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State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) was created
by the Legislature in 1967. The joint authority of water
allocation and water quality protection enables the SWRCB
to provide comprehensive protection for California's waters.
The State Board's mission is to preserve, enhance and
restore the quality of California's water resources,
and ensure their proper allocation and efficient use
for the benefit of present and future generations.
The SWRCB consists of five full-time salaried members,
each filling a different specialty position. Board members
are appointed to four-year terms by the Governor and
confirmed by the Senate.
There are nine Regional Water Quality Control Boards
(RWQCBs). The mission of the RWQCBs is to develop and
enforce water quality objectives and implementation
plans that will best protect the beneficial uses of
the State's waters, recognizing local differences in
climate, topography, geology, and hydrology.
Each RWQCB has nine part-time members appointed by
the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. Regional Boards
develop "basin plans" for their hydrologic
areas, issue waste discharge requirements, take enforcement
action against violators, and monitor water quality.
The task of protecting and enforcing the many uses
of water, including the needs of industry, agriculture,
municipal districts, and the environment is an ongoing
challenge for the SWRCB and RWQCBs.
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