Report 2012-120 Recommendation 5 Responses

Report 2012-120: State Water Resources Control Board: It Should Ensure a More Consistent Administration of the Water Quality Certification Program (Release Date: June 2013)

Recommendation #5 To: Water Resources Control Board

The state water board should direct regional water boards to more consistently monitor compliance with water quality certifications and use the water quality database to track their monitoring efforts.

1-Year Agency Response

The Executive director issued a memo to the regional boards with direction to follow required application processing time frames and notifications. In addition, the Board has developed Performance Metrics that will be used to track critical program performance.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Fully Implemented

In addition to the actions listed above, the state water board provided data entry rules for its water quality database in the supporting documentation to its response. Regional water boards are mandated to use these rules when entering information into the water quality database.

6-Month Agency Response

UNDERWAY

Staff are developing direction for the Regional Boards on compliance monitoring goals. In addition, staff are in the process of developing performance measures to track compliance of the regional boards with compliance monitoring goals. Staff anticipates submiting for approval the proposed performance measures to the Executive Officers at the February MCC meeting.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending

60-Day Agency Response

COMPLETE

Oral Direction was provided through the Management Coordinating Committee to underscore the importance of Tracking.

UNDERWAY

The State Board Executive Director will issue additional direction as a formal written memorandum. In addition, the Office of Research, Planning and Performance is developing performance metrics that will be used to track and report on this in future years. Finally, staff is evaluating funding option to modify CIWQS to more effectively track, monitor and report on water quality certifications.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

The state water board did not provide support in the form of meeting minutes or other evidence to show that the oral communication regarding tracking occurred. The state water board also acknowledged it intends to take additional action to address the recommendation.

All Recommendations in 2012-120

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.