Tulare Lakebed Beneficial Use Evaluation

To request a copy of documents listed on this page, please contact Angela Cleaver at Angela.Cleaver@waterboards.ca.gov

Evaluation of Municipal and Domestic Supply (MUN) and Agricultural Supply (AGR) Beneficial Uses in a Portion of Historical Tulare Lakebed Groundwater

In order to ensure appropriate beneficial use protection, the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board (Central Valley Water Board), in conjunction with the Central Valley Salinity Alternatives for Long-Term Sustainability (CV-SALTS) initiative, adopted an amendment to the Water Quality Control Plan for the Tulare Lake Basin (Basin Plan) removing MUN and AGR designations from a horizontally and vertically delineated portion of the groundwater in the historic Tulare Lakebed. The amendment was subsequently approved by the State Water Resources Control Board on 6 September 2017 and by the Office of Administrative Law on 26 December 2017, the effective date of the Basin Plan Amendment.

The Board completed the multi-year process under which it is evaluated the beneficial uses assigned to surface and groundwaters by the Board's Basin Plans. As a part of that process, the Board:

  • Evaluated whether a portion of the groundwater in the historical Tulare Lakebed (within the South Valley Floor hydrologic unit 558.30, Figure II-1 of the Tulare Lake Basin Plan) actually supported the Municipal and Domestic Supply (MUN) beneficial use, and determined it was eligible for de-designation consistent with State Water Board Resolution No. 88-63 (Sources of Drinking Water Policy).

  • De-designated the MUN and Agricultural supply (AGR) beneficial uses in portions of the Tulare Lakebed where those beneficial uses have not been historically supported and/or where those beneficial uses are not currently supported.

  • Considered the adoption of site-specific objectives or the development of subcategories of the AGR beneficial use where a full range of AGR beneficial uses (for example, irrigation of salt-sensitive crops using groundwater) have not historically been supported and/or where a full range of AGR beneficial uses are not currently supported.

  • Considered amending the Tulare Lake Basin Plan to incorporate a framework for evaluating the applicability of the MUN and AGR beneficial uses and associated water quality objectives, including implementation provisions applicable in specific groundwater basins.

2017 December 26 - Office of Administrative Law Approval

  • Notice of Approval OAL Number: 2017-1173-01

2017 September 6 - State Water Board Approval Hearing for Tulare Lake Bed Basin Plan Amendment

  • State Water Board Approval Resolution
  • State Water Board Approval Hearing Agenda
  • State Water Board Public Comment Notice
  • Comments Received During 16 June through 24 July 2017 Public Comment Period
    • Central Valley Salinity Coalition (CVSC)
    • California Independent Petroleum Association (CIPA)
    • Leadership Council for Justice and Accountability, Clean Water Fund and Community Water Center
  • Response To Comments

2017 April 6 - Central Valley Board Hearing and Basin Plan Amendment Adoption

An Amendment to the Water Quality Control Plan for the Tulare Lake Basin to Remove the Municipal and Domestic Supply (MUN) and Agricultural Supply (AGR) Beneficial Uses Within a Designated Horizontal and Vertical Portion of the Tulare Lake Bed.

  • Final Adopted Resolution
  • Final Staff Report - Basin Plan Amendment Language included in the Executive Summary
    • Figures
    • Appendix ES-A
    • Appendix A
    • Appendix B
    • Appendix C
    • Appendix D
    • Appendix E
    • Appendix F
    • Appendix G
    • Appendix H
    • Appendix I
    • Appendix J
    • Appendix K - CEQA Environmental Checklist
      • Appendices to Appendix K
    • Appendix L
    • Appendix M
    • Appendix N
    • Appendix O
    • Appendix P - Justification for No Peer Review

Notices of Public Hearing

  • 2017 April 6-7 - Central Valley Board Meeting
    An Amendment to the Water Quality Control Plan for the Tulare Lake Basin to Remove the Municipal and Domestic Supply (MUN) and Agricultural Supply (AGR) Beneficial Uses Within a Designated Horizontal and Vertical Portion of the Tulare Lake Bed.
    • Notice of Opportunity to Comment, Public Hearing, and Filing
    • Aviso Sobre Oportunidad Para Dar Comentarios, Audiencia Pública, Y Registro
    • Draft Staff Report - Proposed Basin Plan Amendment Language included in the Executive Summary
      • Appendix Figures
      • Appendix ES-A
      • Appendix A
      • Appendix B
      • Appendix C
      • Appendix D
      • Appendix E
      • Appendix F
      • Appendix G
      • Appendix H
      • Appendix I
      • Appendix J
      • Appendix K - Environmental Checklist
      • Appendix L
      • Appendix M
      • Appendix N
      • Appendix O
      • Appendix P - Justification for No Peer Review
    • Comment Letters:
      • Central Valley Clean Water Association
      • Consulting Engineers
      • Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability, Community Water Center, and Clean Water Fund
    • Response to Comments

Reference Documents

  • Stakeholder Documents
    • Tulare Lakebed MUN Evaluation Workplan, CV-SALTS
    • Proposed MUN Delisting Boundary Description, Tulare Lake Basin Water Storage District

Meetings

  • 2016 August 17 - Central Valley Board Meeting
    • Notice of Public Workshop
    • Aviso de Taller Público en Español
    • Workshop Materials
      • Board Workshop Presentation, 17 August 2016
      • Draft Executive Summary for Tulare Lake Bed MUN and AGR Evaluation
      • Resumen Ejecutivo
      • Figure ES1
      • Technical and Regulatory Evaluation of MUN and AGR Beneficial Uses in the Tulare Lake Bed Area
        • Att C - Stratigraphy Evaluation (L&S)
        • Att D - Public Well Construction & Water Quality Data
        • Att F - Irrigation Well Data
        • Att I - Backhoe Water Quality Data
        • Section 1 Figures
        • Section 3 Figures
        • Section 4 Figures
        • Section 5 Figures
        • Additional attachments may require redact of personal information - Coming soon!
    • Location Map

  • 2015 April 14 - CEQA Public Scoping Meeting

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