Water Quality and Supply Issues Monthly Update - November 2025
As we enter the holiday season, the CICWQ board and staff would like to wish our members and partners a safe and happy Thanksgiving. 🦃
CICWQ appreciates the dedication of everyone working across California's construction and development sectors. We hope you enjoy time with family and friends and return refreshed for the busy winter months ahead.
With the rainy season approaching, this is a critical time to stay prepared. Please review your site conditions, confirm your permit requirements, and ensure that erosion and sediment control measures are ready for rapidly changing weather. Small steps now can help prevent costly issues later.
🔎 This month's key updates
📄 New Stormwater Compliance Resources Released
The State Water Board has published a new FAQ page, and CASQA has released an updated BMP Handbook, providing essential guidance for navigating the 2022 Construction General Permit during the rainy season.
⚠️ Proposed CII Stormwater Permit Raises Major Concerns
The Los Angeles Regional Water Board is considering a new permit for large commercial, industrial, and institutional properties, prompting CICWQ and partners to raise concerns about statewide impacts, costs, and regulatory overreach in a recent comment letter.
❄️ Winter 2025-26 Hydrologic Outlook Signals Drier Conditions
California enters winter with strong reservoir storage but below-average rainfall, and forecasts indicate a La Niña pattern that reinforces the need for continued conservation and investment in water infrastructure.
👇Read more below, access resources, and stay informed about policy changes that may affect your projects, operations, or planning decisions.
NOVEMBER NEWSWORTHY ITEMS
1️⃣ Two New Documents Released to Assist with Construction General Permit for Stormwater Compliance
We want our readers to be aware of two recent publications for those of you working on construction job-site stormwater runoff permitting and compliance. The State Water Resources Control Board has just issued a new Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) web page focused on the 2022 Construction General Permit and the updates and changes from the prior permit, which expired in September 2025.
On a related and timely note, the California Stormwater Quality Association (CASQA) also just released a new revision and update to its widely used CGP BMP Handbook, which is a helpful and needed resource for construction industry stormwater management professionals and includes new content addressing the 2022 CGP, which is now in full effect across California. Please note that a CASQA subscription is required to access the BMP Handbook and any updates.
2️⃣ New Commercial, Industrial and Institutional Stormwater Permit to be Considered for Adoption by Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board – Statewide Impacts?
The Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board (LARWQCB) is considering a sweeping, and certainly costly, new stormwater runoff permit specifically targeting commercial, industrial, and institutional properties larger than 5 acres within two large urban watersheds in southwest Los Angeles County.
The proposed runoff permit, abbreviated CII, is based on a final Residual Designation Authority decision from the U.S. EPA in 2024, targeting pollutants in urban runoff, primarily copper and zinc, and requiring the Regional Board to adopt the permit. The proposed CII permit is widely opposed by a range of property ownership and management interests (including CICWQ), as well as by a host of commercial and industrial businesses and trade groups operating in affected areas, and by many county public works agencies, cities, and local districts. Statewide legislation has been proposed mimicking the proposed permit requirements but has failed twice to advance in Sacramento, first in 2022 and again this year.
CICWQ recently collaborated with several property and construction industry interests in Southern California to submit a comment letter to the LARWQCB in September 2025 regarding the Proposed CII Permit.
3️⃣ Winter 2025-26 Hydrologic Outlook – What Can We Expect
According to the California Department of Water Resources, we ended the 2024-25 water year on September 30, slightly under average for total precipitation. Despite measuring less precipitation than normal, our storage reservoirs remain above average levels at 110%, providing a buffer in times of need.
Read the full California Hydrology Update.
Looking ahead to this winter, weather forecasters and government agencies are predicting a La Niña winter for California, leading to expectations of even less precipitation than last year. CICWQ emphasizes the importance of continued conservation efforts across all sectors, as well as the ongoing maintenance and expansion of California's water supply and delivery infrastructure to ensure reliable service for all communities.
