California Wetlands: Update on new state definition and policy development California Native Plant Society Fall Conservation Symposium September 10, 2011.

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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