Water Boards Cannabis Cultivation

Cannabis Cultivation Policy – Principles and Guidelines for Cannabis Cultivation (Cannabis Policy)
The Cannabis Policy establishes principles and guidelines (requirements) for cannabis cultivation activities to protect water quality and instream flows. The purpose of the Cannabis Policy is to ensure that the diversion of water and discharge of waste associated with cannabis cultivation does not have a negative impact on water quality, aquatic habitat, riparian habitat, wetlands, and springs. The Cannabis Policy requirements are primarily implemented through the Water Boards Cannabis Cultivation General Order and Cannabis SIUR permits in addition to the California Department of Cannabis Control Licensing Program.

Please see the Cannabis Policy page for more information.

Information regarding the Water Boards enforcement program that addresses diversions of surface water and waste discharges that could harm the waters of the State can be found on the Cannabis Cultivation Enforcement Homepage.

Water Quality - Cannabis Cultivation General Order

The purpose of the Cannabis Cultivation General Order is to ensure, to the greatest extent possible, that discharges to waters of the State do not adversely affect the quality and beneficial uses of such waters. The Cannabis Cultivation General Order is a simplified Waste Discharge Requirement (WDR) available to cannabis cultivators to regulate discharges of waste associated with cannabis cultivation. Threats of waste discharge may be from irrigation runoff, over fertilization, pond failure, road construction, grading activities, domestic and cultivation related waste, etc. The Cannabis Cultivation General Order WDRs may be referred to as a “Water Quality Permit” or a “Water Quality Protection Enrollment” by other agencies.

The Cannabis Cultivation General Order implements the Cannabis Policy requirements and addresses activities related to cannabis cultivation or associated land development. Cannabis cultivation activities may occur indoor or outdoor. All commercial cannabis cultivators must obtain coverage under the Cannabis Cultivation General Order.

Please see the Cannabis Water Quality page for more information.

Water Rights - Small Irrigation Use Registration (SIUR) for Cannabis Cultivation

The SIUR implements the Cannabis Policy which requires cannabis cultivators to forbear (or cease) from diverting surface water during the dry season.  The State Water Board has developed the Cannabis SIUR Program as an expedited process for cannabis cultivators to develop and install storage.  The Cannabis SIUR allows for the diversion and storage of up to 6.6 acre-feet per year and incorporates the requirements of the Cannabis Policy, amongst other requirements, as general conditions.

Please see the Cannabis Water Rights page for more information.

The Cannabis Policy includes requirements that support a Cannabis General Water Quality Certification (Certification) that allows cultivators to obtain streamlined water quality certifications for cannabis cultivation-related activities requiring federal permit coverage under Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 404 or Safe Rivers and Harbors Act Section 10. Such water quality certifications are required under CWA Section 401.1.  The Notice of Intent (NOI) is the application form that should be filled out and submitted for review along with the application fee to apply for coverage under the Certification for your project. Please visit the Cannabis Cultivation Program Application Portal  to submit your NOI.  Prior to submitting you NOI, please review the NOI Template and NOI instructions to ensure you have the required information.

Please see the Tools & Resources page for more information.