Clean Water Act Section 303(d) List of Impaired Water Bodies and Section 305(b) Water Quality Assessment

Section 303(d) List of Impaired Water Bodies

Section 303(d) of the federal Clean Water Act (CWA) requires states to identify surface water bodies that do not meet water quality standards. These waters are placed on the Section 303(d) List of impaired water bodies. The List identifies the pollutant(s) causing impairment and establishes a schedule for developing a control plan. Listed water body-pollutant combinations are generally addressed through pollutant control plans called Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs).

The current Section 303(d) List for California, including the Lahontan Region, is the 2010 List.

In 2004, the State Water Board adopted the Water Quality Control Policy for Developing California’s Clean Water Act Section 303(d) List. This policy includes criteria to be used by the State and Regional Water Boards for "listing" and "delisting" water body-pollutant combinations.

Section 305(b) Water Quality Assessment Report

Section 305(b) of the CWA requires states to report biennially to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) on the water quality condition of their surface waters. The U.S.EPA compiles state assessments and reports biennially through the Water Quality Reporting Database (ATTAINS).

Updated! Proposed 2012 Section 303(d) and 305(b) Integrated Report

This is the proposed Section 303(d) and Section 305(b) Integrated Report that will be considered by the Lahontan Regional Board on June 19, 2014. The updated posting incorporates edits based on comments received during the public comment period, which ended May 19, 2014. Refer to Appendix L for a summary of modifications.

• Clean Water Act Sections 305(b) and 303(d) Integrated Report for the Lahontan Region, Public Review Draft - A summary of Lahontan Water Board staff's recommendations.
• Staff Report (updated)
  • Appendix A (updated) - Proposed New and Revised Section 303(d) Listings
  • Appendix B - Proposed Delistings
  • Appendix C (updated) - Water Body-Pollutant Combinations With Standards Violations That are Not Recommended for Listing
  • Appendix D - Category 2 Water Body Segments
  • Appendix E (updated) - Category 3 Water Body Segments
  • Appendix F - Category 4A Water Body Segments
  • Appendix G - Category 4B Water Body Segments
  • Appendix H - (updated) Category 5 Water Body Segments
  • Appendix I - Fact Sheets
  • Appendix J - Miscellaneous Changes
  • Appendix K - References
  • Appendix L - Modifications to Draft Staff Report
  • Appendix M - Comments Received and Response to Comments

Draft 2012 Section 303(d) and 305(b) Integrated Report for Public Review

For the 2012 assessment cycle, the Section 303(d) List and Section 305(b) Water Quality Assessment Report are combined into a single "Integrated Report" to satisfy the requirements of both sections of the CWA. The process involves separate actions by Regional Water Boards on recommendations to the State Water Board. The State Water Board will compile and approve a statewide Integrated Report and submit it to the USEPA for final approval.

• Clean Water Act Sections 305(b) and 303(d) Integrated Report for the Lahontan Region, Public Review Draft - A summary of Lahontan Water Board staff's recommendations.
• Staff Report
  • Appendix A - Proposed New and Revised Section 303(d) Listings
  • Appendix B - Proposed Delistings
  • Appendix C - Water Body-Pollutant Combinations With Standards Violations That are Not Recommended for Listing
  • Appendix D - Category 2 Water Body Segments
  • Appendix E - Category 3 Water Body Segments
  • Appendix F - Category 4A Water Body Segments
  • Appendix G - Category 4B Water Body Segments
  • Appendix H - Category 5 Water Body Segments
  • Appendix I - Fact Sheets
  • Appendix J - Miscellaneous Changes
  • Appendix K - References
    
    
• The Fact Sheets (Appendix I) include links to the reference documents used in the assessment. Navigate through the Table of Contents to view the water body-pollutant combination of interest.
  
  
• Addendum: Although not reflected in the draft Staff Report, Silverwood Lake is being considered for 303(d) listing for PCBs and mercury. Please refer to the fact sheets for more information. This information will be included in the Final Staff Report.
  
  
• Because of the large size of some of the appendices, the Water Board is not distributing paper copies of the entire staff report. Paper copies of the report and Appendices A through C may be requested from Daryl Kambitsch at 530-542-5400 or email: Daryl.Kambitsch@waterboards.ca.gov.


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• Written Public Comments Requested by May 19, 2014
  The public review period for the Lahontan Region’s draft Section 303(d)/305(b) assessment is now open. Written public comment are requested by 5:00 p.m. on May 19, 2014 in order to allow adequate time for preparation of written responses and for full consideration of all comments and responses by the Water Board. Please see the Request for Public Comment letter for further Information.
  • Written comments or questions regarding the assessment should be directed to Mary Fiore-Wagner or Carly Nilson, whose contact information is below.
  • Any proposed changes to staff’s recommendations, and staff’s responses to written comments submitted by May 19th, will be available prior to the Public Hearing.
    
    
• Public Hearing at the Water Board's June 18 and 19, 2014 Meeting
• Public Notice
• Draft Resolution

Changes may be made in staff recommendations as a result of written public comments and will be posted on the Water Board's Website and announced to the Water Board's electronic mailing list for the Section 303(d) List. Subscribe online to the "TMDLs-303(d) List" to receive these notifications by email. The Lahontan Water Board will hold a public hearing to consider approval of the final staff recommendations at its June 18-19, 2014 meeting.

Date:	June 18-19, 2014
Time:	Begin at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon and reconvene at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday morning
Place:	Bishop

An agenda announcement with more details on the timing of the hearing will be posted on the Water Board's Website 10 days in advance of the June 18-19 meeting.

Receive periodic updates on this topic by email. Subscribe to our TMDL email lists.

Questions or Comments?

Please contact:

Carly Nilson Staff Environmental Scientist Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board 2501 Lake Tahoe Boulevard South Lake Tahoe CA 96150 Telephone: 530-542-5445

Mary Fiore-Wagner Staff Environmental Scientist Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board 2501 Lake Tahoe Boulevard South Lake Tahoe CA 96150 Telephone: 530-542-5425

2010 Section 303(d) and 305(b) Integrated Report

For more information in regards to last review cycle’s Integrated Report, visit this web page.