None at this time

The Outstanding National Resource Waters (ONRW) Project (Project) is being developed as a proposed Basin Plan amendment. ONRW is a special classification under the federal Antidegradation Policy (which is part of the federal Clean Water Act) that represents the highest tier of antidegradation and affords the maximum level of waterbody protection where designated. Staff are working with California Trout, Inc. (CalTrout) and several other nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in the development of materials to support designation of Cedar and Elder Creeks, tributaries to the South Fork Eel River in Mendocino County, California as ONRWs.

To date in California only Mono Lake and Lake Tahoe, located within the Lahontan Region , have received ONRW designation. This Project is the first to consider ONRW designation in the North Coast Region. As currently scoped the Project would amend the Basin Plan to: 1) update Chapter 3 with a revised summary of the federal and state Antidegradation Policies and include a definition for ONRWs; 2) establish a new section in Chapter 5 to incorporate a program of implementation for waterbodies designated ONRW, and 3) designate Cedar and Elder Creeks as ONRWs. In addition, the Project would establish a process for nominating candidate North Coast waterbodies for ONRW designation and establish the regulatory process for designating North Coast waterbodies as ONRW, based on the process developed to designate Cedar and Elder Creeks.

This Project emerged as a priority during the 2023 Triennial Review, which reaffirmed the importance of safeguarding high‑quality waters across the North Coast, particularly those that support rare or sensitive species, provide cold‑water refugia, or serve as climate‑resilient strongholds. Building on that direction, the North Coast Water Board has initiated a structured planning effort to evaluate potential ONRW designations, establish clear criteria and processes, and ensure transparent public engagement.

Known as Tier 3 waters under the federal Antidegradation Policy, ONRW designation is for high quality waters recognized for their exceptional recreational or ecological significance, and no water quality degradation is allowed for waterbodies designated as ONRW. The Statement of Policy with Respect to Maintaining High Quality of Waters in California, adopted by the State Water Board in Resolution 68-16 (State Antidegradation Policy), was adopted to prevent degradation of surface water and groundwater in California. The State Water Board has interpreted the State Antidegradation Policy to incorporate the federal Antidegradation Policy where the federal policy applies.

A central focus of the current Project is developing a program of implementation for ONRW waters in the North Coast, establishing a regulatory backstop to maintain and protect waters designated ONRW from potential water quality degradation. Further, the Project will consider designating the Elder and Cedar Creek watersheds as ONRWs, subject to the program of implementation.

Based on staff’s preliminary assessment of baseline water quality data and environmental conditions, Elder and Cedar Creeks appear to qualify for designation as ONRWs having high water quality, regional and international significance for their ecological and research values, and for providing important refugial habitat for vulnerable ecosystems and species within the South Fork Eel River watershed. South Fork Eel River is designated a Wild and Scenic River. Both Cedar and Elder Creeks produce remarkably consistent cold, high-quality baseflow even during severe drought years, providing important ecological value as refugial habitat, enhancing temperatures and flows of the South Fork Eel River, and providing protection of resident and anadromous fish (including coho, chinook and steelhead) among other cold water species and associated beneficial uses. Designating Elder and Cedar Creeks ONRWs would provide them with protection against degradation, thereby serving as a regulatory adaptation to the impacts of extreme weather events and climate change.

The program of implementation that will be developed for waterbodies designated ONRW in the North Coast would apply first to Elder and Cedar Creek watersheds, and subsequently to waterbodies that may be designated under separate Basin Plan amendment projects. Through collaboration with NGO partners, Tribal governments, state and federal agencies, and local communities, the Project team is developing a technical and regulatory foundation to support ONRW designations. This includes evaluating existing environmental conditions, identifying the types of activities that could affect the quality of ONRWs, and developing a program of implementation that aligns with both federal and state requirements and California’s Basin Plan amendment process. Overall, the ONRW Project represents an important opportunity to secure durable protection for exceptional North Coast waters and ensures that the region’s most extraordinary waters remain healthy for generations to come.

The project has shifted from developing a narrative water quality objective for flow to pursuing a basin plan amendment in Chapter 5, Regionwide Implementation, Prohibitions, Plans, and Policies. This amendment would establish a foundation to address water quality impacts associated with hydrologic changes and deliver direct improvements in water quality. Key elements include policies and implementation tools for addressing impacts on hydrologic function, hydromodification and runoff management, and water conservation.