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Source: https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/plans_policies/

Plans and Policies

An overview of California's water quality control plans and state policies for water quality control may be found in California's continuing planning process report. * Continuing Planning Process (CPP) Report (May 2001) * 2024 Review of State Water Quality Control Plans and State Policies for Water Quality Control

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Plans | Policies | Plans and Policies Under Development | Triennial and Periodic Reviews In Progress

Announcements

The State Water Resources Control Board is commencing the 2024 Review of State Water Quality Control Plans and State Policies for Water Quality Control. For additional details, please refer to the Notice of Commencement (August 2024).

Plans

Bay-Delta Plan - Water Quality Control Plan for the San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Estuary
- Adopted on December 12, 2018 (Resolution No. 2018-0059)
- Program Page
California Ocean Plan - Except as otherwise noted, the following have been adopted into the Water Quality Control Ocean Plan for Ocean Waters of California (Program Page):
- State Water Quality Protection Areas & Marine Protected Areas Amendment, adopted on October 16, 2012 (Resolution No. 2012-0056)
- Program Page
- Model Monitoring, Vessel Discharges and Non-Substantive Amendments, adopted on October 16, 2012 (Resolution No. 2012-0057)
- Program Page
- Trash Control in California's Waters, adopted on April 7, 2015 (Resolution No. 2015-0019)
- Program Page
- Desalination Facilities and Brine Disposal, adopted on May 6, 2015 (Resolution No. 2015-0033)
- Program Page
- Bacteria Provisions and Variance Policy, adopted on August 7, 2018 (Resolution No. 2018-0038)
- Program Page
- State Wetland Definition and Procedures for Discharges of Dredged or Fill Material to Waters of the State
- Adopted April 2, 2019 (Resolution No. 2019-0015)and on April 6, 2021 (Resolution 2021-0012)
- Program Page
California Thermal Plan - Water Quality Control Plan for Control of Temperature in the Coastal and Interstate Waters and Enclosed Bays and Estuaries of California
- Adopted on September 18, 1975 (Resolution No. 75-89)
- Program Page
Enclosed Bays and Estuaries Plan - Water Quality Control Plan for Enclosed Bays and Estuaries: Part 1 Sediment Quality Objectives
- Adopted on September 16, 2008 (Resolution No. 2008-0070)
- Amended on April 6, 2011 (Resolution No. 2011-0017)
- Amended on June 5, 2018 (Resolution No. 2018-0028)
- Program Page
Inland Surface Waters, Enclosed Bays, and Estuaries (ISWEBE) Plan - The following adopted plan provisions will be incorporated into the Water Quality Control Plan for Inland Surface Waters, Enclosed Bays, and Estuaries of California:
- Part 1: Trash Provisions, adopted on April 7, 2015 (Resolution No. 2015-0019)
- Program Page
- Part 2: Tribal Subsistence Beneficial Uses and Mercury Provisions, adopted on May 2, 2017 (Resolution No. 2017-0027)
- Program Page
- Part 3: Bacteria Provisions and Variance Policy, adopted on August 7, 2018 (Resolution No. 2018-0038)
- Program Page
- State Wetland Definition and Procedures for Discharges of Dredged or Fill Material to Waters of the State
- Adopted April 2, 2019 (Resolution No. 2019-0015) and on April 6, 2021 (Resolution 2021-0012)
- Program Page
- Aquatic Toxicity Provisions
- Adopted on December 1, 2020 (Resolution No. 2020-0044) and on October 5, 2021 (Resolution No. 2021-0044)
- Program Page
Regional Board Water Quality Control Plans (Basin Plans)
- Region 1 - North Coast Region
- Region 2 - San Francisco Bay Region
- Region 3 - Central Coast Region
- Region 4 - Los Angeles Region
- Region 5 - Central Valley Region
- Region 6 - Lahontan Region
- Region 7 - Colorado River Basin Region
- Region 8 - Santa Ana Region
- Region 9 - San Diego Region

Policies

Antidegradation Policy - Statement of Policy with Respect to Maintaining High Quality of Waters in California
- Adopted on October 24, 1968 (Resolution No. 68-16)
- Antidegradation Policy Implementation for NPDES Permitting (APU 90-004)
- Program Page
Aquatic Toxicity Provisions
- Adopted on December 1, 2020 (Resolution No. 2020-0044 ) and on October 5, 2021 (Resolution No. 2021-0044 )
- Program Page
Cannabis Policy - Cannabis Cultivation Policy: Principles and Guidelines for Cannabis Cultivation
- Adopted on October 17, 2017 (Resolution No. 2017-0063)
- Program Page
Compliance Schedule Policy - Policy for Compliance Schedules in National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permits
- Adopted on April 15, 2008 (Resolution No. 2008-0025)
- Program Page
Consolidated Cleanup Plan - Consolidated Toxic Hot Spots Cleanup Plan (Water Quality Control Policy)
- Adopted on June 17, 1999 (Resolution No. 99-065)
- Amended on January 22, 2004 (Resolution No. 2004-0002)
- Program Page
Enclosed Bays and Estuaries Policy - Water Quality Control Policy for the Enclosed Bays and Estuaries of California
- Policy originally adopted on May 16, 1974 (Resolution No. 74-43)
- Amended on November 16, 1995 (Resolution No. 95-84)
Enforcement Policy - Water Quality Enforcement Policy
- Amended August 24, 2024 - Amendments to Appendix D - (Resolution No. 2024-0027)
- Amended December 5, 2023 - Amendments to the Water Quality Enforcement Policy - (Resolution No. 2023-0043)
- Policy originally adopted on February 3, 2009 (Resolution No. 2009-0083)
- Amended on April 4, 2017 (Resolution No. 2017-0020)
- Program Page
Guidance on Toxic Hot Spot Policy - Water Quality Control Policy for Guidance on Development of Regional Toxic Hot Spot Plans
- Adopted on September 2, 1998 (Resolution No. 98-090)
- Program Page
Impaired Waters Policy - Water Quality Control Policy for Addressing Impaired Waters: Regulatory Structure and Options
- Adopted on June 16, 2005 (Resolution No. 2005-0050)
- Program Page
Investigation and Cleanup and Abatement of Discharges Under Water Code Section 13304
- Policy originally adopted on June 17, 1992 (Resolution No. 92-49)
- Amended on April 21, 1994, effective on July 8, 1994 (Resolution 94-27)
- Amended on October 2, 1996 (Resolution No. 96-079 – Containment Zone Policy), effective on January 13, 1997
- Program Page
Listing Policy - Water Quality Control Policy for Developing California’s Clean Water Act Section 303(d) List
- Adopted on September 30, 2004 (Resolution No. 2004-0063)
- Amended on February 3, 2015 (Resolution No. 2015-0005)
- Program Page
Low-Threat Underground Storage Tank Closure Policy (UST Low-Threat Closure Policy)
- Adopted on May 1, 2012 (Resolution No. 2012-0016)
- Program Page
Municipal Solid Waste Policy - Policy for Regulation of Discharges of Municipal Solid Waste
- Adopted on June 17, 1993 (Resolution No. 93-62)
- Amended on July 21, 2005 (Resolution No. 2005-0058)
- Program Page
Nonpoint Source Pollution Enforcement Policy- Policy for Implementation and Enforcement of the Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Program
- Adopted on May 20, 2004 (Resolution No. 2004-0030)
- Program Page
North Coast Instream Flow Policy- Policy for Maintaining Instream Flows in Northern California Coastal Streams
- Adopted on October 22, 2013 (Resolution No. 2013-0035)
- Program Page
Once-Through Cooling Water Policy for Coastal and Estuarine Waters - Water Quality Control Policy on the Use of Coastal and Estuarine Waters for Power Plant Cooling
- Adopted on May 4, 2010 (Resolution No. 2010-0020)
- Amended on July 19, 2011 (Resolution No. 2011-0033)
- Amended on June 18, 2013 (Resolution No. 2013-0018)
- Amended on April 7, 2015 (Resolution No. 2015-0018)
- Amended on August 15, 2017 (Resolution No. 2017-0047)
- Amended on September 1, 2020 (Resolution No. 2020-0029)
- Amended on October 19, 2021 (Resolution 2021-0048) (Resolution forthcoming)
- Amended on August 15, 2023 (Resolution 2023-0025)
- Program Page
Once-Through Cooling Water Policy for Inland Waters - Water Quality Control Policy on the Use and Disposal of Inland Waters Used for Powerplant Cooling
- Adopted on June 19, 1975 (Resolution No. 75-58)
Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS) Policy - Water Quality Control Policy for Siting, Design, Operation, and Maintenance of Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems
- Adopted on June 19, 2012 (Resolution No. 2012-0032)
- Amended on April 17, 2018 (Resolution No. 2018-0019)
- Amended on April 18, 2023 (Resolution No. 2023-0012 )
- Program Page
Pollutant Policy Document for the San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Estuary(Appendices)
- Adopted on June 21, 1990 (Resolution No. 90-67)
Recycled Water Policy
- Adopted on February 3, 2009 (Resolution No. 2009-0011)
- Amended on January 22, 2013 (Resolution No. 2013-0003)
- Amended on December 11, 2018 (Resolution No. 2018-0057)
- Program Page
Sources of Drinking Water Policy- The Sources of Drinking Water Policy includes the following resolution and amendments, except the January 20, 2015 amendment:
- Adopted on May 19, 1988 (Resolution No. 88-63)
- Amended on February 1, 2006 (Resolution No. 2006-0008)
- Revision to the Sources of Drinking Water Policy to Establish a Site-Specific Exception for Old Alamo Creek
- Amended on January 20, 2015 (Resolution No. 2015-0002)
- Revision to the Sources of Drinking Water Policy to Establish a Site-Specific Exception for the Royal Mountain King Mine Site
- Program Page
State Implementation Policy (SIP) - Policy for Implementation of Toxics Standards for Inland Surface Waters, Enclosed Bays, and Estuaries of California
- Adopted on February 24, 2005 (Resolution No. 2005-0019)
- Program Page
State Wetland Definition and Procedures for Discharges of Dredged or Fill Materials to Waters of the State
- Adopted on April 2, 2019 (Resolution No. 2019-0015) and on April 6, 2021 (Resolution 2021-0012)
- Program Page
Supplemental Environmental Projects Policy (SEP Policy)
- Adopted on December 5, 2017 (Resolution No. 2017-0074)
- Program Page
Water Reclamation Policy- Policy with Respect to Water Reclamation in California
- Adopted on January 6, 1977 (Resolution No. 77-1)
- Program Page

Plans and Policies Under Development

Triennial and Periodic Reviews In Progress

2024 Review of State Water Quality Control Plans and State Policies for Water Quality Control

Subscribe to our email list to receive State Water Board announcements, updates, and information on the review of state plans and policies. Email Address (Page last updated 01/16/2026) Water is a precious resource in California, and maintaining its quality is of utmost importance to safeguard the health of the public and the environment.

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