California Code of Regulations
Title 23 - Waters
Division 4 - Regional Water Quality Control Boards
Chapter 1 - Water Quality Control Plans, Policies, and Guidelines
Article 3 - Central Coast Region
Section 3929.8 - Total Maximum Daily Loads for Fecal Coliform in Lower Salinas River Watershed, Domestic Animal Waste Discharge Prohibition, and Human Fecal Material Discharge Prohibition
On September 2, 2010, the Regional Water Quality Control Board, Central Coast Region (Water Board) adopted Resolution No. R3-2010-0017, amending the Water Quality Control Plan for the Central Coast Region (Basin Plan). The State Water Resources Control Board approved the amendment under Resolution No. 2011-0040 on September 19, 2011.
Resolution No. R3-2010-0017 establishes the Lower Salinas River Watershed Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) and Implementation Plan for Pathogens. The TMDL addresses impairment of the Lower Salinas River Watershed (including Lower Salinas River, Old Salinas River, Tembladero Slough, Salinas Reclamation Canal, Alisal Creek, Gabilan Creek, Natividad Creek, Salinas River Lagoon (North), Santa Rita Creek, Quail Creek, Chualar Creek, and Towne Creek;) due to fecal coliform. Resolution R3-2010-0017 also adds the Lower Salinas River Watershed to the Domestic Animal Waste Discharge Prohibition and a Human Fecal Material Discharge Prohibition established by the Water Board in March 2009.
Current fecal coliform concentrations in Lower Salinas River Watershed waters are impairing the water contact beneficial use (REC-1). The TMDL establishes a numeric target for fecal coliform consistent with current Basin Plan objectives protecting the REC-1 beneficial use. Responsibility for achieving the numeric target falls upon several entities as described in the Resolution. An implicit margin of safety is utilized in the TMDL to account for uncertainties. The Water Board is relying on existing regulatory authority (waste discharge permits) and discharge prohibitions to ensure implementation actions are carried out by the implementing parties. An implementation target of 13 years is established for achieving the TMDL. The Water Board will track progress towards achieving the TMDL through review of implementation actions and monitoring conducted by the implementing parties. Water Board staff will conduct triennial reviews of implementation actions and monitoring results. If existing efforts are not expected to achieve the TMDL as scheduled (as determined by a triennial review), the Executive Officer or the Water Board may require changes to existing monitoring, reporting, or implementation efforts pursuant to CWC Section 13263, 13267 or 13383.
1. New section summarizing amendments to basin plan filed 12-20-2011; amendment approved by State Water Resources Control Board Resolution No. 2011-0040 9-19-2011; amendment approved by OAL pursuant to Government Code section 11353 12-20-2011 (Register 2011, No. 51).
