POLICY FOR MAINTAINING INSTREAM FLOWS IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA COASTAL STREAMS

The Division of Water Rights is in the process of preparing a State Water Board Policy for Maintaining Instream Flows in Northern California Coastal Streams.  The proposed policy may affect water diversions in coastal streams in portions of Marin, Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, and Humboldt Counties.  Water Code Sections 1259.2 and 1259.4 require the State Water Board adopt the Policy by January 1, 2008.  These Water Code sections were enacted by Assembly Bill 2121, which was signed by the Governor in September 2004.  The Policy will be prepared in accordance with state policy for water quality control, which requires the preparation of environmental documents. 

• Public Review Comments Received (coming soon)
  
  
• Frequently Asked Questions
  
  
• March 14, 2008 - Second Errata for Draft Policy for Maintaining Instream Flows in Northern California Coastal Streams
  
  
• Peer Review Comments (added February 13, 2008)
  • Dr. Lawrence Band
  • Dr. Charles M. Burt
  • Dr. Robert A. Gearheart
  • Dr. Margaret Lang
  • Dr. Thomas E. McMahon
  • Dr. Richard T. Woodward
    
    
• February 6, 2008 - Public Review Draft Policy for Maintaining Instream Flows in Northern California Coastal Streams - Technical Staff Workshop: Draft Policy for Maintaining Instream Flows in Northern California Coastal Streams. Presentation available in PDF.
  
  
• Notice of Extension of Public Comment Period (deadline: May 1, 2008)

Public Review Draft Policy for Maintaining Instream Flows in Northern California Coastal Streams

• North Coast Instream Flow Policy Map (2 versions available)
• Power Point Presentation (*.ppt)
• GIS Data Layer (*.zip)
  
  
• February 6, 2008 - Technical Staff Workshop: Draft Policy for Maintaining Instream Flows in Northern California Coastal Streams
  
  
• January 7, 2008 - Instream Flow Policy – Errata Sheet
  
  
• Notice of Availability of Documents and Opportunity for Public Comment
  
  
• Draft Policy for Maintaining Instream Flows in Northern California Coastal Streams (revised 1/7/08)
  – [ Updated 3/14/08 ]
  
  • SWRCB Instream Flow Policy: GIS-Analysis Criteria for Upstream Distribution Limit of Steelhead
  • SWRCB Instream Flow Policy:  Summary of Reasoning Used to Propose Size Criterion for Woody Debris Pieces Qualifying Under a Wood Augmentation Plan
  • Water Availability Analysis Assumptions for Estimating Partial Face Value of Senior Diverters
  • Direct Cost Analysis for the Proposed North Coast Instream Flow Policy
    • Appendix A, Figure A-1
    • Appendix A, Figure A-2
    • Appendix A, Figure A-3
    • Appendix A, Figure A-4
    • Appendix A, Figure A-5
    • Appendix A, Figure A-6
    • Appendix A, Figure A-7
    • Appendix A, Figure A-8
    • Appendix A, Figure A-9
    • Appendix B, Figure B-1
    • Appendix B, Figure B-2
    • Appendix B, Figure B-3
      
      
• Substitute Environmental Document – [ Updated 3/14/08 ]
  
  • Appendix A - Notice of Preparation and Initial Study
  • Appendix B - Special-Status Plants Occurring in Riparian, Freshwater Marsh, and Vegetated Lacustrine Habitats
  • Appendix C - Special-Status Animals Occurring in Riparian, Freshwater Marsh, and Vegetated Lacustrine Habitats
  • Appendix D - Potential Indirect Impacts on Municipal, Industrial and Agricultural Water Use and Related Indirect Impacts on Other Environmental Resources (revised 1/7/08) – [ Updated 3/14/08 ]
    
    • Appendix D, Figure A-1
    • Appendix D, Figure A-2
    • Appendix D, Figure A-3
    • Appendix D, Figure A-4
    • Appendix D, Figure A-5
  • Appendix E - Potential Indirect Environmental Impacts of Modification or Removal of Existing Unauthorized Dams
    • Appendix E, Figure A-1
    • Appendix E, Figure A-2
    • Appendix E, Figure A-3
    • Appendix E, Figure A-4
    • Appendix E, Figure A-5
    • Appendix E, Figure A-6
    • Appendix E, Figure A-7
    • Appendix E, Figure A-8
      
      
• North Coast Instream Flow Policy:  Scientific Basis and Development of Alternatives Protecting Anadromous Salmonids – [ Updated 3/14/08 ]
  
  • Appendix A – Chronology and Technical Basis of the DFG-NMFS Draft Guidelines
  • Appendix B – Physical, Hydrological, and Ecological Conditions Influencing Anadromous Salmonid Habitat in Policy Area Streams
  • Appendix C - Summary of Important Biological Characteristics of Target Anadromous Salmonid Species
  • Appendix D – Defining Protectiveness Levels of Flow Related Habitat Requirements of Anadromous Salmonids at a Regional Scale – [ Updated 3/14/08 ]
  • Appendix E – Development of Policy Element Alternatives Defining a Range of Protective Levels of Minimum Bypass Flow for Application at the Regional Scale:  Upper MBF and Lower MBF Alternatives – [ Updated 3/14/08 ] 
  • Appendix F - Hydrologic Analysis of Validation Sites – [ Updated 3/14/08 ]
  • Appendix G – Approach for Assessing Effects of Policy Element Alternatives on Upstream Passage and Spawning Habitat Availability – [ Updated 3/14/08 ]
  • Appendix H – Upstream Passage and Spawning Habitat-Flow Relationships Derived for Validation Sites
  • Appendix I – Results of Validation Site Protectiveness Analysis:  Number of Days Per Water Year with Upstream Passage and Spawning Opportunities During the 10/1 – 3/31 Period
    – [ Updated 3/14/08 ]
  • Appendix J – Properties and Behavior of the Cumulative Flow Impairment Index (CFII)
    – [ Updated 3/14/08 ]
  • Appendix K – Recommendations for Monitoring the Effectiveness of the North Coast Instream Flow Policy for Protecting Anadromous Salmonids

CEQA Scoping

To receive updates by e-mail regarding the Proposed North Coast Instream Flow Policy, subscribe on-line to the AB2121 Instream Flows Policy mailing list

For related information, please see our Northern California Coastal Streams link.

( updated   4/28/08 )