Vegetative analysis of native versus non-native plant species within the Los Cerritos Wetlands
California Wetlands: Update on new state definition and policy development California Native Plant...
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Transcript of California Wetlands: Update on new state definition and policy development California Native Plant...
California Wetlands:Update on new state definition
and policy development
California Native Plant SocietyFall Conservation Symposium
September 10, 2011Carol W. Witham
California WetlandsCalifornia Wetlands
Waters and Wetlands: Federal Laws• 1899: Rivers and Harbors Act• 1912: Public Health Services Act• 1924: Oil Pollution Act• 1948: Water Pollution Control Act• 1965: Water Quality Act• 1972: Water Pollution Control Amendments • 1977: Clean Water Act (CWA)• 1987: Water Quality Act
California WetlandsCalifornia Wetlands
CWA Nexus to Plant Conservation• 558 of 2258 plants (24.7%) currently listed in
the Online Inventory are associated with wetland habitats…– Bogs & fens (62)– Meadows & seeps (316)– Marsh & swamps (135)– Playas (38)– Vernal pools (97)– Riparian (82)
California WetlandsCalifornia Wetlands
Basics of the Federal CWA• Purpose is to limit pollutants to surface waters– Requires permits for discharge, dredge and fill– Applies to interstate, navigable waters and
associated wetlands• Interstate broadly interpreted to apply to commerce• Navigable and associated also broadly interpreted
– Broad exemptions for agricultural practices• States must certify that permits do not violate
the state’s water quality control standards
California WetlandsCalifornia Wetlands
Legal Interpretation of the Federal CWA• Lower court decisions all over the map on
interpretation of key terms• Supreme Court decisions…– 1985: Riverside Bayview Homes
• Upheld jurisdiction over adjacent wetlands– 2001: Solid Waste Agency of North Cook County
(SWANCC)• Rejected jurisdiction over isolated wetlands
– 2006: Rapanos• Requires that a wetland have significant nexus to
navigable waters
California WetlandsCalifornia Wetlands
California Laws• 1928: Amendments to the Constitution• 1949: Dickey Water Pollution Act• 1969: Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act– State Water Resources Control Board has ultimate say
over state water quality policy– Nine Regional Water Quality Control Boards issue
waste discharge requirements (WDRs), initiate enforcement, and monitor local water quality• Create basin plans to ensure reasonable protection of
beneficial uses and prevent nuisance
California WetlandsCalifornia Wetlands
Intersection of CWA and Porter-Cologne• States have ultimate authority for
implementation of the CWA with respect to water quality (Sections 401 & 402)– The California Supreme Court held that the state
can impose restrictions more stringent than those required under the CWA (City of Burbank 2005)
• States may assume administration of the Section 404 permit program for wetlands– Must develop a wetlands permit program similar
to the Federal program
California WetlandsCalifornia Wetlands
California Wetland Regulation• 2003: Report on Regulatory Steps Needed• 2004: Filling the Gaps Workplan– Also beefed up waste discharge requirements
• 2007: Scoping Meetings on Policy Alternatives• 2008: SWRCB Resolution• 2008-2011: Public and Stakeholders Meetings• 2011: Notice of Preparation for DEIS• 2011: Five Year Coordinated Work Plan
California WetlandsCalifornia Wetlands
Wetlands and Riparian Area Protection Policy (WRAPP)
• Phase 1 – establish a policy to protect wetlands from dredge and fill activities– Develop a wetland definition– Establish a regulatory mechanism based on Federal
permitting program– Establish a standard monitoring and assessment
methodology• Phase 2 – expand policy to protect wetlands from
other activities impacting water quality• Phase 3 – expand policy to protect riparian areas
California WetlandsCalifornia Wetlands
Current Status of WRAPP• Phase 1 in progress…– Definition mimics Federal law• Three parameter definition (hydrology, soils &
vegetation) based on the Arid West Supplement
– Permitting steps similar to Federal law• LEDPA preference: 1) avoidance, 2) minimization and
then 3) mitigation with some exceptions
– California Rapid Assessment Method (CRAM) monitoring methods developed• Modules being developed for various wetland types
California WetlandsCalifornia Wetlands
Current Status of WRAPP (cont)• Phase 1 in progress (cont)…– NOP for DEIS issued in January 2011• CNPS participated with a consortium of environmental
organizations to provide comments on the NOP
– Five Year Workplan issued in April 2011• Joint SWRCB/DFG document that lays out
responsibilities for developing policy and implementation
• Phase 2 on indefinite hold• Phase 3 on indefinite hold
California WetlandsCalifornia Wetlands
Next Steps…
Questions?
References• Wetland and Riparian Area Protection Policy
– www.swrcb.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/cwa401/wrapp.shtml
• State Assumption of Section 404 Permit Program – www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/facts/fact23.html
California WetlandsCalifornia Wetlands