Total Maximum Daily Load Program

• Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) Information:
  • Background
  • Development of TMDLs
  • Current TMDL Status
  • Total Maximum Daily Loads Questions and Answers (PDF-255KB)
    
  
  
• Political and Legislative Documents: View reports to the Legislature
  
  
• Regional Board TMDL Information
  

  Region 1 Region 2 Region 3

  Region 4 Region 5 Region 6

  Region 7 Region 8 Region 9

ANNOUNCEMENTS and DOCUMENTATION

Select your area of interest and jump to the applicable section below:

• Statewide Information
• RB1 - North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board
• RB2 - San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board
• RB3 - Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board
• RB4 - Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board
• RB5 - Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board
• RB6 - Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board
• RB7 - Colorado River Basin Regional Water Quality Control Board
• RB8 - Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board
• RB9 - San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board

Statewide Information

Questions on specific topics can be directed to the staff person listed in the public notice.

• Impaired Waters Guidance and Policy
  The State Water Board approved the TMDL Guidance and the Water Quality Control Policy for Addressing Impaired Waters: Regulatory Structure and Options (TMDL Policy) by resolution 2005-0050 on June 16, 2005. The TMDL Policy was approved by the Office of Administrative Law on April 10, 2006. (updated 5/3/06)
  
  • Impaired Waters Guidance (2.5 MB)
    
  • Impaired Waters Guidance Appendices A-F   (17.5 MB)
    You can also select an individual appendix:
    • Appendix A - Basin Plan Amendment Process (2.9 MB)
    • Appendix B - SWRCB Memos Related to TMDL Development (3.4 MB)
    • Appendix C - Use Attainability Analysis and Site-Specific Objectives (1.7 MB)
    • Appendix D - Report Templates (990 KB)
    • Appendix E - Case Studies (4.7 MB)
    • Appendix F - Stakeholder Involvement (3.8 MB)
      
  • Water Quality Control Policy for Addressing Impaired Waters: Regulatory Structure and Options (June 1, 2005)  (314KB)

RB1 - North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board

Questions on specific topics can be directed to the staff person listed in the public notice.

• Shasta River Watershed - Dissolved Oxygen and Temperature
  A Proposed Amendment to the Water Quality Control Plan for the North Coast Region that would establish TMDLs for dissolved Oxygen and Temperature in the Shasta River Watershed.
  
  • Notice of Opportunity for Comment
  • Public Comments Deadline: November 1, 2006 (Noon)
  • Drafted Agenda Item and Resolution    (attachment)
  • Proposed TMDL for Dissolved Oxygen and Temperature in the Shasta River Watershed
  
  
• Scott River Watershed - Sediment and Temperature
  A Proposed Amendment to the Water Quality Control Plan for the North Coast Region that would Incorporate a TMDL for Sediment and Temperature in the Scott River Watershed.
  • Notice of Opportunity for Additional Public Comment: Comments must be limited specifically to how to improve the implementation plan and specific recommendations on flow options that the State Water Board might take in the watershed.
  • Public Comments Deadline: May 10, 2006 (5 pm)
  • Notice of Opportunity for Public Comment: Comment Deadline: April 12, 2006 (5 pm)
  • Proposed TMDL for Sediment and Temperature in the Scott River Watershed
  • State Water Board Item Language and Draft Resolution
    

RB2 - San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board

Questions on specific topics can be directed to the staff person listed in the public notice.

• Walker Creek Mercury Watershed TMDL
  The State Water Board will accept comment on the proposed approval of an amendment to the Basin Plan to reduce mercury in the Walker Creek Watershed.

  • Public Notice.
  • Public Comments - Comment deadline: June 12, 2008 by 12 p.m.
    
    
• Napa River - Sediment TMDL
  The State Water Resources Control Board will now accept comments on the proposed approval of an amendment to the Basin Plan that would establish a program to control excessive sediment and achieve related habitat enhancement goals in the Napa River Watershed.
  • Notice of Withdrawal from Consideration
    • Request to Withdraw from San Francisco Bay Regional Board
  • Public Notice - Comment deadline: May 8, 2008 by 12 p.m.
  • Draft Resolution
  • Resolution R2-2007-0011
  • Staff Report
    
    
    
• San Francisco Bay - Site-Specific Objectives for Copper
  A Proposed Amendment to the Basin Plan that would adopt site-specific objectives for copper in San Francisco Bay.
  • Notice of Opportunity for Public Comment
  • Public Comments Deadline: December 7, 2007 (Noon)
  • Draft Agenda Item and Resolution
    • Resolution No. R2-2007-0042 with Exhibit A - Proposed Amendment
      
      
• San Francisco Bay Region Basin Plan - Dredge Sediment
  A Proposed Amendment to the Water Quality Control Plan for the San Francisco Bay Region (Basin Plan) concerning the disposal of dredge sediment
  • Public Notice
  • Public Comments Deadline:  August 28, 2007
  • Draft Agenda Item
    
    
• Napa River Watershed - Pathogens
  A Proposed Amendment to the Water Quality Control Plan for the San Francisco Bay Region to Establish a Total Maximum Daily Load and Implementation Plan for Pathogens in the Napa River Watershed.
  
  • Public Notice - Comment Deadline extended to August 3, 2007 (noon)
  • Notice of Opportunity for Public Comment
  • Public Comments Deadline: June 29, 2007 (Noon)
  • Draft Agenda
    • R2-2006-0079 - San Francisco Bay Water Board Resolution - Adopted November 13, 2006
  • Proposed TMDL for Pathogens in the Napa River Watershed
  
  

• San Francisco Bay - Mercury
  A Proposed Amendment to the Water Quality Control Plan for the San Francisco Bay Region to establish mercury fish tissue objectives, vacate a mercury water quality objective, and establish a total maximum daily load (TMDL) for mercury in San Francisco Bay.
  • Public Notice
  • Public Comments Deadline: April 4, 2007 (Noon)
  • Draft Agenda Item
    • R2-2006-0052 - San Francisco Bay Water Board Resolution, Adopted August 9, 2006
      
  • San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board Response to State Water Board Resolution No. 2005-0026 Regarding the Proposed San Francisco Bay Mercury TMDL (5/23/05)
    
  
  
• Urban Creeks - Pesticide Toxicity TMDL
  A Proposed Amendment to the Water Quality Control Plan for the San Francisco Bay Region to establish a Water Quality Attainment Strategy and Total Maximum Daily Load in the Bay Area Urban Creeks. 
  
  • Notice of Opportunity for Public Comment
  • Public Comments Deadline: September 22, 2006 (5 pm)
  • State Water Board Draft Agenda and Draft Resolution
  • Staff Report
  
  
• Tomales Bay Watershed - Pathogens
  A Proposed Amendment to the Water Quality Control Plan for the San Francisco Bay Region that would establish TMDL for Pathogens in the Tomales Bay Watershed. 
  
  • Notice of Opportunity for Public Comment
  • Public Comments Deadline: May 4, 2006 (5 pm)
  • State Water Board Draft Agenda and Draft Resolution
  • Staff Report
    
    

RB3 - Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board

Questions on specific topics can be directed to the staff person listed in the public notice.

• Pajaro River - Sediment
  A Proposed Amendment to the Water Quality Control Plan for the Central Coast Region to Establish Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) and a Land Disturbance Prohibition for Sediment in Pajaro River (Including Llagas Creek, Rider Creek, and San Benito River).
  
  • Notice of Opportunity - Comment Deadline: September 1, 2006 (5 pm)
    
  • State Water Board Draft Agenda and Draft Resolution
    
    
• San Luis Obispo Creek - Nitrate-Nitrogen
  A Proposed Amendment to the Water Quality Control Plan for the Central Coast Region (Basin Plan) to Establish a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for Nitrate-Nitrogen in San Luis Obispo Creek.
  
  • Notice of Opportunity - Comment Deadline: June 14, 2006 (5 pm).
    
  • State Water Board Draft Agenda and Draft Resolution
    
  • Regional Board Resolution No. R3-2005-0106
    
    
• Watsonville Slough - Pathogens
  A proposed amendment to the Water Quality Control Plan for the Central Coast Region to establish a Watsonville Slough Total Maximum Daily Load for pathogens, establish a Watsonville Slough Watershed livestock waste discharge prohibition, and to remove the shellfish harvesting beneficial use from Watsonville Slough and Tributaries.
  • Notice of Opportunity - Comment Deadline: September 15, 2006 (5 pm)
    
  • State Water Board Draft Agenda and Draft Resolution
  • Regional Board Support Material:
    • Staff Report
    • Regional Board Resolution
    • Project Report (6.64 MB)
      • Appendix A
      • Appendix B
      • Appendix C

RB4 - Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board

Questions on specific topics can be directed to the staff person listed in the public notice.

• Ventura Harbor Beaches Bacteria TMDL
  The State Water Board will accept comments on the proposed approval of an amendment to the Basin Plan that would incorporate a TMDL for bacteria in the harbor beaches of Ventura County.

  • Notice of Public Comment
    • Public Comments
  • Draft Amendment to Resolution No. R2007-017
    
    
• Los Angeles River - TMDL for Metals
  The State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) will accept comments on the proposed approval of an amendment to the Basin Plan that would establish a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for metals in the Los Angeles River.
  • Notice of Opportunity for Public Comment - Deadline May 15, 2008 (Noon)
  • Draft Agenda Item and Resolution
    
    
• Ballona Creek - TMDL for Metals
  The State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) will accept comments on the proposed approval of an amendment to the Basin Plan that would establish a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for metals in Ballona Creek.
  • Notice of Opportunity for Public Comment - Deadline May 15, 2008 (Noon)
  • Draft Agenda Item and Resolution
    
    
• Calleguas Creek Watershed - TMDL for Boron, Chloride, Sulfate, and Total Dissolved Solids (SALTS)
  A Proposed Amendment to the Water Quality Control Plan for the Los Angeles Region (Basin Plan) to incorporate a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for boron, chloride, sulfate, and total dissolved solids (SALTS) in the Calleguas Creek Watershed.
  • Notice of Opportunity for Public Comment - Deadline: May 8, 2008 (Noon)
  • Draft Agenda Item and Resolution
    
    
• Los Angeles River Watershed - TMDL for Trash
  A Proposed Amendment to the Water Quality Control Plan for the Los Angeles Region (Basin Plan) to incorporate a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for Trash in the Los Angeles River Watershed.
  • Notice of Opportunity for Public Comment - Deadline: March 5, 2008 (Noon)
  • Public Comments
  • Draft Agenda Item and Resolution
    • Attachment - Los Angeles Regional Water Board - Resolution Resolution R4-2007-012
      
      
• Ventura River Estuary - TMDL for Trash
  A Proposed Amendment to the Basin Plan for the Los Angeles Region that would establish a Total Maximum Daily Load for trash in the Ventura River Estuary.
  • Notice of Opportunity for Public Comment - Deadline: November 1, 2007 (Noon)
  • Draft Agenda Item, Draft Resolution and Proposed Amendment
  • Revised Resolution (12/3/07)
  • Executive Officer Memo and minor, non-substantive changes made to the Basin Plan amendment language on October 31, 2007
    
    
• Lake Elizabeth, Munz Lake and Lake Hughes - TMDL for Trash
  A Proposed Amendment to the Basin Plan for the Los Angeles Region that would establish a Total Maximum Daily Load for trash in Lake Elizabeth, Munz Lake, and Lake Hughes.
  • Notice of Opportunity for Public Comment  - Deadline: November 1, 2007 (Noon)
  • Draft Agenda Item, Draft Resolution and Proposed Amendment
  • Revised Resolution (12/3/07)
  • Executive Officer Memo and minor, non-substantive changes made to the Basin Plan amendment language on October 31, 2007
    
    
• Legg Lake - TMDL for Trash
  A Proposed Amendment to the Basin Plan for the Los Angeles Region that would establish a TMDL for trash in Legg Lake.
  • Notice of Opportunity for Public Comment  - Deadline: November 1, 2007 (Noon)
  • Draft Agenda Item, Draft Resolution and Proposed Amendment
  • Revised Resolution (12/3/07)
  • Executive Officer Memo and minor, non-substantive changes made to the Basin Plan amendment language on October 31, 2007
    
    
• Machado Lake - TMDL for Trash
  A Proposed Amendment to the Basin Plan for the Los Angeles Region that would establish a TMDL for trash in Machado Lake.
  • Notice of Opportunity for Public Comment  - Deadline: November 1, 2007 (Noon)
  • Draft Agenda Item, Draft Resolution and Proposed Amendment
  • Revised Resolution (12/3/07)
  • Executive Officer Memo and minor, non-substantive changes made to the Basin Plan amendment language on October 31, 2007
    
    
• Revolon Slough and Beardsley Wash
  A Proposed Amendment to the Basin Plan for the Los Angeles Region that would establish a Total Maximum Daily Load for trash in Revolon Slough and Beardsley Wash.
  • Notice of Opportunity for Public Comment - Deadline: November 1, 2007 (Noon)
  • Draft Agenda Item, Draft Resolution and Proposed Amendment
  • Revised Resolution (12/3/07)
  • Executive Officer Memo and minor, non-substantive changes made to the Basin Plan amendment language on October 31, 2007
    
    
• Los Angeles Region/Santa Clara River, Los Angeles River, and San Gabriel River Watersheds -
  Site-Specific Objectives for Ammonia in Select Waterbodies
  A Proposed Amendment to the Water Quality Control Plan for the Los Angeles Region (Basin Plan) to incorporate site-specific objectives for Ammonia in select waterbodies of the Santa Clara River, Los Angeles River, and San Gabriel River Watersheds.
  • Notice
  • Public Comments Deadline: December 20, 2007 (12 p.m.)
  • Resolution 2007-005 (RB4)
    
    
• Ballona Creek, Ballona Estuary and Sepulveda Channel - TMDL for Bacteria
  A Proposed Amendment to the Water Quality Control Plan for the Los Angeles Region that would establish a Total Maximum Daily Load for Bacterial in Ballona Creek, Ballona Estuary and Sepulveda Channel.
  • Notice of Opportunity for Public Comment 
  • Public Comments  Deadline: October 20, 2006 (Noon)
  • Proposed Amendment
  • State Water Board Draft Agenda Item and Resolution
  • Los Angeles RWQCB Resolution 2006-011 - Adopted 6/8/06
    
    
• San Gabriel River and Impaired Tributaries - TMDL for Metals and Selenium
  A Proposed Amendment to the Water Quality Control Plan for the Los Angeles Region that would establish a Total Maximum Daily Load for Metals and Selenium in San Gabriel River and Impaired Tributaries.
  • Notice of Opportunity for Public Comment
  • Public Comments Deadline: October 27, 2006 (Noon)
  • Proposed Amendment
  • State Water Board Draft Agenda Item and Resolution
  • Los Angeles RWQCB Resolution 2006-014 - Adopted 7/13/06
    
    
• Calleguas Creek Metals TMDL
  A Proposed Amendment to the Water Quality Control Plan for the Los Angeles Region that would establish a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for Metals and Selenium in Calleguas Creek, its Tributaries, and Mugu Lagoon. 
  • Notice of Opportunity for Public Comment
  • Public Comments Deadline: October 6, 2006 (5 pm)
  • Proposed Amendment
    
  • State Water Board Draft Agenda Item and Resolution
    
  
  
• Upper Santa Clara River - Chloride TMDL
  A Proposed Amendment to the Water Quality Control Plan for the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board approving an amendment to the Water Quality Control Plan for the Los Angeles Region revising the implementation plan for the Upper Santa Clara River Chloride Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL).
  • Notice of Opportunity for Public Comment
  • Public Comments Deadline: April 4, 2007 (Noon)
  • Draft Agenda Item
  • Draft Resolution
    
    

RB5 - Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board

Questions on specific topics can be directed to the staff person listed in the public notice.

• Sacramento River and San Joaquin River Basins - Water Quality Objectives for pH and Turbidity
  A Proposed Amendment to the Water Quality Control Plan for the Sacramento River and San Joaquin River Basins to Revise Water Quality Objectives for pH and Turbidity.
  • Notice of Opportunity for Public Comment Deadline: August 8, 2008
  • Draft Agenda Item and Draft Resolution
  • Central Valley Water Board Amendments for pH and Turbidity
    
    
• Sulphur Creek, Colusa County - Mercury
  A Proposed Amendment to the Water Quality Control Plan for the Sacramento River and San Joaquin River Basins (Basin Plan) to determine that certain beneficial uses are not applicable and establish water quality objectives for mercury in Sulphur Creek, Colusa County
  
  • Notice of Opportunity for Public Comment Deadline: February 29, 2008
  • Draft Agenda Item and Draft Resolution
    
    
• Sacramento and Feather Rivers - Diazinon and Chlorpyrifos Runoff
  • Notice of Opportunity for Public Comment
  • State Water Board Draft Agenda Item and Draft Resolution
  • Sacramento and Feather Rivers Diazinon and Chlorpyrifos - 2007 Basin Plan
    
    
• Clear Lake Nutrient TMDL
  A Proposed Amendment to the Water Quality Control Plan for the Central Valley Region, incorporating a plan for control of nutrients in Clear Lake.
  • Notice of Opportunity for Public Comment
  • Public Comments Deadline: March 19, 2007 (Noon)
  • Resolution R5-2006-0060 and Amendment
  • State Water Board Item Language and Draft Resolution
    
    
• Cache Creek, Bear Creek, Sulphur Creek, and Harley Gulch - Mercury TMDL
  A Proposed Amendment to the Water Quality Control Plan for the Central Valley Region, Incorporating a Plan for Control of Mercury in Cache Creek, Bear Creek, Sulphur Creek, and Harley Gulch.
  
  • Notice of Opportunity for Further Public Comment. Deadline: 7/10/06 (5 pm)
  • Notice of Opportunity for Public Comment. Deadline: 6/30/06 (5 pm)
  • Public Comments
  • State Water Board Responses to Public Comments
  • Proposed Amendment
  • State Water Board Item Language and Draft Resolution
    

• Lower San Joaquin River - Diazinon & Chlorpyrifos Runoff
  A Proposed Amendment to the Water Quality Control Plan for the Sacramento River and San Joaquin River Basins of the Central Valley Region that would incorporate a Program for Control of Diazinon and Chlorpyrifos Runoff into the Lower San Joaquin River.
  • Notice of Additional Opportunity for Public Comment
  • Public Comments Deadline: April 3, 2006 (5 pm)
  • Proposed Program for Control of Diazinon and Chlorpyrifos Runoff into the Lower San Joaquin River
  • State Water Board Item Language and Draft Resolution
    
    
• Lower San Joaquin River - Salt & Boron  AND
  Stockton Deep Water Ship Channel - Dissolved Oxygen Impairment
  Two Proposed Amendments to the Water Quality Control Plan for the Central Valley Region
  1. TMDL for the Control of Salt and Boron Discharges into the Lower San Joaquin River, and
  2. TMDL to Control Factors Contributing to Dissolved Oxygen Impairment in the Stockton Deep Water Ship Channel.
     
  • Notice of Additional Opportunity for Public Comment - Deadline: October 31, 2005
    
    
• Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta - Diazinon & Chlorpyrifos Runoff
  NA Proposed Amendment to the Water Quality Control Plan for the Sacramento River and San Joaquin River Basins that would establish a program for the control of diazinon and chlorpyrifos runoff into the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta Waterways.
• Notice of Opportunity for Public Comment
• Public Comments Deadline: May 2, 2007 (Noon)
• Draft Agenda Item and Draft Resolution
  
  

RB6 - Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board

Questions on specific topics can be directed to the staff person listed in the public notice.

• Squaw Creek - TMDL for Sediment
  A Proposed Amendment to the Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region that would establish a Total Maximum Daily Load for Sediment in Squaw Creek, Placer County.
  • Notice of Opportunity for Public Comment 
  • Public Comments Deadline: February 8, 2007 (1 pm)
  • State Water Board Draft Agenda Item and Draft Resolution and (attachment)
  • Lahontan Water Board Resolution 2006-0017 - Adopted April 13, 2006
  • Staff Report
    

RB7 - Colorado River Basin Water Quality Control Board

Questions on specific topics can be directed to the staff person listed in the public notice.

• Coachella Valley Storm Water Channel - Bacterial Indicators
  A Proposed Amendment to the Colorado River Basin Region (Basin Plan) that would establish a Total Maximum Daily Load and implementation plan for bacterial indicators in the Coachella Valley Storm Water Channel.
  • Notice of Withdrawal
    • Colorado RiverRequest to Withdraw
  • Notice of Opportunity for Public Comment - Deadline: January 22, 2008 (12 p.m.)
    • Public Comments
  • State Water Board Draft Agenda Item and Draft Resolution
  • Proposed TMDL for Bacterial Indicators in the Coachella Valley Storm Water Channel with Executive Officer corrections
  • Staff Report and Other Information for Bacterial Indicators in the Coachella Valley Storm Water Channel
    

RB8 - Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board

Questions on specific topics can be directed to the staff person listed in the public notice.

• Big Bear Lake - Nutrient TMDL for Dry Hydrological Conditions
  A Proposed Amendment to the Water Quality Control Plan for the Santa Ana Region (Basin Plan) to establish a nutrient Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for dry hydrological conditions for Big Bear Lake.
  • Notice of Opportunity for Public Comment
  • Public Comments Deadline: March 19, 2007 (Noon)
  • State Water Board Item Language and Draft Resolution
    

RB9 - San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board

Questions on specific topics can be directed to the staff person listed in the public notice.

• Chollas Creek TMDL
  The State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) will accept comments on the proposed approval of an amendment to the Basin Plan that would adopt TMDLs for dissolved copper, lead, and zink in Chollas Creek, which is tributary to San Diego Bay.
  • Public Comments: Deadline to receive comments July 7, 2008 by 12 p.m.
  • Notice of Opportunity for Public Comment Deadline: July 7, 2008 (Noon)
  • State Water Board Draft Agenda Item and Draft Resolution