Water Quality Certification Program

Announcements

• On January 30, 2023, the State Water Board released draft amended conditions for water quality certification and notice of public comment period for the South State Water Project Hydropower
• On December 28, 2022, the State Water Board issued a final water quality certification for the Meridian Farms Fish Screen Project – Phase 2
• On December 20, 2022, the State Water Board issued a water quality certification for the Jeff L. Taylor – Pine Flat Hydroelectric Project License Amendment.
• On December 16, 2022, the State Water Board issued a Public Notice for the North Delta Drought Salinity Barriers Project.
• On December 16, 2022, the State Water Board issued a Public Notice for the Big Creek Dam No. 4 Low Level Outlet Repair and Dam Resurfacing Project.
• On December 9, 2022, the State Water Board issued a Notice of Informal Consultation with Responsible and Trustee Agencies Regarding an Environmental Document for Water Quality Certification, for the Bishop Creek Hydroelectric Project (FERC Project Number 1394).

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.