Monitoring, Assessment and TMDLs
Monitoring, Assessment and Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) Quick Finder | ||||
- Monitoring, assessment, and Section 305(b) reporting in California
- Section 303(d) Listing in California
- TMDLs in California
- State-adopted TMDLs in California
- EPA-established TMDLs in California
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California Water Quality
California's Water Resources Control Board and nine Regional Water Quality Control Boards are responsible for conducting monitoring, assessment, reporting under CWA Sections 303(d) and 305(b), and TMDL development for the State of California. The State Board and Regional Boards cooperate in developing Section 305(b) and Section 303(d) listing reports. TMDLs are normally developed by Regional Boards, and then approved by the State Board and State Office of Administrative Law before being submitted for EPA approval.
Monitoring, Assessment, and Section 305(b) Reporting in California
More information about California's monitoring and Section 305(b) programs may be found at State Water Resources Control Board's Water Issues site and in the State Water Resources Control Board's 2002 CWA Section 305(b) Report or by contacting:
Shakoora Azimi-Gaylon(sagaylon@waterboards.ca.gov)
State Water Resources Control Board
(916) 341-5508
Information on California's 305(b) program may also be obtained by contacting:
Terry Fleming (fleming.terrence@epa.gov)
Monitoring and Assessment Office
(415) 972-3462
Section 303(d) Listing in California
On May 29, 2008, EPA revised its previous decision to add microcystin toxins as an additional cause of impairment to one Klamath River segment (Middle Hydrologic Area: Oregon to Iron Gate) previously listed by California in its 2006 Clean Water Act Section 303(d) List. EPA solicited public comment on its action, and has now completed its review of the comments received. Based on comments from the North Coast Regional Board, EPA agreed to revise the description of the segment which EPA is listing as impaired due to “microcystin toxins.” EPA identified this impaired portion as “the reach of the Klamath River including the Copco and Iron Gate Reservoirs.” Accordingly, this segment does not include Klamath River upstream of Copco I Reservoir to Oregon.
- EPA’s May 2008 revised decision for microcystin toxins in Klamath River (PDF) (8 pp, 548K)
- EPA’s responsiveness summary (1 pg, 51K)
On March 13, 2008, EPA reconsidered its prior approval of the omission of microcystin toxins listings for three Klamath River segments, and determined to add a listing for microcystin toxin for one of these three segments, “Klamath River HU, Middle HA, Oregon to Iron Gate”. California’s 2006 Section 303(d) List already identifies each segment of the Klamath River within California as impaired due to Nutrients, Organic Enrichment/Low Dissolved Oxygen, and Temperature. EPA’s reconsideration of its decisions related to microcystin toxins and the Klamath River, and its determination to add a listing for microcystin toxins for one of the river’s segments, do not affect EPA’s determinations regarding any other portion of California’s Section 303(d) List. Neither EPA’s approval of the State’s listings for the Klamath River listings, nor EPA’s determination to add the listing for microcystin toxins, extends to any water bodies located within Indian country, as defined in 18 U.S.C. 1151.
- EPA’s March 2008 decision document for microcystin toxins in Klamath River (PDF) (14 pp, 117K)
On Nov. 30, 2006, EPA partially approved California's 2004-2006 303(d) list submission. In summary, this action approved the State's list of impaired waters. On March 8, 2007, EPA partially disapproved California's 2004-2006 303(d) List; that is, we disapproved the State's omission of impaired waters that met federal listing regulations or guidance. EPA identified 36 additional waters bodies and associated pollutants for 34 waters to be added to the State's 303(d) list. EPA provided public notice and the opportunity for public comment on our proposed additions which ended April 16, 2007.
On June 28, 2007, EPA issued its final decision regarding the waters we added to the State’s List. See final transmittal letter with enclosures and responsiveness summary below.
- EPA's partial approval letter and enclosure for California's 2004-2006 list (PDF). (9 pp, 58K)
- EPA's partial disapproval letter and enclosures (PDF) for California's 2004-2006 303(d) List. (23 pp, 82K)
- EPA's final decision regarding waters added (PDF) to California’s 2004-2006 303(d) List. (22 pp, 326K)
EPA Contact
Peter Kozelka (kozelka.peter@epa.gov)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Mail code: WTR-2
75 Hawthorne St.
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 972-3448
Questions concerning State's 303(d) list should be directed to:
California Contact
Shakoora Azimi-Gaylon (sagaylon@waterboards.ca.gov)
(916) 341-5508
TMDLs in California
EPA has issued guidance for developing TMDLs in California at Guidance for Developing TMDLs in California (PDF) (31 pp, 166K, About PDF)
More information about California's TMDL program, including the State's Proposed Impaired Waters Guidance and Regional Board TMDL programs, can be found at the State Water Resources Control Board's Total Maximum Daily Load Program page or by contacting:
Rik Rassmussen (rrassmussen@waterboards.ca.gov)
State Water Resources Control Board
TMDL Program Manager
P.O. Box 100
Sacramento, CA 95812-011
(916) 341-5549
Information about California's TMDL program may also be obtained from EPA by contacting:
Debra Denton (denton.debra@epa.gov)
Monitoring and Assessment Office (WTR-2)
(916) 341-5520
Lahontan Regional Liaison
Jacques Landy (landy.jacques@epa.gov)
Nonpoint Source Office (WTR-3)
(775) 589-5348
Colorado River Regional Liaison
Karen Irwin (irwin.karen@epa.gov)
Monitoring and Assessment Office (WTR-2)
(415) 947-4116
Santa Ana Regional Liaison
Cindy Lin (lin.cindy@epa.gov)
Monitoring and Assessment Office (WTR-2)
(213) 244-1803
San Diego Regional Liaison
Cindy Lin (lin.cindy@epa.gov)
Monitoring and Assessment Office (WTR-2)
(213) 244-1803
Dave Guiliano (guiliano.dave@epa.gov)
Monitoring and Assessment Office (WTR-2)
(415) 947-4133
North Coast Regional Liaison
Janet Parrish (parrish.janet@epa.gov)
Monitoring and Assessment Office (WTR-2)
(415) 972-3456
San Francisco Bay Regional Liaison
Diane Fleck (fleck.diane@epa.gov)
Monitoring and Assessment Office (WTR-2)
(415) 972-3480
Central Coast Regional Liaison
Janet Parrish (parrish.janet@epa.gov)
Monitoring and Assessment Office (WTR-2)
(415) 972-3456
Los Angeles Regional Liaison
Cindy Lin (lin.cindy@epa.gov)
Monitoring and Assessment Office (WTR-2)
(213) 244-1803
State-Adopted TMDLs in California
Information on the status of TMDLs being developed or previously developed by the State of California can be found at California's State Water Resources Control Board's Total Maximum Daily Load Program page and EPA's List of Approved TMDLs for California.
EPA-Established TMDLs in California
Although most TMDLs are adopted by states, territories, or authorized tribes, and then approved by EPA, EPA also establishes TMDLs in some cases if:
- EPA disapproves TMDLs submitted by states, territories, or authorized tribes,
- States, territories, or authorized tribes do not submit TMDLs in a timely manner,
- EPA is required to do so pursuant to litigation settlements or judicial orders, or
- States ask EPA to establish TMDLs for particular water bodies.
TMDLs for California, which have been completed by EPA as part of legal requirements under lawsuit settlement consent decrees, are on the EPA-established TMDLs page.