The California State Water Resources Control Board on Oct. 20 unanimously adopted requirements for utility wildfire and similar operations and maintenance activities under Clean Water Act Section 401, according to the board’s meeting minutes.
The action adopted Resolution No. 2026-0041 and the revised General Order, issued as WQ Order No. 2026-0031. The board’s minutes identify the measure as covering Section 401 water-quality certification and general waste-discharge requirements for utility wildfire and similar operations and maintenance activities. All five listed board members voted yes; there were no votes against or abstentions.
The board also directed staff to return after 18 months with an informational update on overall implementation issues. Staff were told to bring back an Erosivity Pathway proposal after public sharing and input in early 2027. Separately, the board directed staff to return with a recommendation on herbicide application and related reporting requirements.
The minutes do not quantify compliance or implementation costs, identify which utilities or projects will be covered in practice, or establish the environmental effects of the requirements. The board’s agenda materials listed a revised General Order and revised response to comments among the documents for the item.
