Difference between revisions of "Beneficial Uses (BUs) of waterbodies in California's Central Coast Region"

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Revision as of 10:32, 27 March 2020

Beneficial uses are those human and ecological uses for a water body officially recognized by regional, state and federal agencies charged with monitoring and restoring water quality for waterbodies of the United States.

Beneficial uses (BUs) are defined for each water body in the Central California Coast region by the CCRWQCB. Beneficial use designations are required under the 1972 Clean Water Act. They are closely related to designated uses. Importantly, existing lists of beneficial uses for a waterbody do not exclude future beneficial use listings.

Categories

Beneficial uses are categorized under various classifications depending on the use desired.

Acknowledged BUs[1] are as follows:

  • Municipal and Domestic Supply (MUN)- water used or potentially used for community, military, or individual private water system supply such as drinking water. Drinking water sources are defined in the State Board Resolution No. 88-63.
  • Agricultural Supply (AGR)- water used for farming, ranching, or horticulture that includes, but is not limited to irrigation, stock watering, and grazing land survival.
  • Industrial Process Supply (PROC)- water used for industrial purposes dependent on water quality such as food processing, manufacturing, etc.
  • Industrial Service Supply (IND)- water used for industrial purposes not dependent on water quality such as mining, gravel washing, cooling, etc.
  • Groundwater Recharge (GWR)- water used for the natural or artificial recharge of groundwater that may be used for future extraction or to prevent saltwater intrusion.
  • Freshwater Replenishment (FRESH)- water used to maintain surface freshwater quality and quantity
  • Navigation (NAV)- water used for transportation by military, private, or commercial vessels.
  • Water Contact Recreation (REC-1)- water used for human recreation where there is bodily contact is not frequent and ingestion of water is reasonably possible.
  • Non-Contact Water Recreation (REC-2)- water used for human recreation requiring proximity to water where bodily contact and ingestion of water is reasonably possible.
  • Commercial and Sport Fishing (COMM)
  • Warm Fresh Water Habitat (WARM)- water used in warm water ecosystems that preserves or enhances the aquatic habitat, vegetation, and wildlife.
  • Cold Fresh Water Habitat (COLD)- water used in cold water ecosystems that preserves or enhances the aquatic habitat, vegetation, and wildlife.
  • Estuarine Habitat (EST)- water used in estuarine ecosystems (usually characterized as semi-enclosed and having free contact with open ocean and direct watershed runoff) that preserves or enhances the habitat, vegetation, and wildlife.
  • Marine Habitat (MAR)- water used in marine ecosystems that preserves or enhances the marine habitat, vegetation, and wildlife.
  • Wildlife Habitat (WILD)- water used for terrestrial wildlife sustainability.
  • Preservation of Biological Habitats of Special Significance (BIOL)- water required for the health of areas established as refuges, parks, sanctuaries, ecological reserves, or Areas of Special Biological Significance (ASBS).
  • Rare, Threatened, or Endangered Species (RARE)- water required for the survival and maintenance of habitat for state and federally listed threatened or endangered species.
  • Migration of Aquatic Organisms (MIGR)- water used for habitat or transport of migrating aquatic organisms.
  • Spawning, Reproduction, and/or Early Development (SPWN)- high quality water necessary for the spawning and early life of aquatic organisms.
  • Shellfish Harvesting (SHELL)- water used to sustain filter-feeding shellfish for human consumption. Waterbodies also include future suitable sites

Examples

Beneficial uses for the Carmel River Lagoon are as follows...

  • Groundwater Recharge (GWR)
  • Freshwater Replenishment (FRESH)
  • Water Contact Recreation (REC-1)
  • Non-Contact Water Recreation (REC-2)
  • Commercial and Sport Fishing (COMM)
  • Cold Fresh Water Habitat (COLD)
  • Estuarine Habitat (EST)
  • Wildlife Habitat (WILD)
  • Preservation of Biological Habitats of Special Significance (BIOL)
  • Rare, Threatened, or Endangered Species (RARE)
  • Migration of Aquatic Organisms (MIGR)
  • Spawning, Reproduction, and/or Early Development (SPWN)

References

  1. https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/sanfranciscobay/water_issues/programs/planningtmdls/basinplan/web/bp_ch2.html

Links

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.