TMDLs in the Monterey Bay Region of California

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An environmental summary created by the ENVS 560/L Watershed Systems class at CSUMB.

This page provides links to documents relating to 303d listings and Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plans in California's Central Coast Region. The page was created by the ENVS 560/L Watershed Systems class at CSUMB.

Background

Main article: TMDL

Under 1987 provisions (section 304 (1)) to the Clean Water Act of 1972, states must identify and report all water bodies which do not meet water quality or beneficial use standards. Those impaired (polluted) water bodies not meeting water quality standards must be placed on the 303d list.

States must submit updated lists every two years. Along with identification of impaired water bodies, states must also identify stressors causing the impairment (i.e. pollutants), which are also identified on the 303d list. A remediation plan must then be developed and implemented for each impaired water body listed.

These plans are known as total maximum daily loads (TMDLs). TMDLs are used to define and achieve a total maximum daily load for each pollutant causing impairment within a water body. The list also identifies where a TMDL has been approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and implementation is available, but water quality standards have not yet been met, or an action other than a TMDL is being used to address the issue.

Summary of listing categories

The CCRWQCB has assigned grouped 303(d) listings into the following categories. Only categories 4A, 4B, and 5 are included in the 303(d) list.[1]

  • Category 1. All core uses are supported;
  • Category 2. At least one core use is supported;
  • Category 3. Insufficient information exists to make a determination;
  • Category 4A. At least one core use is not supported, however "a TMDL has been developed and approved by USEPA and is reasonably expected to result in the attainment of the water quality standard within a reasonable, specified time frame (p.10, CCRWQCB)."
  • Category 4B. At least one core use is not supported, however "an existing regulatory program is reasonably expected to result in the attainment of the water quality standard within a reasonable, specified timeframe (p.10, CCRWQCB)."
  • Category 5. At least one core use is not supported. A TMDL needs to be developed.

Central Coast 303d list documents

The 303d list for the Central Coast region of California (Region 3) is maintained by the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board. The 2006 303(d) list for the Central Coast region is available as a .pdf or .xls file[2][3]. The 2010 303(d) statewide list is available as an .xls file[4] but is not available as a Central Coast-specific document as of March 2014. The 2012 303(d) statewide list was approved by the EPA on July 30, 2015 and is available via an integrated report on the State Water Resources Control Board website. Although there was some Central Coast data not included in the 2012 Integrated Report, and in those cases, decisions were carried over from the 2010 list.


Monterey Bay area reports and listings, 2015

Monterey Bay area reports and listings, 2010-2012

Please see the following pages for information on 303(d) listed waterbodies and their impairments in the Monterey Bay region.

Central Coast reports and listings, 2006-2008


Statewide listings including the Central Coast, 2010

Central Coast TMDL Projects

TMDL Projects Currently in Development (2015-2016)

References

  1. Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board. 2009. Clean water act sections 305(b) and 303(d) integrated report for the Central Coast region. Public review draft April. http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/centralcoast/water_issues/programs/tmdl/303d/2008_0409_draft_integrated_report.pdf
  2. CCRWQCB. 2006. 2006 CWA Section 303(d) List of Water Quality Limited Segments Requiring TMDLs (Central Coast Region). http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/tmdl/docs/303dlists2006/epa/r3_06_303d_reqtmdls.pdf
  3. CCRWQCB. 2006. List of Water Quality Limited Segments Requiring TMDLs (Central Coast Region) http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/tmdl/docs/303dlists2006/epa/state_06_303dlist.xls>
  4. CCRWQCB. 2010. Combined California 2010 303(d) list with potential sources. http://maps.waterboards.ca.gov/webmap/303d/files/2010_USEPA_approv_303d_List_Final_122311wsrcs.xls

See also

Disclaimer

This page may contain student work completed as part of assigned coursework. It may not be accurate. It does not necessary reflect the opinion or policy of CSUMB, its staff, or students.