| #Q001 | administrative | operational | mandatory | NPDES Permitting for Brine Discharges | wastewater, aquatic life | Currently, the Water Boards regulate brine discharges from these types of facilities through the issuance of National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits that contain conditions protective of aquatic life. | Applies to brine discharges from ocean desalination, brackish groundwater desalination, and wastewater treatment/recycling facilities. | medium |
| #Q002 | monitoring | unknown | mandatory | Salinity Toxicity Testing Methods | aquatic life | All toxicity tests will follow the USEPA methods. | Applies to researchers at the Marine Pollution Studies Laboratory at Granite Canyon determining the tolerance of Ocean Plan test species to various concentrations of hyper-saline brine. | medium |
| #Q003 | administrative | reporting | mandatory | Public Notice Comment Limitation | other | Only comments regarding updates will be considered. See the Notice for details on updated sections and below for the current Plan and attachments. | Applies to the Public Notice for Comments on the November 2025 Annual Update to the TMDL Compliance Plan. | high |
| #Q004 | operational | operational | recommended | Motorist Stormwater Pollution Prevention Behaviors | other | wipe off brake dust build-up on rims and wheels, keep vehicles clean to prevent residue from washing off, reduce fluid leaks with regular vehicle maintenance, properly dispose of trash and recycling, tarp and secure trash, vegetation and other loads, keep tires properly inflated to prevent wear, and avoid pesticides and fertilizers when rain is forecast. | Applicable to motorists to prevent storm water pollution and protect water quality in and around the State highway system. | high |
| #Q005 | administrative | reporting | mandatory | Regulatory Data Collection via SMARTS | other | The Water Board uses the Stormwater Multiple Application and Report Tracking System (SMARTS) for collecting and processing stormwater regulatory data | Applicable to the collection and processing of stormwater regulatory data by the Water Board. | high |
| #Q006 | administrative | reporting | mandatory | Public Comment Scope Restriction | other | Only comments regarding updates will be considered. | Applies to comments on the November 2025 Annual Update to the TMDL Compliance Plan | high |
| #Q007 | operational | operational | recommended | Motorist Pollution Prevention Behaviors | other | wipe off brake dust build-up on rims and wheels, keep vehicles clean to prevent residue from washing off, reduce fluid leaks with regular vehicle maintenance, properly dispose of trash and recycling, tarp and secure trash, vegetation and other loads, keep tires properly inflated to prevent wear, and avoid pesticides and fertilizers when rain is forecast. | | high |
| #Q008 | operational | operational | mandatory | MS4 Permit Continuation Requirement | wastewater | all permit conditions and requirements will have to continue to be implemented until a new permit is adopted. | Applies if the Order is not reissued or replaced prior to the expiration date (July 1, 2018). | high |
| #Q009 | administrative | reporting | mandatory | Authorization for Continued Activity | wastewater | If you wish to continue an activity regulated by this Order after the expiration date of this Order, you must apply for and obtain authorization as required by the new permit once it is issued. | Required after the expiration date of the current Order. | high |
| #Q010 | administrative | reporting | mandatory | Notice of Intent Submission | wastewater | once the new permit is adopted by the State Water Board, applicants will be required to submit a Notice of Intent, including all information required by the new permit, at that time. | Applicable upon adoption of a new permit by the State Water Board. | high |
| #Q011 | operational | operational | mandatory | Phase I Storm Water Management Plan | wastewater | Phase I MS4 permits require the discharger to develop and implement a Storm Water Management Plan/Program with the goal of reducing the discharge of pollutants to the maximum extent practicable. | Applies to municipalities over 100,000 people or groups of co-permittees in metropolitan areas. | high |
| #Q012 | administrative | operational | mandatory | Caltrans Permitting Compliance | wastewater | Caltrans is responsible for the design, construction, management, and maintenance of the State highway system... and is subject to the permitting requirements of Clean Water Act section 402(p). | Applies to storm water and non-storm water discharges from State owned rights-of-way. | high |
| #Q013 | prohibition | operational | mandatory | Prohibition on Trash Discharge | aquatic life, other | establish a prohibition on the discharge of trash | Applicable to permitted storm water and other discharges under the Trash Amendments. | high |
| #Q014 | administrative | reporting | mandatory | MS4 Permit Requirement for Large Populations | wastewater | storm water permits are required for discharges from an MS4 serving a population of 100,000 or more. | Applies to MS4 systems serving populations of 100,000 or more pursuant to Clean Water Act section 402(p). | high |
| #Q015 | treatment | unknown | mandatory | Narrative Water Quality Objective for Trash | aquatic life, other | establish a narrative water quality objective for trash | Established by the 2015 Trash Amendments to the Ocean Plan and Inland Surface Waters Plan. | high |
| #Q016 | administrative | reporting | mandatory | Trash Compliance Time Schedule | aquatic life, other | set a time schedule for compliance | Part of the implementation requirements for permitted storm water and other discharges under the Trash Amendments. | high |
| #Q017 | monitoring | reporting | mandatory | Trash Monitoring and Reporting Framework | aquatic life, other | provide a framework for monitoring and reporting requirements | Requirements established for permitted storm water and other discharges to ensure compliance with Trash Amendments. | high |
| #Q018 | administrative | operational | mandatory | MS4 Permit Continuation | wastewater | If this Order is not reissued or replaced prior to the expiration date, it will be automatically continued in accordance with 40 CFR 122.6 and remain in full force and effect. | Applies to the Small MS4 Permit if not reissued prior to July 1, 2018 | high |
| #Q019 | operational | operational | mandatory | Continued Implementation of Permit Conditions | wastewater | all permit conditions and requirements will have to continue to be implemented until a new permit is adopted. | Applies during the period after permit expiration but before new permit adoption | high |
| #Q020 | administrative | reporting | mandatory | Authorization for Continued Regulated Activity | wastewater | If you wish to continue an activity regulated by this Order after the expiration date of this Order, you must apply for and obtain authorization as required by the new permit once it is issued. | Required for activities continuing past the expiration date of the Order | high |
| #Q021 | administrative | reporting | mandatory | New Permit Notice of Intent Submission | wastewater | once the new permit is adopted by the State Water Board, applicants will be required to submit a Notice of Intent, including all information required by the new permit, at that time. | Mandatory upon adoption of a new permit by the State Water Board | high |
| #Q022 | operational | operational | mandatory | Phase I Storm Water Management Plan Development | wastewater | Phase I MS4 permits require the discharger to develop and implement a Storm Water Management Plan/Program with the goal of reducing the discharge of pollutants to the maximum extent practicable. | Applies to Phase I MS4 permittees (municipalities over 100,000 people) | high |
| #Q023 | administrative | operational | mandatory | Caltrans Permitting Compliance Duty | wastewater | Caltrans' discharges consist of storm water and non-storm water discharges from State owned rights-of-way. ... Caltrans is ... subject to the permitting requirements of Clean Water Act section 402(p). | Applies to Caltrans' MS4s, maintenance facilities, and construction activities | high |
| #Q024 | prohibition | operational | mandatory | Trash Discharge Prohibition | aquatic life, recreational water | The Trash Amendments accomplish the following: ... (3) establish a prohibition on the discharge of trash, (4) provide implementation requirements for permitted storm water and other discharges | Applicable to all permitted storm water and other discharges governed by the Trash Amendments | high |
| #Q025 | administrative | reporting | mandatory | MS4 Permit Requirement for Large Populations | wastewater | storm water permits are required for discharges from an MS4 serving a population of 100,000 or more. | Pursuant to Federal Water Pollution Control Act (Clean Water Act) section 402(p) | high |
| #Q026 | reporting | reporting | mandatory | Annual Report Completion | other | All diverters are required to complete annual reports each year. | Applies to all diverters regardless of diversion volume | high |
| #Q027 | monitoring | operational | mandatory | Water Diversion Measurement and Submission | agricultural water, other | requires diverters who divert more than 10 acre-feet of water per year to measure their diversions and submit the data to the State Water Board. | Diverters with a single water right > 10 AF, multiple rights > 10 AF, or storage capacity > 10 AF | high |
| #Q028 | administrative | reporting | mandatory | Measuring Device Registration | other | On or before January 31, 2027, diverters must register each of their measuring devices in CalWATRS. | All measuring devices must be registered by the deadline | high |
| #Q029 | reporting | reporting | mandatory | Measurement Methodology Submission | other | Diverters must register measuring devices and submit a measurement methodology through CalWATRS by January 31, 2027. | Methodology must describe how diverters collect, interpret, and process raw data | high |
| #Q030 | administrative | reporting | mandatory | Alternative Compliance Plan Submission | other | All diverters pursuing alternative compliance must submit an ACP through CalWATRS on or before January 31, 2027 (regardless of whether they submitted a prior ACP before February 2026). | Applies when measurement is infeasible or unreasonably expensive | high |
| #Q031 | operational | operational | mandatory | Qualified Individual Oversight | other | a qualified individual must ensure that your diversions are measured accurately. | Always required regardless of measurement method (device, method, or ACP) | high |
| #Q032 | reporting | reporting | mandatory | Large Diversion Data Submission Frequency | other | In general, diverters need to submit their large diversion submissions on a weekly basis, with a lag time of no more than 7 days between the most recent measurement and the submission date. | Applies to rights > 10,000 AF or direct diversion rates > 30 cfs starting Oct 1, 2027 | high |
| #Q033 | administrative | operational | mandatory | Raw Measurement Data Retention | other | Diverters do not need to submit the raw output from their measuring devices in addition to their general measurement data file, but they must maintain records of the raw device output for at least 10 years. | Applies to measurement data collected starting water year 2027 | high |
| #Q034 | monitoring | operational | mandatory | Reservoir Operation Recording | other | For reservoirs that operate in a pattern of drawdown and refill, diverters must also record each of the following: Maximum and minimum water surface elevation during each drawdown-refill cycle; Reservoir volumes corresponding to these elevations; Dates of these measurements | Applicable specifically to reservoirs with drawdown and refill patterns | high |