Basin Planning

Basin Plan / Triennial Review / Basin Plan Amendments / Monitoring Programs / TMDLs

The Water Quality Control Plan for the San Francisco Bay Basin (Basin Plan) is the Board's master water quality control planning document. It designates beneficial uses and water quality objectives for waters of the State, including surface waters and groundwater. It also includes programs of implementation to achieve water quality objectives. The Basin Plan has been adopted and approved by the State Water Resources Control Board, U.S. EPA, and the Office of Administrative Law where required. The latest version is effective as of December 22, 2006.

Please address any questions regarding these pages or the Basin Plan Triennial Review to Naomi Feger, Planning Section Leader, 510-622-2328, NFeger@waterboards.ca.gov . To request a pre-2006 version of the Basin Plan, call Janet Cox, 510-622-2334, JWCox@waterboards.ca.gov.

Water Quality Control Plan (Basin Plan) for the San Francisco Bay Basin

We are in the process of reformatting the Basin Plan! In the meantime, we are providing downloadable, printable chapters in both PDF and in html (which may be read online or printed from the web; html pages also contain many links to related laws, Board orders, etc.). Also below there is a link to a VERY large (62.7MB) PDF of the document with color maps.

Basin Plan amendments incorporating a TMDL and Water Quality Attainment Strategy for Diazinon/Pesticide Toxicity in Urban Creeks, and a TMDL for Pathogens in Tomales Bay are linked below. These amendments received all approvals in 2007, and will be added to Chapter 7 in the reformatted document.

PDF including color maps (292 pages, 62.7MB)

Cover page and introduction (PDF, 1.6MB)
Figure 1.1: Map of San Francisco Bay Basin

Table of Contents (PDF, 108KB)

Chapter 2: Beneficial Uses (includes tables; PDF, 425KB)
links to figures in Chapter 2

Chapter 3: Water Quality Objectives (includes tables; PDF, 235KB)

Chapter 4: Implementation Plans (includes tables; PDF, 964KB)
links to figures in Chapter 4

Chapter 5: Plans and Policies (PDF, 158KB)

Chapter 6: Surveillance and Monitoring (182KB)
links to figures in Chapter 6

Chapter 7: Water Quality Attainment Strategies including Total Maximum Daily Loads (PDF, 385KB)

Fully approved Basin Plan Amendments:

Water Quality Attainment Strategy for Diazinon and Pesticide-Related Toxicity in Urban Creeks
TMDL and implementation plan to reduce Pathogens in Tomales Bay

The links below will take you to html pages of Basin Plan chapters:
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Beneficial Uses
Chapter 3: Water Quality Objectives
Chapter 4: Implementation Plans
Chapter 5: Plans and Policies
Chapter 6: Surveillance and Monitoring
Chapter 7: Water Quality Attainment Strategies Including Total Maximum Daily Loads

Basin Plan Amendments
Periodically, the Water Board considers amendments to the Basin Plan. Each amendment is subject to an extensive public review process. The Water Board must adopt the amendment, which is then subject to approval by State Board. In most cases, the Office of Administrative Law and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) must approve the amendment as well.

Fact Sheet:
How TMDLs Are Adopted: The Basin Planning Process (PDF file)

Basin Plan Amendments adopted by the Water Board:

Site-Specific Objectives for Copper in San Francisco Bay
Status: Approved by the Regional Water Board on June 13, 2007. Pending approval by the State Water Board, the Office of Administrative Law, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Resolution with Proposed Basin Plan Amendment - Exhibit A (PDF)
Supporting Staff Report
Responses to Comments
Peer Review and public comments
Staff Contact: Richard Looker, RLooker@waterboards.ca.gov, 510-622-2451

Site-specific Objectives for Cyanide in San Francisco Bay
Status: Approved by the Regional Water Board on December 13, 2006. Pending approval by the State Water Board, State Office of Administrative Law, and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Resolution: R2-2006-0086 with Proposed Basin Plan Amendment - Exhibit A (PDF file)
Supporting Staff Report (PDF file)
Responses to Comments (PDF file)
Comment letters (PDF file)
Staff Contact: Barbara Baginska, BBaginska@waterboards.ca.gov, 510-622-2474

Long Term Management Strategy for Dredging
Status: Adopted by the Regional Board on June 20, 2001. Undergoing review by the State Water Board.
Staff Report, Board Meeting, June 20, 2001 (PDF file)
Proposed Amendments, Board Meeting, June 20, 2001 (PDF file)
Proposed Amendments, strikeout version, Board Meeting, June 20, 2001 (PDF file)
Staff Contact: Beth Christian, EChristian@waterboards.ca.gov, 510-622-2335

Triennial Reviews

2008 Triennial Review

Triennial Review Public Workshop
Water Board staff will hold a public workshop on May 19, 2008 to solicit input on the 2008 triennial review of the water quality standards in its Water Quality Control Plan (Basin Plan). The Water Board’s triennial review will identify those issues that are considered a priority for addressing through Basin Plan projects. Water Board staff has identified a list of issues within the Basin Plan for consideration in the upcoming triennial review. The purpose of this list is to encourage input from interested parties to assist planning staff in prioritizing Basin Plan amendment projects that will best address the water quality planning needs of our region. We have established a comment period ending at 5 pm on May 30, 2008, for the public to submit written comments.
Public Notice
2008 Triennial Review - Brief Issue Description


2004 Triennial Review
Final Resolution, November 17, 2004 (PDF file)
Triennial Review Staff Report, November 5, 2004 (PDF file)

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