Water Quality Certification Program

Announcements

• On May 30, 2023, the State Water Board issued a Notice of Preparation and Scoping Meetings for an Environmental Impact Report for the Kerckhoff Hydroelectric Project
• On May 26, 2023, the State Water Board issued a Public Notice for the Removal and Decommissioning of the Kanaka Powerhouse for the Kanaka Hydroelectric Project (FERC Project No. 7242) License Surrender.
• On May 24, 2023, the State Water Board issued a Public Notice for the Merced River Agricultural Diversion and Fish Habitat Enhancement Project.
• On April 21, 2023, the State Water Board issued a Public Notice for the Big Creek Dam 7 Fishwater Generator Room Repairs Project.
• On April 14, 2023, the State Water Board issued a Notice of Applicability for the McCloud Spillway Drilling Project.
• On April 14, 2023, the State Water Board Issued a Public Notice for the San Gorgonio Flowline Line No. 1 Repair Project.
• On April 14, 2023, the State Water Board issued a Draft Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration and a Notice of Intent to Adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Lake Isabella Hydroelectric Project License Amendment.
• On April 11, 2023, the State Water Board Issued a Public Notice for the Jackson Lake Dam Toe Slope Protection and Jackson Creek Weir Replacement Project.

Useful Information

• Water Quality Certification Program Overview
• Application Form (under development)
  This document is not yet available. Please use the Water Quality Application Form, or any of the Regional Water Quality Control Board application forms. Transmit the completed form with a cover letter requesting certification from the Division of Water Rights to:
  • Eileen Sobeck, Executive Director
    State Water Resource Control Board
    P.O. Box 2000
    Sacramento, CA 95812-2000
• Memorandum of Understanding - Executed November 19, 2013
  Pre-Application Coordination Activities between State Water Board and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
• Drought Information
  • Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Letter to California Hydropower Licensees – February 6, 2014
    On February 6, 2014, FERC issued a letter offering assistance to California hydropower licensees during the 2014 drought. Additional information related to the State Water Board's drought activities can be found on the State Water Board's Drought Webpage.
  • State Water Resources Control Board Letter to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Regarding Drought Assistance for California Hydropower Projects - March 11, 2014
  • Response Letter from FERC regarding 2014 California Drought Issues – March 25, 2014
  • Letter from California Energy Commission to Electricity Generation Owners - March 27, 2014
• Petitions for Reconsideration (Petitions)
• Petitions shall be submitted in writing to and received by the State Water Board within 30 days of any action or failure to act taken by the Executive Director.  Petitions of water quality certifications and related environmental documents for projects handled by the Division of Water Rights (e.g., FERC hydropower projects, projects involving a diversion of water) should be submitted via email or hard copy, as follows:
  • E-mail to: WR401program@waterboards.ca.gov
  • Mail to: State Water Resources Control Board
    Division of Water Rights –  Water Quality Certification Program
    Attention: Ann Marie Ore, Program Manager
    1001 I Street Sacramento, CA 95812-2000
• Petitions shall meet the requirements outlined in California Code of Regulations, title 23, section 3867.