Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (CCRWQCB)

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Figure 1: California Regional Water Quality Boards [1]

Background

The Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (CCRWQCB) is one of the nine boards that jointly works with the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) to sustain clean and abundant water for the residents of the state of California [2]. Collectively, these water boards aim to protect human use of water, as well as the environment, to ensure sustainability. The Central Coast Regional Board's mission emphasizes enforcement of water quality, and taking different hydrology and topography of the region into consideration when implementing water quality plans [3].

California State Law

Figure 2: Allocation of duties. Diagram created by Arev Markarian

In 1969 the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act established these nine regional boards (as seen in Figure 1) as California's principal water quality policy and its regulating bodies, as seen in Figure 2. Under this statute, there are certain responsibilities of the SWRCB that don't overlap with regional boards. The State Water Board allocates funds, guides regional projects and reviews regional decisions. The State Water Board is also in charge of allocating rights of surface water, whereas regional boards are to regulate discharges and distribute National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits [4].

Governance

CCRWQCB

Each Regional Board has part-time members appointed by the Governor per district, and confirmed by the Senate. Each member is appointed for a four year term. These are the seven current CCRWQCB members as of 2018 who meet once a month either in San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Watsonville, or Salinas.

  • Dr. Jean-Pierre Wolff (Chair)
  • Dr. Monica S. Hunter (Vice Chair)
  • Karina Cervantez
  • Bruce Delgado (Mayor of City of Marina)
  • Jane Gray
  • Michael Johnston
  • Jeffrey Young

Goals and Associated Projects

CCRWQCB has established short-term, water quality goals under their "Vision of Healthy Watersheds" framework, that are beneficial to the health of its customers. [5]. By the year 2025, these goals include:

  • 80% of the aquatic habitat is healthy, and the remaining 20% is exhibiting positive trends towards reaching a sustainable and healthy standard
  • 80% of lands located within a watershed will be properly managed to maintain essential watershed functions. The remaining 20% will show positive trends in key watershed perspectives
  • 80% of groundwater in the Central Coast region will be clean, and the remaining 20% will exhibit positive trends towards key parameters of water quality in the Central Coast region

In order to reach these goals, the CCRWQCB has implemented many projects to control water quality in the Central Coast including but not limited to:

Links

References

  1. / Newman, Julie. 2012. "New" Ag Waivers from two regional water quality control boards. UC Nursery and Floriculture Alliance.
  2. / CWB (California Water Board). About The Water Board.
  3. / CWB (California Water Board). Central Coast Regional Board: About Us.
  4. / State of California. Federal, State, and Local Laws, Policy and Regulations. California Environmental Protection Agency. State Water Resources Control Board.
  5. / CWB (California Water Board). Healthy Watersheds - A Vision for the Future.