California Bays and Estuaries Policy
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The Water Quality Control Policy for the Enclosed Bays and Estuaries of California is published by the California State Water Resources Control Board as guidelines to prevent water quality degradation. The policy is revised as needed.[1]
The Pacific coast of California has few natural harbors in comparison to similar lengths of the Atlantic coast of the United States.[2] Humboldt Bay, Bodega Harbor, Tomales Bay, Drakes Estero, San Francisco Bay, Morro Bay, Los Angeles - Long Beach Harbor, Upper Newport Bay, Newport Back Bay, Mission Bay, and San Diego Bay are identified by the policy. The policy also applies to smaller areas of ocean water within headlands or harbor works when the distance between those features is less than 75 percent of the greatest dimension of the enclosed portion.[1]
Mixing zones for fresh and ocean waters at the mouths of the Smith River, Klamath River, Mad River, Eel River, Noyo River, Russian River, and Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta are identified as estuaries. The policy also applies to coastal lagoons and mouths of streams temporarily separated from the ocean by sandbars.[1]
The sheltering features making harbors favorable for ocean transportation cargo transfer[3] limit mixing and dilution through surf action and ocean currents.[4]
History
Harbors were important foci of early European American settlement of California; and cities have developed adjacent to the larger ones.[5] Unique aquatic ecosystems of limited geographical extent[6] have been impacted by waste disposal practices.[7] The Clean Water Act of 1972 established regulation for discharges of pollutants into water. Under the CWA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed water quality standards as well as regulation programs. Each state was able to set their own standards of water quality for each body of water, as well as establishing their own technology standards.[8] The California Bays and Estuaries Policy served as part of the water quality standards in effect for the CWA.