Friends of Gualala River Protecting the Gualala River watershed and the species living within it
July 15, 2025
by Dylan Freebairn-Smith
Friends of Gualala River
Introduction
Next week, at long last, the public will have the opportunity to offer comment on preliminary steps being taken to reduce sediment pollution washing into the Gualala River, which has been harming endangered coho salmon and threatened steelhead.
Nearly thirty years after the river was first listed as impaired, Friends of Gualala River took up litigation in 2021 against the agency responsible for addressing this harm. The resulting settlement with the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board requires it to take action to ensure that the legal sediment limit is not exceeded.
This process, called a Sediment Total Maximum Daily Load or TMDL, focuses on private roads within the watershed. Public comment and involvement are a key part of this process. Of primary interest is the fact that the Gualala River has been identified as the pilot project in California of a new branch of the Water Board called the Watershed Assessment and Recovery Unit, which is responsible for the process.
Background
In 1993, the Gualala River was added to the Clean Water Act Section 303(d) list of impaired waters due to excessive water temperatures and sediment overload. These impairments are based on the negative effects they have on beneficial uses of our public waters. The primary beneficial uses of the Gualala watershed include salmonid habitat, domestic water supply, and recreational water use.
In 2001, a Sediment Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) was developed for the Gualala River. This assessment identified the leading causes of the excess sediment. Roads were found to be one of the foremost human-caused sources. For 20 years, this information had been known but not acted upon.
In 2021, Friends of Gualala River (FoGR) brought litigation against the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (NCRWQCB) because the US EPA Clean Water Act requirements were not being met. A settlement agreement was reached in April 2023, which required the Water Board to complete two actions: incorporate the Gualala Sediment TMDL into the Basin Plan and develop orders to address road-related sediment discharges in the Gualala River Watershed.
Over the past year, the NCRWQCB has established the Gualala River Watershed Assessment and Recovery Unit (WARU) and secured $5 million over five years. The funds will support the addition of the Gualala TMDL to the North Coast Basin Plan, Order development, and subsequent implementation actions.
Current Status
This past week, three initial documents were released: the Draft Action Plan for the Gualala River TMDL, the Supporting Staff Report, and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Initial Study, which assesses the potential environmental impacts of the Gualala Roads Permit.
The Gualala Roads Permit is an Order being developed by the water board that will require landowners to maintain their roads to reduce erosion and sediment runoff into watercourses. A Proposed Permit Framework provides preliminary details about how the Gualala Roads permit will affect landowners in the Gualala River Watershed.
This past Monday, July 14th, the CEQA Initial Study document was released, which outlines the potential environmental impacts if the Permit were to be implemented. The CEQA document will be open for a 30-day scoping period, ending on August 15th, during which the public is invited to review and comment on the study. Two scoping meetings will be held: one remotely on Zoom on Monday, July 21, from 5:30-6:30 pm, and one in person at the Gualala Arts Center on Thursday, July 24, from 10:00-11:00 am.
The Draft Action Plan for the Gualala River TMDL underwent the CEQA scoping period last summer and is currently in the public review stage and scheduled to be considered for adoption at a public hearing in December 2025. The Action Plan and Staff Report outline a strategy to attain safe levels of sediment and temperature in the Gualala River. From July 11th to August 25th, the Draft Action Plan and Staff Report will be open to public comment. A public workshop will be held at the NCRWQCB in Santa Rosa on August 14th or 15th.
Public Involvement
These developing regulations are a crucial step toward a healthier Gualala River. With cooperation from landowners, we can reduce road-based sediment inputs in the Gualala, which will benefit many river-based activities, from Steelhead fishing to taking a dip at Green Bridge.
The NCRWQCB staff on this project are committed to working with landowners to ensure everyone is informed and involved in the development and implementation. Friends of Gualala River recommend reaching out to them with questions and concerns as soon as possible, so that there are no surprises during the drafting and implementation process in the years to come.
Individuals can sign up for automatic email updates on project developments on the Water Board’s website. The Draft Action Plan and Roads Permit Initial Study documents and details about scoping meetings and workshops are available for review on FoGR’s website. All relevant information for submitting comments or asking questions can be found in the articles on the site.
Basic Timeline of Events
1993:
- The US Environmental Protection Agency adds the Gualala River to the Clean Water Act Section 303(d) list of impaired waters due to high temperatures and excess sediment.
2001:
- A Sediment Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) was developed, identifying roads as a significant source of sediment pollution.
2021:
- Friends of Gualala River (FoGR) filed litigation against the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (NCRWQCB) for failing to meet Clean Water Act requirements.
April 2023:
- Settlement agreement reached. NCRWQCB is required to:
- Incorporate the Gualala Sediment TMDL into the Basin Plan.
- Develop orders to address road-related sediment discharges.
Summer 2024:
- The CEQA scoping period for the Draft Action Plan.
2024-2025:
- NCRWQCB establishes the Gualala River Watershed Assessment and Recovery Unit (WARU) and secures $5 million over a five-year period for implementation.
July 11, 2025:
- Start of the public comment period for the Draft Action Plan and Staff Report.
July 14, 2025:
- CEQA Initial Study for the Gualala Roads Permit released.
Upcoming Events
July 2025
- 21st (Mon) – Zoom CEQA Scoping Meeting, 5:30–6:30 PM
- 24th (Thu) – In-Person CEQA Scoping Meeting, Gualala Arts Center, 10:00–11:00 AM
August 2025
- 14th or 15th – Public Workshop, NCRWQCB, Santa Rosa (Exact date TBD)
- 15th (Fri) – CEQA Initial Study Comment Deadline
- 25th (Mon) – Draft Action Plan & Staff Report Comment Deadline
December 2025
- 4th or 5th – Public Hearing to adopt Draft Action Plan and Staff Report
