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72-611: The Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act is clean water act of California that expanded the enforcement authority of the State Water Resources Control Board and the 9 Regional Water Quality Control Boards. The act provided for the California Environmental Protection Agency to create the local boards and better protect water rights and water quality. The Porter-Cologne Act (California Water Code, Section 7)

144-407: A body of water from diffuse sources such as runoff from storm water, which may contain road dirt or fertilizers and pesticides from lawns, as well as water that collects debris from construction sites and fecal matter from barnyards and flows into nearby rivers, streams and lakes.) The DFA has allocated about 4 billion dollars for the construction of sewage treatment plants in communities throughout

216-645: A coastal community. The City of Del Mar created their Clean Water Program for the purpose of protecting their natural resources such as lagoons, beaches and the Pacific Ocean from urban runoff . They have pollution from dumpsters, improperly stored hazardous materials and equipment so their staff goes out into the community and inspects construction areas, and educates the public of the situation. The public can call or email if they see urban runoff events taking place such as over irrigation, water being used to clean driveways, and building materials or dirt coming off

288-602: A first-of-its-kind Performance Report in 2009 describing the performance of the State and Regional Water Boards in protecting California's waters through implementation of existing water quality and water rights laws. Along with the Performance Report, the Water Boards led the State's Water Quality Monitoring Council's effort to launch a coordinated, statewide web portal named "My water quality" that communicates

360-482: A fund to help underground storage tank owners and operators pay for the costs of cleaning up leaking underground storage tanks. The State Water Board coordinates the state's nine Regional Water Quality Control Boards (Regional Water Boards), which serve as the frontline for state and federal water pollution control efforts. Together, the State Water Board and the nine Regional Water Boards are referred to as

432-565: A major contamination source in many watersheds throughout the United States. The report explained that "...further declines in water quality remain likely if the land-use changes that typify more diffuse sources of pollution are not addressed... These include land-disturbing agricultural, silvicultural, urban, industrial, and construction activities from which hard-to-monitor pollutants emerge during wet-weather events. Pollution from these landscapes has been almost universally acknowledged as

504-427: A major source of urban flooding and water pollution in urban communities worldwide. Water running off impervious surfaces in urban areas tends to pick up gasoline , motor oil , heavy metals , trash , and other pollutants from roadways and parking lots, as well as fertilizers and pesticides from lawns. Roads and parking lots are major sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are created as

576-476: A productive discussion on urban runoff and the importance of effective disposal of household items can help to encourage environmentally friendly practices at a reduced cost to the city and local economy. Thermal pollution from runoff can be controlled by stormwater management facilities that absorb the runoff or direct it into groundwater , such as bioretention systems and infiltration basins. Bioretention basins tend to be less effective at reducing temperature, as

648-455: A risk of illness. After heavy rainfall events that cause stormwater overflows, contaminated water can impact waterways in which people recreate or fish, causing the beaches or water-based activities to be closed. This is because the runoff has likely caused a spike in harmful bacterial growth or inorganic chemical pollution in the water. The contaminants that we often think of as the most damaging are gasoline and oil spillage, but we often overlook

720-539: A superhuman job of accomplishing that mandate despite the intensive historical, political, and economic pressures that always accompany California water issues. The State Water Board oversees the allocation of the state's water resources to various entities and for diverse uses, from agricultural irrigation to hydro electrical power generation to municipal water supplies, and for safeguarding the cleanliness and purity of Californians' water for everything from bubble baths to trout streams to ocean beaches. The State Water Board

792-462: A variety of stormwater management techniques to reduce the effects of urban runoff. These techniques, called best management practices for water pollution (BMPs) in some countries, may focus on water quantity control, while others focus on improving water quality, and some perform both functions. Pollution prevention practices include low impact development (LID) or green infrastructure techniques - known as Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) in

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864-425: Is surface runoff of rainwater, landscape irrigation, and car washing created by urbanization . Impervious surfaces ( roads , parking lots and sidewalks ) are constructed during land development . During rain , storms, and other precipitation events, these surfaces (built from materials such as asphalt and concrete ), along with rooftops , carry polluted stormwater to storm drains , instead of allowing

936-619: Is a major cause of urban flooding , the inundation of land or property in a built-up environment caused by rainfall overwhelming the capacity of drainage systems , such as storm sewers . Triggered by events such as flash flooding , storm surges , overbank flooding, or snow melts , urban flooding is characterized by its repetitive, costly, and systemic impacts on communities, even when not within floodplains or near any body of water. There are several ways in which stormwater enters properties : backup through sewer pipes, toilets and sinks into buildings; seepage through building walls and floors;

1008-606: Is channeled into storm drains and surface waters, the natural sediment load discharged to receiving waters decreases, but the water flow and velocity increases. In fact, the impervious cover in a typical city creates five times the runoff of a typical woodland of the same size. Overwatering through irrigation by sprinkler may produce runoff reaching receiving waters during low flow conditions. Runoff carries accumulated pollutants to streams with unusually low dilution ratios causing higher pollutant concentrations than would be found during regional precipitation events. Urban runoff

1080-400: Is improperly applied or when turf is over-fertilized. Eroding soils or poorly maintained construction sites can often lead to increased sedimentation in runoff. Sedimentation often settles to the bottom of water bodies and can directly affect water quality. Excessive levels of sediment in water bodies can increase the risk of infection and disease through high levels of nutrients present in

1152-547: Is separate from and has different responsibilities than the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), which manages state-owned water infrastructure, such as dams, reservoirs and aqueducts. DWR, like any other water user, must apply for water rights permits from the State Water Board. Under the Federal Clean Water Act and the state's pioneering Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act

1224-533: Is set up to improve the water quality in their local creeks, rivers and oceans and to keep in accordance with the state and regional environmental regulations. The program focuses on education the community, specifically the developers, residents, industrial and commercial companies and the academia about pollution and how they can prevent it from happening. They monitor the water quality, inspect construction sites and perform educational outreaches to their community because they are susceptible to stormwater pollution being

1296-726: Is the Board Chair. Esquivel was born and raised in California's Coachella Valley, the son of educators and grandson of farm workers. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from U.C. Santa Barbara . He worked for eight and a half years in the Washington D. C. office of California's U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer . He started as an intern, leaving as Senator Boxer's Legislative Assistant. His portfolios for Senator Boxer covered agriculture, Native Americans, water, oceans, and nutrition. He

1368-833: The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Clean Water Act , the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act, timber production zones, wastewater discharge permits and any other permit necessary for diverting water. Although agricultural runoff is the largest source of pollution in the Central Valley, the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act was not implemented by the Central Valley Regional Board back in 1982. Public interest groups have challenged that ruling stating that

1440-629: The California Water Boards. The Water Quality Division of the State Water Board develops statewide water protection plans and establishes water quality standards like the California Bays and Estuaries Policy . The Division has two branches: a surface water branch and a groundwater branch. The surface water branch focuses on monitoring and regulating storm water discharges and wastewater (sewage) treatment. It also monitors surface water quality, oversees protection of wetlands and

1512-771: The Dickey Water Pollution Act and have been responsible for protecting the surface, ground and coastal waters of their regions since then. In adopting the Dickey Act the Legislature was acknowledging that California's water pollution problems are regional, and are affected by rain and snowfall, the configuration of the land, and population density, as well as recreational, agricultural, urban and industrial development, all of which vary from region to region. The Regional Water Boards develop basin plans for their natural geographic characteristics that affect

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1584-569: The Dickey Water Pollution Act of 1949. The board was renamed to the State Water Quality Control Board by an Act of 1963. The State Water Resources Control Board was established from the State Water Quality Control Board and the State Water Rights Board by an Act of 1967. California's pioneering clean water act is the 1969 Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act (Porter-Cologne Act). Through

1656-627: The Division of Water Rights, overseeing administration of water right change petitions, licensing, and cannabis cultivation permitting. From 2003 to 2015, Maguire worked for an engineering consulting firm. He was appointed in 2018. Laurel Firestone is a co-founder of the Community Water Center, a statewide nonprofit. She served on the Tulare County Water Commission from 2007 to 2012, and was appointed to

1728-590: The Porter-Cologne Act, the State Water Board and the Regional Water Boards have been entrusted with broad duties and powers to preserve and enhance all beneficial uses of the state's immensely complex waterscape. The Porter-Cologne Act is recognized as one of the nation's strongest pieces of anti-pollution legislation, and was so influential that Congressional authors used sections of the Act as

1800-471: The Regional Board has the authority to give out permits for the purpose of waste disposal or waste assimilation. However, the discharges of waste into the water is not a right and is up to the discretion of the Regional Board. They have the authority to authorize when the discharge is to take place, for how long, and how much waste can be put into the water. Although the regions have plans that assure

1872-514: The Regional Water Boards have the authority to enforce these objectives. Along with the Regional Water Boards, the State Water Resources Board can issue and enforce permits containing waste discharge requirements in order to maintain clean surface water and groundwater. There is a water quality control plan for enclosed bays and estuaries whose objective is to protect the benthic community from direct exposure to pollutants in

1944-743: The SWRCB's alleged failure to protect these communities against pollutants in water systems. Tribal nations and minority groups have also accused the California State Water Resources Control Board of exclusion from public participation and policy-making. In March, Latino community members from the Central Coast filed a racial discrimination complaint over disparate levels of nitrate being found in groundwater serving Latino residencies. The nine semi-autonomous Regional Water Boards were created in 1949 by

2016-572: The State Water Board has regulatory authority for protecting the water quality of nearly 1,600,000 acres (6,500 km ) of lakes, 1,300,000 acres (5,300 km ) of bays and estuaries, 211,000 miles (340,000 km) of rivers and streams, and about 1,100 miles (1,800 km) of exquisite California coastline. The State Water Board also provides financial assistance to local governments and non-profit agencies to help build or rejuvenate wastewater treatment plants, and protect, restore and monitor water quality, wetlands, and estuaries. It also administers

2088-521: The State Water Board or a court. In several basins, however, groundwater use is regulated in accordance with court decrees. Further, in Ventura , Los Angeles , San Bernardino , and Riverside counties, groundwater pumpers are required to report their groundwater extraction amounts to either the State Water Board or a local groundwater management agency. The State Water Board and the Regional Water Boards are responsible for swift and fair enforcement when

2160-939: The State Water Board. The California State Water Resources Control Board oversees approximately 7,400 water systems. Each year, the SWRCB documents harmful health-based violations in approximately 7% of their community water systems. In their 2024 Drinking Water Needs Assessment, the State Water Board’s failing criteria identified 385 failing public water systems. Under their criteria, these water systems failed to meet safe standards either on groundwater contamination, outdated regulatory compliance, technical capacity, financial magnitude, or managerial scope. These public water systems provide drinking water to more than 900,000 California residents. A 2019 report found cancer-causing contaminants such as 1,2,3-TCP in roughly 495 public water systems in California. A 2023 public health journal found that groundwater and small water systems contain

2232-746: The State Water Resources Control Board in March 2017. As of June, 30 2021 Dorene D'Adamo is the board Vice Chair. D'Adamo was appointed to the board by Governor Brown in 2013. She previously served on the California Air Resources Board from 1999 to 2013 under the Brown, Schwarzenegger and Davis Administrations, where she was instrumental in the board's air quality and climate change programs and regulations. Sean Maguire previously worked as manager in

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2304-667: The UK, and Water-Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) in Australia and the Middle East - such as the installation of green roofs and improved chemical handling (e.g. management of motor fuels & oil, fertilizers, pesticides and roadway deicers ). Runoff mitigation systems include infiltration basins , bioretention systems, constructed wetlands , retention basins , and similar devices. Providing effective urban runoff solutions often requires proper city programs that take into account

2376-527: The accumulation of water on the property and in public rights-of-way; and the overflow of water from water bodies such as rivers and lakes. Where properties are built with basements, urban flooding is the primary cause of basement flooding. Urban runoff contributes to water quality problems. In 2009 the US National Research Council published a comprehensive report on the effects of urban stormwater and stated that it continues to be

2448-521: The action taken by the Board was based on the unsupported assumption that toxic discharge from agriculture did not pose a threat to the environment or the public, and with the assumption that farmers would self-regulate. California State Water Resources Control Board This regulatory program has had the status of an official government department since the 1950s. The State Water Pollution Control Board, as well as 9 regional boards, were established by

2520-400: The actual quality of California's waters. These tools are being continuously improved and will soon describe actual targets for environmental improvement over the coming years. In 2014, during the drought , 28 small California communities cycled onto and off of a list of "critical water systems" that the Board had determined could run dry within 60 days. Urban runoff Urban runoff

2592-550: The adoption of water quality control plans that contain the guiding policies of water pollution management in California. The act uses the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for point source discharges and waste discharge requirements (WDRs) in order to keep people from degrading the water quality of the State. The policy states: The State Water Resources Control Board provides guidance and oversight over

2664-425: The adoption of water quality control plans that give direction to managing water pollution in California. Usually, basin plans get adopted by the Regional Water Boards and are updated when needed. The plans incorporate the beneficial uses of the waters of the State and then provide objectives that should be met in order to maintain and protect these uses. They can meet these objectives by surveillance and monitoring, and

2736-501: The basis for the Federal Clean Water Act . The late SWRCB chairman, Don Maughan, wrote: The State Water Board has never had the luxury of advocating protection of just one water need, such as the environment or agriculture or that of large cities. Our charge is to balance all water needs of the state. Some call it a superhuman task, but through the years this Board, aided by its excellent staff, has done what I call

2808-701: The board in February 2019. Nichole Morgan served as an Assistant Deputy Director in the State Water Resources Control Board’s Division of Financial Assistance. She worked in various capacities on the staff of the board, starting in 2009, and was appointed as the board's Civil Engineer in June, 2021. In July 2014, the California Department of Public Health passed down administration of the state’s Drinking Water Program to

2880-411: The byproducts of the combustion of gasoline and other fossil fuels , as well as of the heavy metals nickel , copper , zinc , cadmium , and lead . Roof runoff contributes high levels of synthetic organic compounds and zinc (from galvanized gutters). Fertilizer use on residential lawns, parks and golf courses is a measurable source of nitrates and phosphorus in urban runoff when fertilizer

2952-1051: The commonly found contaminants uranium, arsenic, and nitrate; which if consumed in larger quantities than outlined in the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) criteria, pose health detriments. Water system failures, health-based violations, and increased non-compliance are most commonly found in low-income, communities of color. A state auditor's report identified over two thirds of California's defected water systems in economically challenged districts. Research finds that marginalized groups such as Hispanics, Asian Americans, African-Americans and individuals residing in California Tribal Nations have increased chance of being exposed to unsafe and unregulated drinking water. The San Joaquin Valley for example hosts one third of California's failing water systems, and supplies water to one third of

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3024-467: The community that the state is working to maintain clean and safe surface and groundwater, there are cities that have taken it upon themselves to implement clean water programs. The California Department of Public Health had a Drinking Water Program that was transferred to the State Water Resources Control Board. The idea of safe drinking water is the basis for the cities implementing their own clean water programs. For example, Oceanside Clean Water Program

3096-405: The federal government. For the purpose of administering water rights, California categorizes groundwater as either a subterranean stream flowing through a known and definite channel or percolating groundwater. Groundwater that is a subterranean stream is subject to the same water right permitting requirements as surface water. California has no statewide water right permit process for regulating

3168-505: The form of grants and ultra-low interest zero and one-percent loans for projects that include wastewater treatment plant construction, upgrade and infrastructure improvements as well as "green" projects such as wastewater recycling . Under the 2009 stimulus program, the State Water Board handled $ 270.5 million in addition to more than $ 300 million normally loaned by the SRF each year. State Water Board members are appointed to four-year terms by

3240-619: The goal of creating an enforcement system that addresses water quality problems in the most efficient, effective, and consistent manner. The State Water Board's Division of Financial Assistance (DFA) has a number of programs designed to help local agencies and individuals prevent or clean up water pollution. The DFA provides loans and grants for constructing municipal sewage and water recycling facilities, remediation for underground storage tank releases, watershed protection projects, and for nonpoint source pollution control projects. (Nonpoint source pollution usually involves contaminants flowing into

3312-518: The governor and are confirmed by the State Senate. Each salaried member fills a different specialty position. These represent engineering expertise, water quality expertise, public interest, and water supply. As of June 30, 2021 the members are E. Joaquin Esquivel (chair), Dorene D'Adamo (Vice Chair), Sean Maguire, Laurel Firestone, and Nichole Morgan. As of June 30, 2021 E. Joaquin Esquivel

3384-652: The historic ratio of sediment to water, urban runoff rushes down the stream channel, ruining natural features such as meanders and sandbars , and creates severe erosion—increasing sediment loads at the mouth while severely carving the stream bed upstream. As an example, on many Southern California beaches at the mouth of a waterway, urban runoff carries trash, pollutants, excessive silt, and other wastes, and can pose moderate to severe health hazards. Because of fertilizer and organic waste that urban runoff often carries, eutrophication often occurs in waterways affected by this type of runoff. After heavy rains, organic matter in

3456-499: The impact that fertilizers and insecticides have. When plants are watered and fields irrigated, the chemicals that lawns and crops have been treated with can be washed into the water table. The new environments that these chemicals are introduced to suffer due to their presence as they kill native vegetation, invertebrates, and vertebrates. Effective control of urban runoff involves reducing the velocity and flow of stormwater, as well as reducing pollutant discharges. Local governments use

3528-588: The land, and their growing resulted in discharges of highly erodible sediment and the unauthorized placement of filling a tributary. Both of which violates the Clean Water Act and the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act. The California Control, Regulate, And Tax Cannabis Act of 2016 (ReformCA) allows for protocols to be implemented to ensure compliance with the laws and regulations applicable to cultivating cannabis. This act also incorporates environmental impacts, water quality and supply in accordance with

3600-610: The laws and regulations protecting California's waterways are violated. The State Water Board's Office of Enforcement assists and coordinates enforcement activities statewide. Enforcement serves many purposes. First and foremost, it assists in protecting the beneficial uses of waters of the State. Swift and firm enforcement can prevent pollution from occurring and can promote prompt cleanup and correction of existing pollution problems. Enforcement ensures compliance with requirements in State Water Board and Regional Water Board regulations, plans, policies, and orders. Enforcement not only protects

3672-401: The most pressing challenge to the restoration of waterbodies and aquatic ecosystems nationwide." The runoff also increases temperatures in streams, harming fish and other organisms. (A sudden burst of runoff from a rainstorm can cause a fish-killing shock of hot water.) Also, road salt used to melt snow on sidewalks and roadways can contaminate streams and groundwater aquifers . One of

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3744-407: The most pronounced effects of urban runoff is on watercourses that historically contained little or no water during dry weather periods (often called ephemeral streams ). When an area around such a stream is urbanized , the resultant runoff creates an unnatural year-round streamflow that hurts the vegetation, wildlife and stream bed of the waterway. Containing little or no sediment relative to

3816-535: The needs and differences of the community. Factors such as a city's mean temperature, precipitation levels, geographical location, and airborne pollutant levels can all affect rates of pollution in urban runoff and present unique challenges for management. Human factors such as urbanization rates, land use trends, and chosen building materials for impervious surfaces often exacerbate these issues. The implementation of citywide maintenance strategies such as street sweeping programs can also be an effective method in improving

3888-469: The nine regional water boards which oversee areas based on hydrological barriers. They are also responsible for allocating funds and reviewing the regions' decisions in order to make sure that water quality in the State isn't becoming degraded. The regional water boards are charged with implementing the law's provisions and have primary responsibility for protecting water quality in California. The regional water boards include: The Porter-Cologne Act requires

3960-418: The ocean, is active in environmental education and environmental justice issues, identifies and oversees clean-up of contaminated sites, and promotes low-impact development (LID). The groundwater branch provides statewide guidance and oversight for discharges to land and cleanup of sites with contaminated groundwater. The Water Rights Division of the State Water Board allocates surface water rights based on

4032-504: The overland flow of water in their area, govern requirements for and issue waste discharge permits, take enforcement action against dischargers who violate permits or otherwise harm water quality in surface waters, and monitor water quality. The Regional Water Boards are unusual in this state because their boundaries follow natural mountain chains and ridges that define watersheds rather than political boundaries. The 9 Regional Water Quality Control Boards are the: The Water Boards released

4104-438: The past, present, and future. These basin plans also all have objectives for which the plan clearly states steps that are being taken or will be taken in order to meet the objectives. These objectives are created for the purpose of keeping the water clean and safe to use beneficially. The law is based in the idea that surface and groundwater should be protected against the adverse effects of waste and other contaminants. Accordingly,

4176-433: The property of construction sites. Instead of cannabis farms being shut down by law enforcement, in recent years they have been getting hit by fines from the State for not having the required permits to discharge. The Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board gave a huge fine for water quality violations against a property owner in rural California. The owners failed to get the necessary permits prior to developing

4248-566: The public health and the environment, but also creates an "even playing field," ensuring that dischargers who comply with the law are not placed at a competitive disadvantage by those who do not. It also deters potential violators and, thus, further protects the environment. Monetary remedies provide a measure of compensation for the damage that pollution causes to the environment and ensure that polluters do not gain an economic advantage from violations of water quality laws. In 2017, The State Water Board revised its water quality enforcement policy with

4320-432: The quality of urban runoff. Street sweeping vacuums collect particles of dust and suspended solids often found in public parking lots and roads that often end up in runoff. Educational programs can also be an effective tool for managing urban runoff. Local businesses and individuals can have an integral role in reducing pollution in urban runoff simply through their practices, but often are unaware of regulations. Creating

4392-421: The quality of water recreational areas. Runoff can also induce bioaccumulation and biomagnification of toxins in ocean life. Small amounts of heavy metals are carried by runoff into the oceans, which can accumulate within aquatic animals to cause metal poisoning . This heavy metal poisoning can also affect humans, since ingesting a poisoned animal increases the risk of heavy metal poisoning. As stormwater

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4464-435: The sediment. It also seeks to minimize the human health risk due to the consumption of shellfish and fish that may have high levels of toxic contaminants in them. The plan also includes the beneficial uses, their objectives and how these objectives will continue to enhance the water quality. Each region has their own water quality control plan (basin plan) that identifies the specific beneficial uses of water in their region for

4536-550: The soil. These high levels of nutrients can reduce oxygen and boost algae growth while limiting native vegetation growth, which can disrupt aquatic ecosystem Excessive levels of sediment and suspended solids have the potential to damage existing infrastructure as well. Sedimentation can increase surface runoff by plugging underground injection systems. Increased sedimentation levels can also reduce storage behind reservoir . This reduction of reservoir capacities can lead to increased expenses for public land agencies while also impacting

4608-628: The state through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) program. Also, a billion and a half dollars in bond funds have gone to communities for water quality protection, including water quality planning, treatment of storm water and clean beaches since 2000. DFA also administers the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRI) funds through the State Revolving Fund. The money awarded is in

4680-818: The state's extremely complex system of water rights laws, and assists Board members in exercising the Board's judicial power in water rights disputes. The State Water Board is solely responsible for issuing permits for water rights, specifying amounts, conditions, and construction timetables for diversion and storage. Decisions about water rights are based on such factors as water availability, historical water rights, and flows needed to preserve in-stream uses, such as recreation and fish habitat. California recognizes several different types of rights to take and use surface water. Some water rights can only be held by government. These include pueblo rights, which can only be held by municipalities that were originally Mexican or Spanish pueblos, and federal reserved rights, which can only be held by

4752-661: The state's residents with high poverty rates. Federally recognized Tribal water systems included in the SWRCB' SAFER Drinking Program face data insufficiency for at-risk water system assessment. In September 2022, the California State Water Resources Control Board added Assembly Bill 2108 to their Water Code to help eliminate these disparities. The bill's goals are equitable and reinforced measures for Tribal nations and low-resourced communities affected by disproportionate water quality violations. However, Tribal nations, African Americans, Latinos, and Asian Americans have filed racial discrimination complaints and expressed public dissent over

4824-603: The streams through construction of hardened embankments and similar control structures using concrete and masonry materials. Use of these hard materials destroys habitat for fish and other animals. Such a project may stabilize the immediate area where flood damage occurred, but often it simply shifts the problem to an upstream or downstream segment of the stream. See River engineering . There are many different ways that polluted urban runoff could harm humans, such as by contaminating drinking water, disrupting food sources and even causing parts of beaches to be closed off due to

4896-499: The use of percolating groundwater. A subterranean stream meets the following four characteristics: (1) A subsurface channel must be present; (2) The channel must have relatively impermeable bed and banks; (3) The course of the channel must be known or capable of being determined by reasonable inference; and (4) Groundwater must be flowing in the channel. In most areas of the state, landowners whose property overlies percolating groundwater may pump it for beneficial use without approval from

4968-471: The water to percolate through soil . This causes lowering of the water table (because groundwater recharge is lessened) and flooding since the amount of water that remains on the surface is greater. Most municipal storm sewer systems discharge untreated stormwater to streams , rivers , and bays . This excess water can also make its way into people's properties through basement backups and seepage through building wall and floors. Urban runoff can be

5040-683: The waterway is relatively high compared with natural levels, spurring growth of algae blooms that soon consume most of the oxygen . Once the naturally occurring oxygen in the water is depleted, the algae blooms die, and their decomposition causes further eutrophication. These algae blooms mostly occur in areas with still water, such as stream pools and the pools behind dams , weirs , and some drop structures . Eutrophication usually comes with deadly consequences for fish and other aquatic organisms. Excessive stream bank erosion may cause flooding and property damage. For many years governments have often responded to urban stream erosion problems by modifying

5112-695: Was also Director of Information and Technology. In July 2015 he was appointed to the California Natural Resources Agency where he also served in the Washington D. C. office of Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. as Assistant Secretary for Federal Water Policy. There, he co-ordinated the interests of that agency and its departments with those of the Governor's Office, the California Congressional delegation and federal stakeholder agencies. Governor Brown appointed him to

5184-501: Was created in 1969 and is the law that governs water quality regulation in California. The legislation bears the names of legislators Carley V. Porter and Gordon Cologne . It was established to be a program to protect water quality as well as beneficial uses of water. This act applies to surface water , groundwater , wetlands and both point and nonpoint sources of pollution. There are nine regional water boards and one state water board that have resulted from this act. The act requires

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