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

Beneficial uses (BUs) are defined for each water body in the region by the CCRWQCB.

Acknowledged BUs are as follows:

• Municipal and Domestic Supply (MUN)
• 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)
• Spawning, Reproduction, and/or Early Development (SPWN)
• Shellfish Harvesting (SHELL)