Ocean Standards

The Ocean Unit is responsible for the development and updating of statewide water quality control plans, policies, and standards involving marine waters. This includes the California Ocean Plan, the California Thermal Plan, and the development of sediment quality objectives in bays and estuaries. The unit is also responsible for providing scientific support to the Water Boards, and inter-agency coordination, regarding marine pollution and resource management issues.

California Ocean Plan

California Ocean Plan 2009

The California Ocean Plan prohibits discharges into Areas of Special Biological Significance (ASBS). For more information on ASBS, visit our web page, State Water Quality Protection Areas - Areas of Special Biological Significance.

Ocean Plan Amendments Under Development

 Desalination Facilities and Brine Disposal - Amendments to the Ocean Plan and the Enclosed Bays and Estuaries Plan

 Trash Policy - Amendments to Statewide Water Quality Control Plans including the Ocean Plan

 Fecal Coliform Shellfish Standard White Paper - Review of potential actions State Water Board can take with regard to implementing a Fecal Coliform Standard in the Ocean Plan for Shellfish harvesting in state recreational waters. This is Issue 5 from the Ocean Plan Triennial Review Workplan 2011-2013.

• Board Adoption Hearing Workshop - October 16, 2012
  • Draft Final SED (6.3MB)  »  Appendix A (12MB) » Appendix B » Appendix C (September 26, 2012)
• Board Workshop - August 22, 2012
  
  • Public Notice
  • Draft Staff Report (dSED) and amendments with edits - July 25, 2012
• Draft Amendments and SED Public Hearing – May 1, 2012
  • Notice of Public Hearing (revised) – Comment Deadline extended to April 18, 2012
  • Comments Received
  • Staff Presentation at Public Hearing
  • Draft Staff Report (dSED) (revised) – reflects the current Marine Protected Areas (February 23, 2012)
  • Draft Staff Report (dSED) (January 6, 2012)
• Scoping Meeting – July 8, 2011
  • Notice – Comment Deadline was July 15, 2011 by Noon
  • Scoping Document

• Board Adoption Hearing - October 16, 2012
  • Draft Final SED   »  Appendix A » Appendix B » Appendix C » Appendix D (September 26, 2012)
• Board Workshop - August 22, 2012
  
  • Public Notice
  • Draft Staff Report (dSED) and amendments with edits - July 27, 2012
• Board Hearing – November 1, 2011
  • Notice of Public Hearing (revised) – Comment Deadline extended to October 24, 2011
  • Comments Received
  • Notice – Comment Deadline: October 17, 2011 by Noon
  • Draft Staff Report (dSED)   »»  Appendix A » Appendix B » Appendix C
• MQOs for SWAMP Comparabilty in Marine Waters - The draft model monitoring amendments would require that all discharger self-monitoring in receiving waters be SWAMP comparable.  Drafts as of June 2012:
  • Draft SWAMP MQO Appendix A for Fresh and Marine Waters
  • Draft SWAMP MQO Appendix A for Marine Solids
  • Proposed SWAMP MQO Tables A9, A11-A14, A16, A17, A19-A25
• The State Water Board held a public scoping meeting to seek input on proposed amendments to the 2005 California Ocean Plan. The scoping meeting was held on June 26, 2007 in San Francisco.
  • Notice of Public Scoping Meeting  »»  Comments Received
  • Agenda
  • Scoping Document  |  Preliminary Draft Standard Monitoring Procedure
• California Ocean Plan Amendment Model Ocean Discharge Monitoring Workshops
  • Deadline for Comment Letters extended to September 1, 2006  »»  Comments Received
  • Notice of Stakeholder Meetings - August 2006
  • Agenda
  • Proposed Draft Amendments to the Standard Monitoring Procedures (Appendix III) of the California Ocean Plan
• Model Ocean Discharge Monitoring Workshop
  • Stakeholder Meeting - February 7, 2006
    This meeting is a continuation of the May 5, 2005 workshop
    • Notice  »»  Agenda
    • Presentations:
      • Southern California Coastal Water Research Project by Ken Schiff and Brock Bernstein
      • Central Coast Long-term Environmental Assessment Network
      • Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program Presentation by Valerie Connor
  • Stakeholder Meeting - May 5, 2005
    • Notice  »»  Agenda
    • Presentations:
      • California's Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program Update 2005
      • NPDES Permit Standardization - Electronic Self Monitoring Reporting
      • Southern California Bight Model Monitoring by Ken Schiff of Southern California Coastal Water Research Project
    • Meeting Minutes Q&A
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Triennial Review

• Ocean Plan Triennial Review Workplan, 2011-2013
  • Appendix A - State Water Board Resolution 2010-0057
  • Appendix B - ASBS NWQ Committee Findings
  • Appendix C - Response to Comments
    

Reasonable Potential Calculator

A program to determine when effluent limitations are needed.

• RPcalc User's Guide version 2.2 (.pdf)
• RP Calculator version 2.2 (.zip) 2MB

Related Web Pages

• Areas of Special Biological Significance
• Sediment Quality Objectives - Enclosed Bays and Estuaries Plan
• Ocean Plan and Triennial Review Archives

Other Related Links

• Once-through Cooling Water Use and CWA 316(b) Regulations
• Vessels General Permit / Small Vessel General Permit

Questions or Comments?

• Dominic Gregorio , Manager, Watershed, Ocean and Wetlands Section - email or phone 916.341.5488
• Dr. Maria de la Paz Carpio-Obeso, Chief, Ocean Standards Unit - email or phone 916.341.5858

  Receive notifications, updates and other announcements by email. Subscribe online to our California Ocean Plan (COP), electronic mailing list.

(Updated 4/29/13)