Friends of Gualala River Protecting the Gualala River watershed and the species living within it
Introduction
The North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board is proposing to develop a new water quality permit that will apply to landowners with rural roads in the Gualala River Watershed.
The permit, also referred to as “order” or “project” in this Initial Study, will require landowners to maintain their roads to reduce erosion and sediment discharges to watercourses. Landowners above a certain size threshold and those with roads that pose a high risk to water quality will be required to take additional action, such as inventorying, assessing, prioritizing, and treating sediment sources on their roads within a given period.
The permit is necessary to 1) address excess sediment and elevated water temperatures in the watershed that are negatively affecting water quality conditions for native salmon and trout populations, such as coho and steelhead, among other beneficial uses of water, and 2) comply with state water quality statutes and regulations to prevent and minimize sediment pollution and improve watershed conditions.
The permit is focused on sediment sources on private, rural roads because road-related sources account for approximately 85% of sediment pollution in the watershed.
Documents
NOTICE of Preparation of a Draft Environmental Impact Report and CEQA Scoping Meetings
Gualala Roads Permit – Proposed Permit Framework
New Water Quality Permit for Gualala River Watershed Landowners – Informational flyer, April 2025
Public Meetings
There will be two CEQA scoping meetings held during the 30-day scoping period. See NOTICE of Preparation (above) for details:
Monday, July 21, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. (via Zoom, remote participation only)
Zoom link: https://waterboards.zoom.us/j/88525393841
Call-in Number: +1 669 900 9128
Meeting ID: 885 2539 3841
Passcode: A6GC7BB3
Thursday, July 24, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. at Gualala Arts Center
How to submit comments
Written comments on the proposed content and scope of the environmental analysis must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, August 15, 2025. You can submit comment letters electronically or by mail.
Please send your comments to the North Coast Water Board, as directed below, along with the name of a contact person, if you are a public agency.
Comments can be sent electronically to the following email address:
RB1-Gualala@waterboards.ca.gov.
Written comments should be sent to the address below or by fax to (707) 523-0135.
North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board
5550 Skylane Blvd., Suite A
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
Attn: Gualala Roads Permit
For more information, visit the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board:
https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/northcoast/water_issues/programs/waru/
