Hoopa Valley Tribe Water Quality Plan

The Hoopa Valley Tribal Council pursuant to Title 37 of the Hoopa Tribal Code has assigned the primary responsibility for the protection and enhancement of water quality on the Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation to the Riparian Review Committee (RRC). The RRC along with the Hoopa Valley Tribal Environmental Protection Agency provides Reservation-wide coordination of the water quality control program by developing, reviewing and recommending for Tribal approval Reservation wide policies and plans for the implementation of Tribal and Federal law. This Water Quality Control Plan recognizes the unique characteristics of each watershed with regard to natural water quality, existing, potential, and historical beneficial uses, and water quality problems.

The goal of this plan is to provide a definitive program of actions designed to preserve and enhance water quality on the Reservation, and to protect the beneficial uses of water for the next 10 years to 20 years. The plan is concerned with all factors and activities that might affect water quality. However, the plan emphasizes actions to be taken by the Riparian Review Committee, the Hoopa Valley Tribal Fisheries, Forestry, Public Utility Departments, and Tribal Environmental Protection Agency, as they have responsibility for maintaining water quality on the Reservation.

The Water Quality Control Plan (WQCP) is comprehensive in scope. The WQCP describes the Hoopa Valley Reservation waters, the quality and quantity issues, and the existing, potential and historical beneficial uses of the Reservation’s waters. The plan also prescribes criteria for the protection of the Reservation waters and includes plans and policies that describe the basis for the management of water quality and protection of human health. The Hoopa Valley Tribe has recognized authority for setting water quality standards for its Reservation waters, including both the Trinity and Klamath Rivers (U.S. EPA, 2002). Included in the plan are specific criteria that apply to the Lower Klamath River on the Hoopa Valley Reservation (Figure 1.1).