State Water Quality Protection Areas
Nomination for State Water Quality Protection Area – Areas of Special Biological Significance (ASBS)
What are State Water Quality Protection Areas (SWQPAs)?
State Water Quality Protection Areas (SWQPA) are nonterrestrial marine or estuarine areas designated by the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) to protect marine species or biological communities from an undesirable alteration in natural water quality.
The two subsets of SWQPA are Areas of Special Biological Signification (ASBS) and General Protection (SWQPA-GP).
- ASBS are designated by the State Water Board as ocean areas requiring protection of species or biological communities to the extent that maintenance of natural water quality is assured.
- SWQPA-GP are designated by the State Water Board to protect marine species and biological communities from an undesirable alteration in natural water quality within State Marine Parks and State Marine Conservation Areas.
More information about SWQPAs is available in the Water Quality Control Plan for Ocean Waters of California (Ocean Plan) and on the State Water Board’s Ocean Standards webpage.
Where are current Central Coast region SWQPAs located?
In 1972, the State Water Board requested coastal Regional Water Quality Control Boards (Regional Water Boards) to provide recommendations for ASBS within their regions. In 1974 and 1975, the State Water Board designated 34 ASBS along the California coast and Channel Islands including seven ASBS in the Central Coast region. No ASBS have been designated since this time and there are currently no SWQPA-GP designations.
| Central Coast region ASBS | Date Designated |
|---|---|
| Año Nuevo | March 21, 1974 |
| Pacific Grove | March 21, 1974 |
| Carmel Bay | June 19, 1975 |
| Point Lobos | March 21, 1974 |
| Julia Pfeiffer Burns | March 21, 1974 |
| Salmon Creek Coast | March 21, 1974 |
| San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz Channel Islands | March 21, 1974 |
A map of all currently designated ASBS is available on the State Water Board’s Ocean Standards California ASBS webpage.
How are SWQPA nominated?
The Ocean Plan provides that any person may submit a nomination to designate a SWQPA to the appropriate Regional Water Board. The State Water Board or a Regional Water Board may also nominate areas on their own motion. Procedures for the nomination and designation of SWQPAs are in the Ocean Plan, Appendix IV.
