Inventory of the Water Quality Control Board Records

Processed by The California State Archives staff; supplementary encoding and revision supplied by Xiuzhi Zhou.

California State Archives

1020 "O" Street

Sacramento, California 95814

Phone: (916) 653-2246

Fax: (916) 653-7363

Email: ArchivesWeb@sos.ca.gov

URL: http://www.sos.ca.gov/archives/

Inventory of the Water Quality Control Board Records

Inventory: F3941

California State Archives

Office of the Secretary of State

Sacramento, California

Contact Information:

California State Archives
1020 "O" Street
Sacramento, California 95814
Phone: (916) 653-2246
Fax: (916) 653-7363
Email: ArchivesWeb@sos.ca.gov
URL: http://www.sos.ca.gov/archives/

Processed by:: The California State Archives staff

Descriptive Summary

Title: Water Quality Control Board Records

Inventory: F3941

Creator: California. State Water Quality Control Board

Extent: see Arrangement and Description

Repository: California State Archives

Sacramento, California

Language: English.

Administrative Information

Publication Rights

For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the California State Archives. Permission for reproduction or publication is given on behalf of the California State Archives as the owner of the physical items. The researcher assumes all responsibility for possible infringement which may arise from reproduction or publication of materials from the California State Archives collections.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Water Quality Control Board Records, F3941, California State Archives.

Agency History

Established in 1949 ( Stats. 1949, ch. 1551, p. 2793) in response to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, the State Water Pollution Control Board coordinates the actions of the various state agencies involved in the regulation and monitoring of water pollution, formulates state-wide water quality control policy, allocates appropriated funds to the regional boards, and initiates and manages scientific research and technical programs to establish appropriate water quality policies.

In 1962 the Board was placed under the jurisdiction of the Resources Agency. The name of the Board changed the following year to the State Water Quality Control Board, reflecting a change in the perspective of the Board members and the Resources Agency toward the need for a comprehensive approach to water pollution and water contamination. In 1964 the Board was appointed the administrative agent of the federal construction grants program (Public Law 84-660) for the state of California, beginning a long-standing relationship with the federal government. The scope of the Board's responsibilities was broadened in 1967 ( Stats. 1967, ch. 1446, p. 3366) to include the establishment of an interagency system for the control of water discharge. Later that same year the State Water Rights Board and the State Water Quality Control Board merged into a new board titled the State Water Resources Control Board. The main responsibilities of the newly created board were divided into three main areas: 1) water rights, 2) water quality, and 3) planning and research.

The Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act ( Stats. 1969, ch. 482, p. 1045) substantially increased the authority and scope of the state and regional boards, strengthening the board's regulatory capacity and funding, as well as providing for the creation of comprehensive water quality control plans in each of the nine regions. These plans were completed in 1975. With the implementation of the Porter-Cologne Act, the Water Quality Control Board expanded its definition of the beneficial uses of water to include long-term conservation and environmental protection.

The State Water Quality Control Board is administered by 4 to 6 appointed members and their contracted consultants. The Board creates state water quality policy and oversees an ongoing research and technical development program. Nine regional boards are governed by the state board. Listed by region name and number they are: 1) North Coast, 2) San Francisco Bay, 3) Central Coast, 4) Los Angeles, 5) Central Valley, 6) Lahontan, 7) Colorado River Basin, 8) Santa Ana and 9) San Diego. The regions conform to the sixteen major watershed basins found in the state. The main responsibility of the regional boards is the implementation of the state's water quality control policies through the formation of water quality control plans and the establishment and enforcement of water discharge requirements.

Arrangement and Description

Folder F3941:1-49.

1. Research Consulting Board Meeting Files. 1957-1963.

Physical Description: 49 file folders.

Scope and Content Note

Arranged chronologically by date of meeting.

The Research Consulting Board of the State Water Quality Control Board managed the research and technical projects mandated by the Board. The records contained in this series include correspondence, meeting notes, summary reports, report drafts, consultant contracts, meeting memoranda, rosters, meeting agendas, invoices, proposed budgets, project progress reports, editorial correspondence, research proposal abstracts, research project outlines, and contract correspondence.

Subjects covered in the meeting files focus on water quality control research projects administered by the Board, including marine waste disposal, submarine outfall, red tide, and the current meter investigation.

Folder F3941:50-145.

2. Research Project Files. 1951-1963.

Physical Description: 145 file folders.

Scope and Content Note

Arranged alphabetically by project title; no specific arrangement within the project.

From its inception, the Water Quality Control Board sponsored research projects in order to obtain scientific data pertinent to the development of Board water pollution policies. The records in the research project files include meeting notes, contracts, invoices, quarterly and monthly progress reports, final reports, correspondence, report proofs, project abstracts, project outlines, photographs, board resolutions, legislation summaries, charts, graphs, research proposals, charts of accounts, field work summaries, interdepartmental communications, maps, and diagrams.

The subjects covered in the research project files relate to the ten water quality control management projects administered by the Board between 1951 and 1963. These projects cover the following topics: algae oxidation of ponds, compilation of sewerage enabling acts, underground travel of pollution, water reclamation, compilation of water quality control criteria, pulp and paper, affects of water discharge on kelp, bioassay and tracer techniques, the development of an interagency system for water pollution control, and a two-part study of submarine outfall focusing on an oceanographic study and a study of the continental shelf.

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