Severely Polluted Waters

Protecting the Beneficial Uses of Our Waterways

Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act requires California to identify all seriously polluted, or "impaired," water bodies every two years. These are waters that are now too polluted for activities that Californians used to enjoy, like fishing, swimming, boating or surfing, or that are too polluted to supply drinking water without costly extra treatment.  In California, the State Water Resources Control Board and its nine Regional Water Boards identify polluted waters for the list; they then develop, approve and implement a cleanup process with U.S. EPA for each water body placed on the list.

California's Regional Water Boards updated their lists throughout 2008 and 2009; the State Water Board is currently reviewing these lists to compile the statewide 2008/2010 list of severely polluted waters. Stay tuned as it is expected to be released for public comment this spring; CCKA will keep you up-to-date on that process.

State Water Board staff is currently gathering water quality data and information to update the statewide list for 2012. Until June 30th, they will accept all information that you may have to support the listing of severely polluted waters in California, though they prefer the information to be submitted in a certain format so that they can prioritize its review.  These are your waters and you know them better than anyone; the State Water Board needs to hear from you!

CCKA Speaks Out for Clean Water

Thirty-seven years after Congress promised fishable, drinkable waterways with the creation of the Clean Water Act, many of California's waterways remain contaminated, and the problem is getting worse.  If you’re wondering how contamination affects your watershed, you can learn about the severely polluted waterways of your region through CCKA’s interactive maps.

California Coastkeeper Alliance and its 12 member Waterkeepers work together to offer public workshops that inform citizens, communities, water quality monitoring organizations, and public interest groups on how to get involved in the state’s process of developing these lists. At these workshops, CCKA and member Waterkeepers meet with diverse groups of citizens from around the state to talk about this important process.  CCKA and its member Waterkeepers will host such workshops this spring to help you compile information on your local waterways to submit to the State Water Board.  Stay tuned for workshop dates!

The polluted waters list is among the most powerful tools that Californians have to clean up polluted rivers, lakes, and coastal waters.  By working closely with individual Waterkeepers and involving local stakeholders through public workshops, CCKA is building a strong voice for clean water up and down the California coastline, and ensuring that State and Regional Water Boards hear the voices of those communities most affected by water pollution.