California Water Code

§ 16101

WAT § 16101 Effective Jan 1, 2010Div. 7 · Ch. 27

Statute text

(a)Each county, city, or special district that is a permittee or copermittee under a national pollutant discharge elimination system (NPDES) permit for municipal separate storm sewer systems may develop, either individually or jointly with one or more permittees or copermittees, a watershed improvement plan that addresses major sources of pollutants in receiving water, stormwater, urban runoff, or other surface runoff pollution within the watershed or subwatershed to which the plan applies. The principal purpose of a watershed improvement plan is to implement existing and future water quality requirements and regulations by, among other things, where appropriate, identifying opportunities for stormwater detention, infiltration, use of natural treatment systems, water recycling, reuse, and supply augmentation; and providing programs and measures designed to promote, maintain, or achieve compliance with water quality laws and regulations, including water quality standards and other requirements of statewide plans, regional water quality control plans, total maximum daily loads, and NPDES permits.

(b)The process of developing a watershed improvement plan shall be open and transparent, and shall be conducted consistent with all applicable open meeting laws. A county, city, special district, or combination thereof, shall solicit input from entities representing resource agencies, water agencies, sanitation districts, the environmental community, landowners, home builders, agricultural interests, and business and industry representatives.

(c)Each county, city, special district, or combination thereof shall notify the appropriate regional board of its intention to develop a watershed improvement plan. The regional board may, in its discretion, participate in the preparation of the plan. A watershed improvement plan shall be consistent with the regional board’s water quality control plan.

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Legislative history

Added by Stats. 2009, Ch. 577, Sec. 1. (SB 310) Effective January 1, 2010.