctly – Increased infiltration of

storm water could reduce surface water flows

– Increased recycled water use may lead to increased salinity

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Management Needs - Example

Storm water, recycled wastewater – Resource supply if managed correctly – Increased infiltration of storm water may lead to

less flow in receiving streams – Increased recycled water use may lead to

increased salinity – Overall –strategic implementation of practices

could help to buffer the effects of drought, short duration high intensity storm runoff, and increased demand on surface water supplies

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Management Needs - Example

Recharge of groundwater – Could be done on irrigated lands areas, or

wetlands/uplands – If managed poorly, could lead to groundwater

problems – If managed properly, could increase high quality

groundwater

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Management Needs - Example

Recharge of groundwater – Could be done on irrigated lands areas, or

wetlands/uplands – If managed poorly, could lead to groundwater

problems – If managed properly, could increase high quality

groundwater – Overall – could be used in some watersheds to

reduce flood flows, providing a buffer during heavy storm events, reducing erosion, and adding to groundwater storage

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Management Needs - Need to consider solutions with multiple

benefits instead of a singular purpose – A nutrient treatment device or mechanical sediment device

has a singular benefit; but: – a wetland can reduce sediment, nutrients, increase habitat,

provide groundwater recharge, buffer storm flows, and sequester carbon

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Tools What tools are available to encourage

integrated and effective solutions? What tools are needed?

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Tools: Regional Monitoring Collaboration – regulators, industry,

resource agencies, etc. Synthesis and analysis of information Critical to understanding the “big picture” Platform for difficult issues Flexible

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Sacramento Watershed Monitoring

Collaboration with DWR

Monitors “trends” Quarterly

monitoring since November 2008

56 sites monitored

Safe to Swim Monitoring Monitored swimming

holes on rivers, streams, and lakes

Coordinated with citizen monitoring groups

E. coli used as indicator

104 sites monitored in the Sacramento Watershed

Need for coordinated efforts There is already extensive monitoring conducted by

many agencies in the Sacramento River Basin ILRP NPDES SWAMP Municipal Water Quality Investigations (MWQI) USGS Sacramento Coordinated Monitoring Program State Water Board Division of Drinking Water

Source Water Monitoring Need for more coordinated efforts to consolidate

and assess water quality information, especially for California Integrated Report

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Delta Regional Monitoring Delta Strategic Plans Sampling started this year (2015) Permit amendments

– Reductions, individual monitoring funding

Monitoring design – Pathogens, nutrients, pesticides, toxicity,

mercury

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Individual Receiving Water Data

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Delta Regional Monitoring Goals and Challenges

Developing new partners Sustainable funding mechanism Learn from Delta RMP

– Potential for other programs (e.g., source waters)

Watershed-Based Plan

Proactive approach in non-listed watershed No development of a new regulatory program 319(h) eligibility More efficient/effective than 303(d) listing If 303(d) listing were to occur, WBP could be

implementation plan in lieu of TMDL Could be used for protection of “high quality”

waters or in watersheds with other concerns Funding

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Watershed Based Planning

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Summary of Nine Elements a. Identify causes and sources of

pollution b. Estimate pollutant loading and

necessary load reductions c. Management measures to achieve

load reductions d. Technical and financial assistance

necessary for implementation e. Information/Education component f. Project schedule g. Interim, measurable milestones h. Indicator to measure progress i. Monitoring

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Watershed Management Local and regional collaboration Understanding of “big picture” Tools: regional monitoring, watershed planning Collaborators Focus of resources to preserve and enhance

water quality – Less focus on individual solutions

Questions?

Contact info: Adam Laputz Assistant Executive Officer Central Valley Water Board awlaputz@waterboards.ca.gov (916) 464-4726