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Regional Water Board Progress Updates on Tribal Beneficial Uses

The nine Regional Water Boards are in different stages of their Basin Plan Amendment processes to include the Tribal Beneficial Uses and designate surface waters. Below are ways to get involved:

  • Contact your Regional Water Board Tribal Coordinator(s) to set up a time to meet and learn about Tribal Beneficial Uses efforts and timeframes in your region.
  • Share information about Tribal Beneficial Uses with your Tribal Council and/or community.
  • Submit a letter of support to a Regional Water Board, attend a Regional Water Board meeting, and encourage your Tribe or allies to submit letters of support.
  • NEW! Review our draft Tribal Beneficial Use guidance document and email tribal-liaison@waterboards.ca.gov with feedback through November 11, 2022.

Below are the regulatory process steps for incorporating Tribal Beneficial Uses:

Step Title
Ongoing Step Engage with California Tribes and the public
Ongoing Step Prioritize Tribal Beneficial Uses in triennial reviews
Step 1 Add Tribal Beneficial Use definitions to basin plans*
Step 2 Gather information for designations
Step 3 Designate waterbodies or parts of a waterbody with Tribal Beneficial Use(s)*
Step 4 Amend or establish water quality objectives and implementation programs
Step 5 Follow the implementation program

*Steps 1 and 3 can be done at the same time

  For any questions or assistance on this page, please contact: Tribal-Liaison@waterboards.ca.gov

  Regional Water Boards' Quarterly Updates

[Del Norte, Glenn, Humboldt, Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Modoc, Siskiyou, Sonoma, Trinity counties]

TBU Progress Updates

Status Step Title
Ongoing Ongoing Step Engage with California Tribes and the public
Ongoing Ongoing Step Prioritize Tribal Beneficial Uses in triennial reviews
In Progress Step 1 Add Tribal Beneficial Use definitions to basin plans*
Step 2 Gather information for designations
Step 3 Designate waterbodies or parts of a waterbody with Tribal Beneficial Use(s)*
Step 4 Amend or establish water quality objectives and implementation programs
Step 5 Follow the implementation program

*Steps 1 and 3 can be done at the same time

Upcoming Events Related to Tribal Beneficial Uses

None Scheduled

How to Get Involved

Submit support letter to adopt Tribal Beneficial Uses definitions

Tribal Coordinator

Cody Walker
Cody.Walker@waterboards.ca.gov
(707) 576-2642

Resources

  • Basin Plan
  • Waterbodies in the Region
  • Designated Uses

  Visit the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board website.


[Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara (north of Morgan Hill), Solano, Sonoma counties]

TBU Progress Updates

Status Step Title
Ongoing Ongoing Step Engage with California Tribes and the public
Completed Ongoing Step Prioritize Tribal Beneficial Uses in triennial reviews
Step 1 Add Tribal Beneficial Use definitions to basin plans*
In Progress Step 2 Gather information for designations
Step 3 Designate waterbodies or parts of a waterbody with Tribal Beneficial Use(s)*
Step 4 Amend or establish water quality objectives and implementation programs
Step 5 Follow the implementation program

*Steps 1 and 3 can be done at the same time

Upcoming Events Related to Tribal Beneficial Uses

Individual consultations begin in June and July 2022

How to Get Involved

Send a letter to Sami Harper with interest

Tribal Coordinator

Sami Harper
Samantha.Harper@waterboards.ca.gov
(510) 622-2415

Resources

  Visit the San Francisco Regional Water Quality Control Board website.


[Kern (small portions), Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo (southern portion), Santa Barbara, Santa Clara (south of Morgan Hill), Santa Cruz, Ventura (northern portion) counties]

TBU Progress Updates

Status Step Title
Ongoing Ongoing Step Engage with California Tribes and the public
In Progress Ongoing Step Prioritize Tribal Beneficial Uses in triennial reviews
Step 1 Add Tribal Beneficial Use definitions to basin plans*
Step 2 Gather information for designations
Step 3 Designate waterbodies or parts of a waterbody with Tribal Beneficial Use(s)*
Step 4 Amend or establish water quality objectives and implementation programs
Step 5 Follow the implementation program

*Steps 1 and 3 can be done at the same time

Upcoming Events Related to Tribal Beneficial Uses

2024: Next Triennial Review

How to Get Involved

Submit support letter to prioritize Tribal Beneficial Uses in the Triennial Review

Tribal Coordinator

Angela Schroeter
Angela.Schroeter@waterboards.ca.gov
(805) 542-4644

Resources

  Visit the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board website.


[Kern (small portions), Los Angeles, Santa Barbara (small portions), Ventura counties]

TBU Progress Updates

Status Step Title
Ongoing Ongoing Step Engage with California Tribes and the public
Completed Ongoing Step Prioritize Tribal Beneficial Uses in triennial reviews
Completed Step 1 Add Tribal Beneficial Use definitions to basin plans*
In Progress Step 2 Gather information for designations
Step 3 Designate waterbodies or parts of a waterbody with Tribal Beneficial Use(s)*
Step 4 Amend or establish water quality objectives and implementation programs
Step 5 Follow the implementation program

*Steps 1 and 3 can be done at the same time

Upcoming Events Related to Tribal Beneficial Uses

2022: 3rd Quarter Designations Workshop(s) and Meetings

How to Get Involved

Contact Tribal Coordinator for more information

Tribal Coordinator

Susana Lagudis
Susana.Lagudis@waterboards.ca.gov
(213) 576-6694

Resources

  Visit the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board website.


[Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Contra Costa (East), El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Kern, Kings, Lassen, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Modoc, Nevada, Napa, (N. East), Placer, Plumas, Lake, Sierra, Shasta, Sutter, Solano (West), Sacramento, San Joaquin, Tuolumne, Tehama, Tulare, Stanislaus, Yolo, Yuba, (Very small portions of San Benito, San Luis Obispo) counties]

TBU Progress Updates

Status Step Title
Ongoing Ongoing Step Engage with California Tribes and the public
Completed Ongoing Step Prioritize Tribal Beneficial Uses in triennial reviews
In Progress Step 1 Add Tribal Beneficial Use definitions to basin plans*
In Progress Step 2 Gather information for designations
Step 3 Designate waterbodies or parts of a waterbody with Tribal Beneficial Use(s)*
Step 4 Amend or establish water quality objectives and implementation programs
Step 5 Follow the implementation program

*Steps 1 and 3 can be done at the same time

Upcoming Events Related to Tribal Beneficial Uses

None at this time

How to Get Involved

Submit letters to request Tribal Beneficial Uses designations

Tribal Coordinator

Adriana Ross

Adriana.Ross@waterboards.ca.gov
(559) 455-5576

Resources

  Visit the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board website.


[Alpine, El Dorado, Inyo, Kern (East), Lassen (East side and Eagle Lake), Los Angeles (N/E corner), Modoc (East), Mono, Nevada, Placer, San Bernardino, Sierra counties]

TBU Progress Updates

Status Step Title
Ongoing Ongoing Step Engage with California Tribes and the public
Completed Ongoing Step Prioritize Tribal Beneficial Uses in triennial reviews
Completed Step 1 Add Tribal Beneficial Use definitions to basin plans*
In Progress Step 2 Gather information for designations
Step 3 Designate waterbodies or parts of a waterbody with Tribal Beneficial Use(s)*
Step 4 Amend or establish water quality objectives and implementation programs
Step 5 Follow the implementation program

*Steps 1 and 3 can be done at the same time

Upcoming Events Related to Tribal Beneficial Uses

None scheduled

How to Get Involved

Submit letters to request Tribal Beneficial Use designations

Tribal Coordinator

Danny McClure
Daniel.McClure@waterboards.ca.gov
(530) 542-5443

Resources

  Visit the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board website.


[Imperial, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego counties]

TBU Progress Updates

Status Step Title
Ongoing Ongoing Step Engage with California Tribes and the public
Completed Ongoing Step Prioritize Tribal Beneficial Uses in triennial reviews
In Progress Step 1 Add Tribal Beneficial Use definitions to basin plans*
Step 2 Gather information for designations
Step 3 Designate waterbodies or parts of a waterbody with Tribal Beneficial Use(s)*
Step 4 Amend or establish water quality objectives and implementation programs
Step 5 Follow the implementation program

*Steps 1 and 3 can be done at the same time

Upcoming Events Related to Tribal Beneficial Uses

2022: begin outreach for a Basin Plan Amendment to adopt Tribal Beneficial Uses definitions

How to Get Involved

Submit support letter to adopt Tribal Beneficial Uses definitions

Tribal Coordinator

Maria Davydova-Flores
Maria.Davydova-Flores@waterboards.ca.gov
(760) 776-8947

Resources

  Visit the Colorado River Basin Regional Water Quality Control Board website.


[Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino counties]

TBU Progress Updates

Status Step Title
Ongoing Ongoing Step Engage with California Tribes and the public
Ongoing Ongoing Step Prioritize Tribal Beneficial Uses in triennial reviews
In Progress Step 1 Add Tribal Beneficial Use definitions to basin plans*
Step 2 Gather information for designations
Step 3 Designate waterbodies or parts of a waterbody with Tribal Beneficial Use(s)*
Step 4 Amend or establish water quality objectives and implementation programs
Step 5 Follow the implementation program

*Steps 1 and 3 can be done at the same time

Upcoming Events Related to Tribal Beneficial Uses

2023 TBD: Triennial Review Start

How to Get Involved

Submit support letter to adopt Tribal Beneficial Uses definitions

Tribal Coordinator

Claudia Tenorio
Claudia.Tenorio@waterboards.ca.gov
(951) 782-4963

Resources

  Visit the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board website.


[Imperial, Riverside, San Diego counties]

TBU Progress Updates

Status Step Title
Ongoing Ongoing Step Engage with California Tribes and the public
Completed Ongoing Step Prioritize Tribal Beneficial Uses in triennial reviews
Completed Step 1 Add Tribal Beneficial Use definitions to basin plans*
In Progress Step 2 Gather information for designations
Step 3 Designate waterbodies or parts of a waterbody with Tribal Beneficial Use(s)*
Step 4 Amend or establish water quality objectives and implementation programs
Step 5 Follow the implementation program

*Steps 1 and 3 can be done at the same time

Upcoming Events Related to Tribal Beneficial Uses

None at this time

How to Get Involved

Submit support letter to designate waterbodies with Tribal Beneficial Uses

Tribal Coordinator

Melissa Corona
Melissa.Corona@waterboards.ca.gov
(619) 521-8039

Resources

  Visit the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board website.

  Regional Water Boards Map

  State Water Board Division's Quarterly Updates

Upcoming Events Related to Tribal Beneficial Uses

The SWAMP Bioaccumulation Monitoring Program (Program) works with its many partners to answer the question: Is it safe to eat fish and shellfish in California waters that the public and tribes use for consumption, subsistence, and/or cultural purposes? The Program is undergoing a long-term (10+ year) Realignment effort to focus on incorporating Tribal perspectives and needs into its monitoring efforts and ensuring those data and information are useful and used by tribes who rely on waterbodies for traditional, cultural, and subsistence uses. The Program has also begun implementing their statewide Tribal Engagement Plan to initiate introductions between Realignment staff and tribes, explain the Program and Realignment process, and gauge Tribal interest and readiness to participate in future Realignment cycles.

How to Get Involved

To participate in the Tribal Engagement Process and schedule an introductory meeting with Program staff, please complete the Tribal Engagement Interest Form to indicate your interest in connecting with us, your availability to set up a meeting, who should be included in the meeting invitation, and their contact information. There is no deadline to complete the form.

Tribal Coordinator

Anna Holder
Anna.Holder@waterboards.ca.gov
(916) 341-5096

Resources

  Visit the Office of Information Management and Analysis web page.


TBU Progress Updates

Status Step Title
Ongoing Ongoing Step Engage with California Tribes and the public
Completed Ongoing Step Prioritize Tribal Beneficial Uses in triennial reviews
In Progress Step 1 Add Tribal Beneficial Use definitions to basin plans*
Step 2 Gather information for designations
Step 3 Designate waterbodies or parts of a waterbody with Tribal Beneficial Use(s)*
Step 4 Amend or establish water quality objectives and implementation programs
Step 5 Follow the implementation program

*Steps 1 and 3 can be done at the same time

Upcoming Events Related to Tribal Beneficial Uses

None Scheduled

How to Get Involved

Submit support letter to adopt Tribal Beneficial Uses definitions

Tribal Coordinator

Taran Sahota
Taranjot.Sahota@waterboards.ca.gov
(916) 327-8679

Resources

  Visit the Division of Water Quality web page.