San Diego Coastkeeper works with the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board to review and update the Basin Plan, and to plan for appropriate use of waters in the region.
The State is divided into nine regions for the purposes of regional administration of California's water quality control program. Each of the nine regions has a California Regional Water Quality Control Board comprised of nine members who are appointed by the Governor for four-year terms. Each of the nine regional boards is required to adopt a Water Quality Control Plan, called a Basin Plan, which recognizes and reflects regional differences in existing water quality, the beneficial uses of the Region's ground and surface waters, and local water quality conditions and problems. This document is called the Water Quality Control Plan for the San Diego Basin.
The San Diego Regional Board's plan is designed to preserve and enhance water quality and protect the beneficial uses of all regional waters. Accordingly, this Basin Plan establishes or designates beneficial uses and water quality objectives for all the ground and surface waters of the Region. Beneficial uses are the uses of water necessary for the survival and well being of humans, plants, and wildlife. These uses of water serve to promote the tangible and intangible economic, social, and environmental goals of humankind. Water quality objects are the levels of water quality constituents or characteristics, which must be met to protect the beneficial uses.
This Basin Plan also establishes an implementation program describing the actions by the Regional Board and others that are necessary to achieve and maintain the designated beneficial uses and water quality objectives of the Region's waters.