CALIFORNIA REGIONAL WATER QUALITY CONTROL BOARD 
SAN FRANCISCO BAY REGION 
ROGER B. JAMES, EXECUTIVE OFFICER 
The State of California's water quality management system is 
unique, has a relatively long history and frequently amazes 
those that visit us from other states and countries. The system 
for managing wastes in the San Francisco Bay Area includes over 
100 counties, cities, and special districts responsible for 
sewerage service with the State providing the regulatory 
framework for protection of surface and ground waters. 
During the mid-1960s, the State undertook a comprehensive 
study of San Francisco Bay and the Delta systems to develop a 
long-range plan for management of the Bay Area's municipal and 
industrial wastes and agricultural drainage from the Central 
Valley. This study recommended ocean disposal of the Bay Area's 
wastes after primary treatment at a facility in San Mateo 
County, numerous studies to assess the biostimulatory and toxic 
impacts of waste discharges, and a regional agency to implement 
the long-range plan. Opposition to the plan and concern about 
the loss of local authority led to 13 subregional planning 
studies controlled by the agencies responsible for sewerage 
service. A number of joint power authorities were formed to 
conduct the studies and construct over $2 billion in treatment 
facilities and deepwater outfalls into the Bay system. 
The California Regional Water Quality Board-San Francisco 
Bay Region (RWQCB) is the State Agency with the responsibility 
for the protection of surface and ground water quality in the 
nine Bay Area counties. The RWQCB has been in operation since 
1950 and is one of nine such agencies in the State of California 
with the authority and responsibility to implement the State 
Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act and the Federal Clean 
Water Act (FWCA). 
The RWQCB operates under statewide policies of the State 
Water Resources Control Board (SWQCB) which provides budget 
control, considers appeals of RWQCB actions, adjudicates the 
State's water rights programs, and administers the Federal con¬ 
struction grant program. The RWQCB implements its responsibl- 
iities through four fundamental programs: basin planning, waste 
discharge requirements including the Federal NPDES permits sur¬ 
veillance and monitoring and enforcement. 
The nine members of the RWQCB are appointed by the Governor 
for staggered four year terms which provides for relative inde¬ 
pendence and continuity of actions. The RWQCB is supported by a 
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