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A Compilation of Water Quality Goals

California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) | January 1st, 2016

Summary

This State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) staff report, A Compilation of Water Quality Goals, supersedes the April 2011 edition and all prior editions

This State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) staff report, A Compilation of Water Quality Goals, supersedes the April 2011 edition and all prior editions and updates published by the State Water Resources Control Board and the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board. Earlier editions and updates should be discarded, as they contain outdated information. The text of this edition has been updated mainly to reflect the transfer of California’s Drinking Water Program from the Department of Public Health (CDPH) to the Division of Drinking Water (DDW) at the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board). Information about this transfer is online at http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/drinking_water/programs/DW_PreJuly2014.shtml. Cited examples and hyperlinks to reference materials have also been updated. Water Quality Goals includes an online searchable database of water quality based numeric thresholds available at http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/water_quality_goals/. The database contains up-to-date numeric thresholds from a variety of sources for over 860 chemical constituents and water quality parameters, including: California and Federal drinking water standards (MCLs) California Public Health Goals (PHGs) California State Notification and Response Levels for drinking water Health Advisories, Water Quality Advisories, and Drinking Water Advisories Cancer Risk Estimates Health-based criteria from USEPA's Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) California Proposition 65 Safe Harbor Levels California Toxics Rule Criteria to protect human health and aquatic life California Ocean Plan Water Quality Objectives U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Recommended Water Quality Criteria to Protect Human Health and Aquatic Life Agricultural use protective thresholds Taste and odor based criteria The narrative Selecting Water Quality Goals contains information to help users to understand California’s water quality standards adopted to protect the beneficial uses of surface water and groundwater resources, available criteria and guidance for evaluating water quality, and to help users select defensible numeric assessment thresholds based on applicable water quality standards. To use this information correctly, it is necessary to read Selecting Water Quality Goals carefully before using numeric thresholds from the database. Water Quality Goals is a technical report prepared by staff of the State Water Board. It is intended to help identify and assess potential water quality concerns. This report is an informational tool only and does not establish State Water Board policy or regulation. The information presented in this report is not binding on any person or entity, nor does it represent final action of the State Water Board or any Regional Water Board. This report is not intended, nor can it be relied upon, to create any rights enforceable by any party in litigation in the State of California. The overseeing regulatory authority may decide to use the information provided herein, or to act at a variance with the information, based on analysis of site and case-specific circumstances.

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Applying the connectivity approach: Water and food supply projects in California that connect, link, and engage

California Roundtable on Water and Food Supply (CRWFS) | April 11th, 2014

Summary

In delving into the connectivity concept and approach, members of the California Roundtable on Water and Food Supply (CRWFS) felt that it was very important to look to ex

In delving into the connectivity concept and approach, members of the California Roundtable on Water and Food Supply (CRWFS) felt that it was very important to look to existing and emerging projects that were already embracing the concepts being discussed. Projects were selected to highlight the three high priority areas for effecting change: connected thinking, institutional linkages, and public engagement. The five examples included in this booklet as case assessments illustrate several ways the connectivity approach is currently being applied throughout California. The assessments are intended to generate ideas for applying the guiding principles of the connectivity approach and the positive impacts that emerge from them. The assessments are not meant to serve as an evaluation of the merit of the projects. This booklet is intended to accompany From Crisis to Connectivity: Renewed Thinking About Managing California’s Water and Food Supply, which more fully describes the connectivity approach illustrated here.

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Assumptions and Estimates for California Water Plan Update 2023 (Draft)

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | October 14th, 2022

Summary

The draft Assumptions and Estimates for California Water Plan Update 2023 (draft A&E Report) describes key assumptions and estimates, data and data sources; improvements

The draft Assumptions and Estimates for California Water Plan Update 2023 (draft A&E Report) describes key assumptions and estimates, data and data sources; improvements to analytical tools, methods, and approaches; and the supporting documents and companion State plans being used to prepare California Water Plan Update 2023 (Update 2023), State government’s strategic plan for managing and developing water resources for sustainability and resilience. The draft A&E Report cites the statutory requirements for the California Water Plan (Water Plan), key legislative and policy drivers, assumptions, and estimates related to water data portfolios, future scenarios, water accounting, watershed resilience planning, and equity in water resource management. Also discussed are resource management strategies, the alignment of integrated watershed programs and plans, and integration and alignment of State plans.

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Benefit Accounting of Nature-Based Solutions for Watersheds Guide - Version 2

Pacific Institute | August 23rd, 2023

Summary

This guide helps users account for and measure the stacked water,1 carbon, biodiversity and socio-economic benefits of a Nature-Based Solution NBS project. Accounting for

This guide helps users account for and measure the stacked water,1 carbon, biodiversity and socio-economic benefits of a Nature-Based Solution NBS project. Accounting for these benefits will improve a company’s impact reporting and help build the business case for green solutions, thereby supporting widespread investment, implementation and upscaling of NBS. This work will increase awareness of the value of NBS, not only for ecosystem health and community development, but also for companies directly.

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Cal-EPA: An Umbrella for the Environment

Little Hoover Commission | June 1st, 1991

Summary

Cal-EPA was created to consolidate environmental programs and concentrate on vigorous enforcement of environmental regulations. The report discusses risk assessment activ

Cal-EPA was created to consolidate environmental programs and concentrate on vigorous enforcement of environmental regulations. The report discusses risk assessment activities, uniform permit processes, public involvement, and the advantages and consequences of bringing all environmental entities into Cal-EPA. In addition, the Commission addresses the short- and long-term costs and savings. The Cal-EPA report has seven findings and seven recommendations.

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CalFed: Still Imperiled, Still Important

Little Hoover Commission | November 17th, 2005

Summary

The Little Hoover Commission on Thursday recommended overhauling how state and federal agencies are managing the massive, multibillion-dollar effort to restore the Bay-De

The Little Hoover Commission on Thursday recommended overhauling how state and federal agencies are managing the massive, multibillion-dollar effort to restore the Bay-Delta estuary. The Commission’s review affirmed the importance of the CALFED Bay-Delta program and the need to fundamentally change how the multi-agency effort is governed. The Commission recommended dissolving the Bay-Delta Authority, which was created in 2003, and creating a stronger management structure that could be held accountable for achieving the program’s four objectives: improving water supply reliability, levee stability, water quality and the ecosystem of the vast, yet fragile Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. The Delta supplies water to 22 million Californians, irrigates 5 million acres of farmland and is home to 750 wildlife species. Through CALFED, 24 state and federal agencies were committed to working cooperatively and relying on science and public involvement to improve conditions in the Bay-Delta. But after five years and $3 billion, the Governor and the Legislature have questioned the progress and the ability of the Bay-Delta Authority to lead the effort. The Commission’s review was requested by Governor Schwarzenegger as part of an effort to revitalize CALFED. The Commission concluded that the current structure diffuses authority and fragments responsibility and lacks the focused leadership needed to get adversarial stakeholders and reluctant government agencies to cooperate. “Because of a faulty design, the Bay-Delta Authority cannot effectively coordinate activities, push agencies to perform, or provide rigorous oversight. It is unable to control or cajole,” said Michael E. Alpert, chairman of the Little Hoover Commission. The Commission found that growing disagreements about CALFED’s mission and the role of the Bay-Delta Authority are jeopardizing the critical water supply and restoration effort. The Commission recommended recreating a policy group of public officials, co-chaired by the U.S. Secretary of Interior and the California Secretary of Resources. It recommended deploying performance management techniques to improve progress toward specific goals. And it recommended refinements to the program’s use of a lead scientist and an independent science board to improve decision-making. “The most important factor in CALFED’s success will be leadership,” Alpert said. “One lesson of the last five years is that CALFED will require an amount of political capital and leadership that can only flow from the institution of the Governor.” The Commission’s report includes recommendations for reforming the governance structure of the CALFED program.

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California against the sea

Los Angeles Times | July 7th, 2019

Summary

THE CALIFORNIA COAST GREW AND PROSPERED during a remarkable moment in history when the sea was at its tamest. But the mighty Pacific, unbeknownst to all, was nearing i

THE CALIFORNIA COAST GREW AND PROSPERED during a remarkable moment in history when the sea was at its tamest. But the mighty Pacific, unbeknownst to all, was nearing its final years of a calm but unusual cycle that had lulled dreaming settlers into a false sense of endless summer. Elsewhere, Miami has been drowning, Louisiana shrinking, North Carolina’s beaches disappearing like a time lapse with no ending. While other regions grappled with destructive waves and rising seas, the West Coast for decades was spared by a rare confluence of favorable winds and cooler water. This “sea level rise suppression,” as scientists call it, went largely undetected. Blinded from the consequences of a warming planet, Californians kept building right to the water’s edge. But lines in the sand are meant to shift. In the last 100 years, the sea rose less than 9 inches in California. By the end of this century, the surge could be greater than 9 feet.

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California Water Action Plan (2014)

State of California | January 1st, 2014

Summary

California has seen many flood events, including the most recent flood of 1995 when 48 of 58 counties declared a state of emergency. After two years of dry weather and sh

California has seen many flood events, including the most recent flood of 1995 when 48 of 58 counties declared a state of emergency. After two years of dry weather and shrinking reservoir supplies, we are reminded once again that nothing focuses Californians’ attention on our limited water resources like drought. There is broad agreement that the state’s water management system is currently unable to satisfactorily meet both ecological and human needs, too exposed to wet and dry climate cycles and natural disasters, and inadequate to handle the additional pressures of future population growth and climate change. Solutions are complex and expensive, and they require the cooperation and sustained commitment of all Californians working together. To be sustainable, solutions must strike a balance between the need to provide for public health and safety (e.g., safe drinking water, clean rivers and beaches, flood protection), protect the environment, and support a stable California economy. This action plan lays out our challenges, our goals and decisive actions needed now to put California’s water resources on a safer, more sustainable path. While this plan commits the state to moving forward, it also serves to recognize that state government cannot do this alone. Collaboration between federal, state, local and tribal governments, in coordination with our partners in a wide range of industry, government and nongovernmental organizations is not only important—it is essential. The input and contributions received from all of these partners throughout the drafting of this action plan have resulted in a comprehensive and inclusive plan.

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California Water Action Plan (2016 Update)

State of California | January 1st, 2016

Summary

California is currently experiencing one of the worst droughts in memory. The 2016 water year is off to a good start, but with four consecutive dry years and the record l

California is currently experiencing one of the worst droughts in memory. The 2016 water year is off to a good start, but with four consecutive dry years and the record low snowpack of 2015, drought conditions may continue for a fifth straight year. Flooding in the midst of drought is likely, given strong El Niño conditions in the Pacific Ocean. Nothing focuses Californians’ attention on our water resources like the extremes of flood and drought. There is broad agreement that the state’s water management system is currently unable to satisfactorily meet both ecological and human needs, too exposed to wet and dry climate cycles and natural disasters, and inadequate to handle the additional pressures of future population growth and climate change. Solutions are complex and expensive, and they require the cooperation and sustained commitment of all Californians working together. To be sustainable, solutions must strike a balance between the need to provide for public health and safety (e.g., safe drinking water, clean rivers and beaches, flood protection), protect the environment, and support a stable California economy. This action plan lays out our challenges, our goals and decisive actions needed now to put California’s water resources on a safer, more sustainable path. While this plan commits the state to moving forward, it also serves to recognize that state government cannot do this alone. Collaboration between federal, state, local and tribal governments, in coordination with our partners in a wide range of industry, government and nongovernmental organizations is not only important—it is essential. The input and contributions received from all of these partners throughout the drafting of this action plan have resulted in a comprehensive and inclusive plan.

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California’s Water: An LAO Primer

Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO) | October 22nd, 2008

Summary

California’s water delivery system is facing a series of challenges due in part to a combination of increasingly variable weather conditions, legal requirements, and sy

California’s water delivery system is facing a series of challenges due in part to a combination of increasingly variable weather conditions, legal requirements, and system operation and conveyance constraints. These challenges affect water availability, reliability, and delivery. Recent public and private efforts have sought ways to address these challenges. These measures include proposals to increase water through groundwater storage, surface storage, infrastructure changes, and system operation improvements, among others. This report provides, through a “quick reference” document relying heavily on charts to present information, a snapshot of water in California, including: (1) An Overview of California’s Water Governance; (2) Water Supply, Source, and Delivery; (3) How Do We Finance Water Projects? (4) What Drives the Cost of Water?, and (5) Issues for Legislative Consideration

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Type

California Water Plan (4)
Case study (2)
Conference proceedings (2)
Essay (3)
Fact sheet (1)
Guidance Document (2)
Handbook/Guide (1)
Issue Paper (2)
Journal Article (1)
Legal document (2)
Legislation (1)
NGO Position Paper (2)
Plan (2)
Policy (15)
Policy - state (1)
Policy Brief (4)
Report (35)
Research Article (1)
Research Brief (1)
Strategy (1)
Technical Report (1)
White Paper (1)

Topic

Agriculture (9)
Basic Information (1)
California Water Fix/BDCP/Delta Conveyance (1)
Climate Change (10)
Drinking Water (2)
Drought & Hydrology (8)
Ecosystem & Species Management (10)
Ecosystem Restoration (2)
Federal Water Quality (2)
Fisheries (3)
Flood Management (4)
Geochemistry (1)
Geohydrology (2)
Groundwater (10)
History (2)
Human Right to Water (1)
Infrastructure (5)
Integrated Regional Water Management (2)
Landscape Reform (2)
Levees (3)
Modeling (2)
Non Point Pollution Sources (1)
People & Water (3)
Planning & Management (25)
Policy (67)
Pollutants (1)
Recycled Water (2)
Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (6)
Salinity (2)
Science Management (3)
State Water Quality (3)
Stormwater (4)
Transfers & Markets (1)
Tribal Water Issues (2)
Water Project Operations (4)
Water Quality (13)
Water Quality Monitoring (2)
Water Rights, Water Law (6)
Water Supply (8)
Water Use & Efficiency (7)

Keywords

agricultural drainage (1)
agriculture (6)
agriculture water use and efficiency (3)
anadromous fish (1)
basic information (1)
California Water Plan (1)
Central Valley (2)
Central Valley Project (CVP) (2)
climate change (8)
conjunctive use (1)
disadvantaged communities (DACs) (2)
drinking water (4)
drought (7)
economic analysis (5)
ecosystem management (7)
endangered species (8)
environmental justice (1)
fisheries (2)
flood management (2)
flows (1)
fugitive dust (1)
funding (6)
groundwater (1)
Groundwater Exchange (6)
groundwater pumping impacts (1)
groundwater recharge (1)
groundwater-surface water interaction (1)
history (2)
infrastructure (5)
Integrated Regional Water Management (1)
land use (6)
levees (2)
managed aquifer recharge (MAR) - also see Groundwater Recharge (1)
mitigation (1)
modeling (1)
monitoring (1)
Monterey amendments (1)
native fish (2)
nature-based solutions (2)
pesticides (1)
planning and management (26)
pollutants (1)
Quantification Settlement Agreement (1)
recreation (1)
recycled water (2)
risk assessment (2)
Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta (6)
salinity (2)
science management (4)
sea level rise (1)
seawater intrusion (1)
snowpack (1)
State Water Project (SWP) (3)
storage (1)
stormwater (2)
Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) (6)
tribal water issues (4)
urban water conservation (3)
wastewater (2)
water markets (1)
water pricing (1)
water project operations (5)
water quality (11)
water rights (6)
water supply (5)
water use efficiency (1)

Publisher

California Agriculture (UCANR) (1)
California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) (1)
California Department of Water Resources (DWR) (3)
California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) (1)
California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) (1)
California Roundtable on Water and Food Supply (CRWFS) (2)
California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) (5)
California Water Foundation (1)
California Water Impact Network (C-WIN) (1)
Center for Law, Energy, and the Environment (CLEE) (1)
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (1)
Congressional Research Service (CRS) (9)
Delta Stewardship Council (Delta Council) (1)
Federal Register (1)
Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board (LRWQCB) (1)
Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO) (4)
Little Hoover Commission (3)
Los Angeles County Department of Public Works (LACDPW) (1)
Los Angeles Times (1)
Mesa Water District (1)
National Academy of Sciences (NAS) (1)
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) (1)
Nature Portfolio (Springer Nature) (2)
New York Times (1)
Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability (Duke University) (1)
Ostrom Workshop Colloquium Presentation (1)
Pacific Institute (2)
Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) (7)
State of California (4)
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) (1)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (2)
University of California, Davis (UC Davis) (2)
University of Southern California (USC) (1)
Utilities Policy (Elsevier) (1)

Basin

Coastal Plain of Los Angeles - Central 4-011.04 (1)
Coastal Plain of Los Angeles - Hollywood 4-011.02 (1)
Coastal Plain of Los Angeles - Santa Monica 4-011.01 (1)
Coastal Plain of Los Angeles - West Coast 4-011.03 (1)
Corralitos - Pajaro Valley 3-002.01 (1)
San Fernando Valley 4-012 (1)
San Gabriel Valley 4-013 (1)

Hydrological Region

Central Coast (9)
Colorado River (5)
Lower Basin States and Mexico - Colorado River (2)
National (3)
North Coast (6)
North Lahontan (4)
Sacramento River (12)
San Francisco Bay (11)
San Joaquin River (12)
South Coast (7)
South Lahontan (4)
Tulare Lake (8)
Upper Basin States - Colorado River (1)

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