STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD MEETING
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA
APRIL 17, 1997
ITEM 3: SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF THE FINAL REPORT TITLED "1996 REVIEW--WATER QUALITY STANDARDS FOR SALINITY--COLORADO RIVER SYSTEM" AS FULFILLMENT OF THE 1996 TRIENNIAL REVIEW
DISCUSSION: Section 303 of the Federal Clean Water Act requires CUSSION:that water quality standards be reviewed at least once every three years and revised as appropriate. Salinity standards (referred to as water quality objectives in California) for the Colorado River and a plan of implementation designed to achieve the objectives were established in 1975 by the seven States that bound the Colorado River Basin (Basin). These States comprise the Colorado River Salinity Control Forum (Forum) and Advisory Council which were established under the Federal Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act (P.L. 93-320). The objectives and implementation plan adopted by the Forum include:
1. Numeric water quality objectives for salinity at three locations in the Basin [below Hoover Dam (723 mg/l), below Parker Dam (747 mg/l), and at Imperial Dam (879 mg/l)].
2. A plan of implementation for salinity control projects.
3. Policies to help achieve the objectives.
The objectives and plan of implementation were reviewed and updated in 1978, 1981, 1984, 1987, 1990 and 1993. No revisions to the salinity objectives have resulted from the past Triennial Reviews. Further, as California is the recipient of the salinity load from upstream areas, the State has little control over the Colorado River's salinity problems.
In 1996, the Forum again reviewed the State-adopted and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA)-approved numeric salinity objectives and plan of implementation for salinity control for the Colorado River System. Changes in hydrologic conditions and water use within the Colorado River Basin and salinity/flow relationships were evaluated, and the plan of implementation was updated. The plan of implementation, as set forth in the 1996 Triennial Review, includes a number of Federal and nonfederal measures to maintain the adopted salinity objectives while the Basin States continue to develop their compact-apportioned waters. The Forum prepared and adopted two reports titled "1996 Review--Water Quality Standards for Salinity--Colorado River System" (Report), June, 1996 and "Supplemental Report", October, 1996. These reports were included in the public hearing record considered by the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) at its public hearing on April 2, 1997.
Public meetings were held by the Forum in Phoenix, Arizona (September 4, 1996) and Salt Lake City, Utah (September 5, 1996) to review and receive comments on the draft Report. Only minor comments were received at the Forum meetings and at the SWRCB public hearing.
POLICY ISSUE: Should the SWRCB:
1. Approve the 1996 Triennial Review of the
Colorado River salinity objectives and plan of implementation as presented in the Forum Report?
2. Direct staff to submit the approved Triennial Review and support documents to U.S. EPA pursuant to Section 303 of the Federal Clean Water Act?
FISCAL IMPACT: This activity is budgeted within the existing program, and no additional fiscal requirements will occur as a result of approving this item.
REGIONAL BOARD IMPACT: Yes. Regional Water Boards 4, 7, 8, and 9.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: That the SWRCB:
1. Approve the 1996 Triennial Review of the Colorado River salinity objectives and plan of implementation as presented in the Forum Report.
2. Direct staff to submit the approved Triennial Review and support documents to U.S. EPA pursuant to Section 303 of the Federal Clean Water Act.
APRIL 8, 1997 DRAFT
STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD
RESOLUTION NO. 97-
APPROVAL OF THE FINAL REPORT TITLED
"1996 REVIEW--WATER QUALITY STANDARDS FOR
SALINITY--COLORADO RIVER SYSTEM"
AS FULFILLMENT OF THE 1996 TRIENNIAL REVIEW
WHEREAS:
1. In 1975, the seven Colorado River Basin States, including California, established water quality standards (objectives) for salinity for the Colorado River.
2. Section 303 of the Federal Clean Water Act mandates that water quality standards be reviewed at least once every three years and revised as necessary (Triennial Review).
3. The Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Forum (Forum) reviewed the 1975 State-adopted and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA)-approved standards in 1978, 1981, 1984, 1987, 1990, and 1993. No changes were recommended to the standards, but revisions were made in the plan of implementation.
4. The Forum conducted another Triennial Review in 1996 and adopted reports which update the plan of implementation and reaffirm the appropriateness of existing numeric objectives. The reports are titled: (1) Report on the 1996 Review--Water Quality Standards for Salinity--Colorado River System, June 1996; and (2) Supplemental Report on the 1996 Review, October 1996 (Forum Reports).
5. The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) appropriately noticed and held a public hearing on April 2, 1997 concerning the Triennial Review and proposed adoption of the review reports.
6. At the April 2, 1997 public hearing, the SWRCB did not receive comments regarding the Colorado River salinity objectives.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:
The SWRCB:
1. Approves the Triennial Review of the Colorado River Salinity Objectives and Implementation Plan as presented in the Forum Reports.
2. Directs the Executive Director to forward the documents and this Resolution to the U.S. EPA, Region 9 as approval of the 1996 Triennial Review.
CERTIFICATION
The undersigned, Administrative Assistant to the Board, does hereby certify that the foregoing is a full, true, and correct copy of a resolution duly and regularly adopted at a meeting of the State Water Resources Control Board held on April 17, 1997.
_____________________________________
Maureen Marché
Administrative Assistant to the Board