Attachment B-4 San Diego RWQCB Basin Plan Beneficial Uses
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Attachment B-4 San Diego RWQCB Basin Plan Beneficial Uses Regulatory_Issues_Trends.doc CHAPTER 2 BENEFICIAL USES INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................1 BENEFICIAL USES ..........................................................................................................................1 BENEFICIAL USE DESIGNATION UNDER THE PORTER-COLOGNE WATER QUALITY CONTROL ACT ..1 BENEFICIAL USE DESIGNATION UNDER THE CLEAN WATER ACT .................................................2 BENEFICIAL USE DEFINITIONS.........................................................................................................3 EXISTING AND POTENTIAL BENEFICIAL USES ..................................................................................7 BENEFICIAL USES FOR SPECIFIC WATER BODIES ........................................................................8 DESIGNATION OF RARE BENEFICIAL USE ...................................................................................8 DESIGNATION OF COLD FRESHWATER HABITAT BENEFICIAL USE ...............................................9 DESIGNATION OF SPAWNING, REPRODUCTION, AND/ OR EARLY DEVELOPMENT (SPWN) BENEFICIAL USE ...................................................................................................11 SOURCES OF DRINKING WATER POLICY ..................................................................................11 EXCEPTIONS TO THE "SOURCES OF DRINKING WATER" POLICY................................................11 INLAND SURFACE WATERS.....................................................................................................12 COASTAL WATERS ................................................................................................................12 RESERVOIRS AND LAKES........................................................................................................13 GROUND WATERS..................................................................................................................13 BENEFICIAL USE TABLES..............................................................................................................14 REFERENCES ...............................................................................................................................14 INDEX.........................................................................................................................................68 TABLES Table 2-1. Water Dependent Threatened or Endangered Species Which Were Considered in the RARE Beneficial Use .............................................................................................................10 Table 2-2. Beneficial Uses of Inland Surface Waters .........................................................................16 Table 2-3. Beneficial Uses of Coastal Waters ...................................................................................52 Table 2-4. Beneficial Uses of Reservoirs and Lakes...........................................................................54 Table 2-5. Beneficial Uses of Ground Waters ...................................................................................56 BENEFICIAL USES PHOTOS Beachgoers at La Jolla Shores. Photo by Linda Pardy ......................................................................... 4 Los Penasquitos Lagoon. Photo by David Gibson ............................................................................... 4 Kelp on beach at San Diego – La Jolla Ecological Reserve. Photo by Linda Pardy................................... 5 Tijuana River Mouth. Copyright © 2002-2004 Kenneth & Gabrielle Adelman, California Coastal Records Project www.californiacoastline.org ................................................... 7 Clouds. Photo by Ben Neill............................................................................................................ 11 Arroyo chub. Photo by Allen Greenwood ....................................................................................... 12 Lower Otay Reservoir. Photo by Ben Neill. ...................................................................................... 13 BENEFICIAL USES California Water Code, Division 7 and the federal 2. BENEFICIAL USES Clean Water Act. California Water Code, Division 7 is also known as the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act. These two names are INTRODUCTION used interchangeably. The purpose of this chapter is to designate the The designation of beneficial uses for the waters beneficial uses for all surface and ground waters of the State by the Regional Board is mandated in the San Diego Region. Beneficial uses form the under California Water Code section 13240. The cornerstone of water quality protection under the Clean Water Act, section 303 requires that the Basin Plan. Once beneficial uses are designated, State adopt designated beneficial uses for appropriate water quality objectives can be surface waters. The requirements of both Acts established and programs that maintain or applicable to the designation of beneficial uses enhance water quality can be implemented to are summarized below. ensure the protection of beneficial uses. BENEFICIAL USE DESIGNATION Beneficial uses are defined as the uses of water necessary for the survival or well being of man, UNDER THE PORTER-COLOGNE plants and wildlife. These uses of water serve to WATER QUALITY CONTROL ACT promote the tangible and intangible economic, social and environmental goals of mankind. The Porter-Cologne Act establishes a Examples include drinking, swimming, industrial comprehensive program for the protection of and agricultural water supply, and the support of beneficial uses of the waters of the state. fresh and saline aquatic habitats. California Water Code section 13050(f) describes the beneficial uses of surface and ground waters Section 303 of the federal Clean Water Act that may be designated by the State or Regional (33 U.S.C. section1313) defines the term water Board for protection as follows: quality standards as both the uses of the surface (navigable) waters and the water quality criteria "Beneficial uses of the waters of the state that which are applied to protect those uses. A water may be protected against quality degradation quality standard defines the water quality goals include, but are not necessarily limited to, for a water body by designating the use or uses domestic, municipal, agricultural and industrial to be made of the water body, by setting criteria supply; power generation; recreation; aesthetic to protect the uses, and by protecting water enjoyment; navigation; and preservation and quality through antidegradation provisions. Under enhancement of fish, wildlife, and other aquatic the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act resources or preserves." (California Water Code, Division 7, Chapter 2 section13050), these concepts are defined Significant points regarding the designation of separately as beneficial uses and water quality beneficial uses are: objectives. Beneficial uses and water quality objectives are required to be established for all (1) Fish, plants, and other wildlife, as well as waters of the State, both surface and ground humans, use water beneficially. waters. Beneficial uses of the surface and ground Designation of beneficial uses often waters of the San Diego Region are discussed in includes subcategories of the above this chapter; water quality objectives and water beneficial uses cited in California Water quality criteria are discussed in Chapter 3. Code section 13050(f). Numerous key terms used throughout this chapter are defined in the Glossary which is (2) Waste transport or waste assimilation included as Appendix A of this Basin Plan. in the state's surface and ground waters may not be designated as beneficial uses under the Porter-Cologne Act. The direction BENEFICIAL USES of the Act is to protect surface and ground waters against the adverse effects of The designation of beneficial uses must satisfy waste constituents. (California Water Code all of the applicable requirements of the section 13000, section 13241, and section BENEFICIAL USES 2 - 1 13263). Surface or ground waters may be use for protection should not require a used for waste disposal or waste waste of water pursuant to the California assimilation if designated beneficial uses Constitution, article X, section 2. are protected. In authorizing the discharge of waste, the Regional Board need not (7) The protection and enhancement of authorize utilization of the full waste beneficial uses require that certain quality assimilation capacities of the receiving and quantity objectives be met for surface waters [California Water Code section and ground waters. 13263(d)]. All discharges of waste into waters of the state are privileges not rights BENEFICIAL USE DESIGNATION [California Water Code section 13263(g)]. UNDER THE CLEAN WATER ACT (3) Designated beneficial uses may include potential beneficial uses if existing water Beneficial uses for surface waters are designated quality will support the use or if the under the Clean Water Act section 303 in necessary level of water quality can accordance with regulations contained in reasonably be achieved. [Water Code 40_CFR_131. The State is required to specify section13241 (a) and (c)]. Potential and appropriate water uses to be achieved and existing uses are defined later in this protected. The beneficial use designation of chapter. surface waters of the state must take