Water Quality Control Plan for the Tulare Lake Basin Third Edition

Water quality control plans, or basin plans, contain California’s administrative policies and procedures for protecting state waters. Basin plans are required by the state Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act (California Water Code Section 13240). In addition, Section 303 of the federal Clean Water Act requires states to adopt water quality standards that “consist of the designated uses of the navigable waters involved and the water quality criteria for such waters based upon such uses.”

Each of California’s nine regional water quality control boards must formulate and adopt a basin plan for all areas within its region. The basin plans must conform with statewide policy set forth by the legislature and by the State Water Resources Control Board. Basin plans consist of designated beneficial uses to be protected, water quality objectives to protect those uses, and a program of implementation needed for achieving the objectives {California Water Code, Section 13050(j)}.

Beneficial uses, together with their corresponding water quality objectives, meet federal regulatory criteria for water quality standards. Hence, California’s basin plans serve as regulatory references for meeting both State and federal requirements for water quality control {40 CFR Parts 130 and 131}.One significant difference between the state and federal programs is that California’s basin plans establish standards for ground waters in addition to surface waters.

Basin plans are adopted and amended by regional water boards under a structured process involving full public participation and state environmental review. Basin plans and amendments do not become effective until approved by the State Water Board. Regulatory provisions must be approved by the Office of Administrative Law. Adoption or revision of surface water standards are subject to the approval of the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency before they become accepted standards for the federal program.

Basin plans complement water quality control plans adopted by the State Water Board. It is the intent of the state and regional water boards to maintain basin plans in an updated and readily available edition that reflects all current water quality control programs.

The first edition of this Water Quality Control Plan for the Tulare Lake Basin (Basin Plan) was adopted by the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Central Valley Region, on 25 July 1975, and became effective following approval by the State Water Board on 21 August 1975 and the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in June 1976. Although several revisions have been adopted and approved since 1975, this revision is the first complete rewrite of the text of the Basin Plan.

Regional Water Board resolutions adopted prior to 17 August 1995, that revise or supplement the first edition of the plan which are not expressly incorporated by reference into the second edition of the plan are superceded. In this Basin Plan, “Regional Water Board” refers to the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board and “State Water Board” refers to the State Water Resources Control Board.

*Central Valley plans split between separate documents for Tulare basin and the Sacramento and San Joaquin basins. Click here for the plan for the Sacramento and San Joaquin basins.