North Coast Regional Water Board Meeting at the Best Western Miner’s Inn – May 7-8, 2025

The meeting will be held on May 7-8, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. at the Best Western Miner’s Inn and Convention Center in Yreka, CA, with video and teleconference options available.

Item 4: Scott River and Shasta River TMDL Conditional Waiver Renewal

Background

The North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board is considering adoption of proposed Order No. R1-2025-0011, which would renew the existing Scott River TMDL Conditional Waiver (Order No. R1-2018-0018) and Shasta River TMDL Conditional Waiver (Order No. R1-2018-0019) of Waste Discharge Requirements.

These waivers are regulatory tools implementing Action Plans for the Scott River Sediment and Temperature Total Maximum Daily Loads (adopted December 7, 2005) and the Shasta River Temperature and Dissolved Oxygen Total Maximum Daily Loads (adopted June 29, 2006). The action plans were incorporated into the Basin Plan in 2006 and 2007 respectively.

Implementation Progress

In the Scott River watershed, 24 ranches have been assessed for compliance, representing approximately 32% of stream frontage adjacent to agricultural activities. Nine Grazing and Riparian Management Plans have been implemented to address non-compliance with the 2018 Order.

In the Shasta River watershed, 15 ranches have been assessed, including approximately 22 miles of the Shasta River mainstem frontage, the entire Parks Creek and Big Springs Creek frontage, and approximately 1.3 miles of the Little Shasta River. Thirteen ranches now operate under Ranch Management and Monitoring Plans.

Purpose of the Renewal

The Regional Water Board is seeking to renew these orders until October 7, 2026, to allow continued regulatory coverage while staff completes the necessary California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) analysis and public engagement process to develop new Waste Discharge Requirements (WDRs).

The Regional Water Board intends to develop WDRs that align with the State Water Board’s Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program and precedential requirements established in the East San Joaquin Order by October 7, 2026. This renewal maintains all existing terms, conditions, and monitoring and reporting requirements for covered dischargers to protect water quality.

Current Status

The Regional Water Board began the CEQA scoping process on February 1, 2025, and has determined that additional environmental analysis and a separate Environmental Impact Report (EIR) are warranted for the more rigorous WDRs being developed.

This short-term renewal allows continued use of these orders while Regional Water Board staff develops a new order, completes the required CEQA process, and conducts necessary public engagement.

The public comment period for this order was open from March 5, 2025, to April 4, 2025. The Board will consider adoption of the proposed Order during the May 7-8, 2025 meeting.

https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/northcoast/board_info/board_meetings/05_2025

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