California Code of Regulations
Title 23 - Waters
Division 4 - Regional Water Quality Control Boards
Chapter 1 - Water Quality Control Plans, Policies, and Guidelines
Article 1 - North Coast Region
Section 3905 - Concise Summary of Regulatory Provisions

Regional Board Resolution No. R1 2003-0052, adopted on June 26, 2003 by the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, modifies the Beneficial Uses Chapter (Chapter 2) of the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Plan (Basin Plan) by (1) updating the Beneficial Use Table 2-1 to include the Calwater classification system and a more refined level of beneficial use designation; (2) recognizing four existing beneficial uses of waters in the region (WET, WQE, FLD, and CUL); (3) recognizing two existing water body categories in the region (groundwater and wetlands); (4) modifying the existing beneficial use definition (COMM) for clarity; and (5) a beneficial use recognizing the existing "Subsistence Fishing" (FISH) use in the region.

This update meets the requirements of the Federal Clean Water Act (CWA), which requires that States designate beneficial uses for surface waters at a minimum, for the protection and propagation of fish, shellfish and wildlife, recreation in and on the water, use of water for public water supplies, and agricultural, industrial, and navigational purposes (CWA § 101 and § 303). Beneficial uses must be designated and periodically updated for all waters of the State. Flexibility inherent in the State process allows for the refinement and clarification of specific uses, which has been realized with this Basin Plan update. The amendment also brings the beneficial use designations up to date, to reflect the current state of knowledge of the existing and potential uses of the waters in the region, and makes the general previous designations more specific.

1. New section summarizing basin plan amendment filed 9-27-2004; amendment adopted by Regional Board Resolution No. R1 2003-0052 6-26-2003 and revised by Executive Officer memos dated 2-27-2004 and 6-25-2004; approved by State Board Resolution No. 2004-0040 6-17-2004, except for the addition of the word "subsistence" in the revised definition for the beneficial use Commercial and Sport Fishing and the proposed new title and definition for the beneficial use Biologically Significant Areas; approved by OAL and operative 9-27-2004 pursuant to Government Code section 11353 (Register 2004, No. 40).