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The Estuary Partnership and the North Coast and San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Boards (Regional Water Boards) received funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 9 to support development of a Stream and Wetland Systems Protection Policy (Policy). This Policy will be established by incorporating key components into the Water Quality Control Plans (Basin Plans) for the North Coast and San Francisco Bay Regions.
Wetlands, headwater channels (small channels that form at the top of a watershed), riparian areas, and floodplains have experienced significant declines in their historic coverage and condition statewide. The Policy will focus on protecting and restoring the physical characteristics of stream and wetland systems (e.g., stream channel shape and slope, riparian shade cover, floodplain width, and flow regime) in order to protect beneficial uses. The Bay Area may experience larger winter storms, more runoff from individual storm events, more droughts, and less water supply due to global climate change. To protect against related impacts, the Policy will identify actions to protect and restore flood peak attenuation and groundwater recharge functions.The Policy will establish new beneficial uses and water quality objectives for stream and wetland systems, and an implementation plan that sets forth actions needed to attain the new water quality standards.
The Policy is being coordinated with the developing State Water Resources Control Board's Wetland and Riparian Area Protection Policy. This collaborative effort between the State and Regional Water Boards will result in policies that complement and support each other and result in the protection and restoration of stream and wetland systems. When complete, the Stream and Wetland Systems Protection Policy will serve as a model for other Regional Water Boards and for the State of California in the protection of water quality.
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