SFEP tagline - Celebrating 20 years of protecting and restoring the San Francisco Estuary

Home
About the Estuary
Program Areas
Estuary Plan (CCMP)
Take Action
Events
Projects
Committee (IC)
Friends of the Estuary
Estuary Newsletter

Stream and Wetland Systems Protection Policy

SFEP staff in conjunction with the staffs of the North Coast and San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Boards is developing a Stream and Wetland Systems Protection Policy. This policy will be established by incorporating key components into the Water Quality Control Plans (Basin Plans) for the North Coast and San Francisco Bay Regions.

photo of stream

Wetlands, headwater channels (small channels that form at the top of a watershed), riparian areas, and floodplains have experienced significant declines in their historic coverage and condition statewide. The proposed policy would protect and restore the physical characteristics of stream and wetland systems (e.g., stream channel shapes and slopes, riparian shade cover, floodplain widths, and flow regimes) in the North Coast and San Francisco Bay Regions in order to protect beneficial uses. The policy would establish new beneficial uses and water quality objectives for stream and wetland systems, and an implementation plan that sets forth actions needed to attain the new water quality standards.

no sonoma creek image, sorry

SFEP and the North Coast and San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Boards received funding from the US Environmental Protection Agency, Region 9 to support development of the Stream and Wetland Systems Protection Policy. When complete, the policy will serve as a model for other Regional Water Quality Control Boards and for the State of California in the protection of water quality. Additional information can also be found online at: