Beneficial Uses (BUs) of waterbodies in California's Central Coast Region

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A beneficial use (BU) is a human or ecological use for a waterbody officially recognized by federal, state, and regional agencies charged with monitoring and restoring water quality in the United States.[1] Under the 1972 Clean Water Act, waterbodies are required to have BU designations which indicate what uses waterbodies should ultimately support regardless of current conditions.

BU designations for waterbodies are then referred to as designated beneficial uses, or simply designated uses (DU), which guide management and conservation planning [2]

. Importantly, current DUs do not exclude the removal or addition of future designations.

In the California Central Coast Region, the Central Coast Region Water Quality Control Board CCRWQCB .

Categories

Acknowledged BUs[3] are as follows:

  • Agricultural Supply (AGR)- water used for farming, ranching, or horticulture that includes, but is not limited to irrigation, stock watering, and grazing land survival.
  • Areas of Special Biological Significance (ASBS)- marine life refuges, ecological reserves, and designated areas where the preservation and enhancement of natural resources requires special protection.
  • Cold Freshwater Habitat (COLD)- water that support cold water ecosystems, including, but not limited to, preservation or enhancement of aquatic habitats, vegetation, fish, or wildlife, including invertebrates.
  • Commercial and Sport Fishing (COMM) water for commercial or recreational collection of fish, shellfish, or other organisms, including, but not limited to, uses involving organisms intended for human consumption or bait purposes.
  • Estuarine Habitat (EST)- water that support estuarine ecosystems, including, but not limited to, preservation or enhancement of estuarine habitats, vegetation, fish, shellfish, or wildlife (e.g., estuarine mammals, waterfowl, shorebirds), and the propagation, sustenance, and migration of estuarine organisms.
  • Freshwater Replenishment (FRESH)- water for natural or artificial maintenance of surface water quantity or quality.
  • Groundwater Recharge (GWR)- water for natural or artificial recharge of groundwater for purposes of future extraction, maintenance of water quality, or halting saltwater intrusion into freshwater aquifers.
  • Industrial Service Supply (IND)- water for industrial activities that do not depend primarily on water quality, including, but not limited to, mining, cooling water supply, hydraulic conveyance, gravel washing, fire protection, and oil well repressurization.
  • Marine Habitat (MAR)- water that support marine ecosystems, including, but not limited to, preservation or enhancement of marine habitats, vegetation such as kelp, fish, shellfish, or wildlife (e.g., marine mammals, shorebirds).
  • Fish Migration (MIGR)- water that support habitats necessary for migration, acclimatization between fresh water and salt water, and protection of aquatic organisms that are temporary inhabitants of waters within the region.
  • Municipal and Domestic Supply (MUN)- water for community, military, or individual water supply systems, including, but not limited to, drinking water supply.
  • Navigation (NAV)- water for shipping, travel, or other transportation by private, military, or commercial vessels.
  • Industrial Process Supply (PRO)- water for industrial activities that depend primarily on water quality.
  • Preservation of Rare and Endangered Species (RARE)- waters that support habitats necessary for the survival and successful maintenance of plant or animal species established under state and/or federal law as rare, threatened, or endangered.
  • Water Contact Recreation (REC-1)- water for recreational activities involving body contact with water where 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.water for recreational activities involving proximity to water, but not normally involving contact with water where water ingestion is reasonably possible.
  • Shellfish Harvesting (SHELL)- water that support habitats suitable for the collection of crustaceans and filter-feeding shellfish (e.g., clams, oysters, and mussels) for human consumption, commercial, or sport purposes.
  • Fish Spawning (SPWN)- water that support high quality aquatic habitats suitable for reproduction and early development of fish.
  • Warm Fresh Water Habitat (WARM)- water that support warm water ecosystems including, but not limited to, preservation or enhancement of aquatic habitats, vegetation, fish, or wildlife, including invertebrates.
  • Wildlife Habitat (WILD)- waters that support wildlife habitats, including, but not limited to, the preservation and enhancement of vegetation and prey species used by wildlife, such as waterfowl.

Examples

Identified beneficial uses designated to the Carmel River Lagoon are as follows [4]...

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

References

  1. Not sure
  2. Chapter 2: Beneficial Uses. 2017 Dec 18. State of California San Francisco Water Quality Control Board. [accessed 2020 Mar 30]
  3. https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/sanfranciscobay/water_issues/programs/planningtmdls/basinplan/web/bp_ch2.html
  4. Water Quality Control Plan for the Central Coastal Basin 2019

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.