§ 3929.3. Pajaro River Watershed Total Maximum Daily Loads and Implementation Plan for Fecal Coliform, Domestic Animal Waste Discharge Prohibition, and Human Fecal Material Discharge Prohibition.

On March 20, 2009, the Regional Water Quality Control Board, Central Coast Region (Central Coast Water Board) adopted Resolution No. R3-2009-0008, amending the Water Quality Control Plan for the Central Coast Region. The State Water Resources Control Board approved the amendment under Resolution No. 2010-0015, on April 20, 2010.

Resolution No. R3-2009-0008 establishes Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) and an Implementation Plan for Fecal Coliform in the Pajaro River Watershed. The TMDLs address impairment of the Pajaro River Watershed (including Pajaro River, San Benito River, Llagas Creek, Tequisquita Slough, San Juan Creek, Carnadero/Uvas Creek, Bird Creek, Pescadero Creek, Tres Pinos Creek, Furlong (Jones) Creek, Santa Ana Creek, and Pachecho Creek) due to fecal coliform concentrations exceeding water quality objectives. Resolution R3-2009-0008 also establishes a Domestic Animal Waste Discharge Prohibition and a Human Fecal Material Discharge Prohibition for the Pajaro River Watershed.

The amendment establishes a numeric target for fecal coliform concentrations equal to the Basin Plan water quality objectives for the protection of the water contact recreation beneficial use. Responsible parties with allocations and subject to requirements under the TMDLs are the following: (1) municipal separate storm sewer systems required to be covered by a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit, (2) sanitary sewer collection and treatment systems (spills and leaks), (3) owners and operators of private sewer laterals connected to municipal sanitary sewer collection and treatment systems, and (4) owners and operators of lands containing domestic animals. The TMDLs will be implemented through NPDES permits, Waste Discharge Requirements and the Discharge Prohibitions.

Central Coast Water Board staff will conduct triennial reviews of implementation actions, monitoring results, and evaluations submitted by responsible parties of their progress towards achieving their allocations. Three-year reviews will continue until the water quality objectives are achieved. The compliance schedule for achieving the TMDLs and the numeric target for fecal coliform concentration is 13 years after the TMDLs are approved by the Office of Administrative Law.

HISTORY

1. New section summarizing amendments to basin plan filed 7-12-2010; amendments approved by State Water Resources Control Board Resolution No. 2010-0015 on 4-20-2010; amendments approved by OAL pursuant to Government Code section 11353 on 7-12-2010 (Register 2010, No. 29).