EPA Grants Yurok Tribe Authority to Develop Water Quality Standards for Their Lands, Advances Cooperative Federalism
SAN FRANCISCO (July 30, 2025) — Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the approval of the Yurok Tribe’s application for “treatment in a similar manner as a state” under the federal Clean Water Act (CWA). With this authority, the Yurok Tribe in Northern California can develop water quality standards for waters within their reservation, similar to states exercising this authority under Sections 303 and 401 of the CWA. EPA’s approval of this application advances the cooperative federalism pillar of EPA’s Great American Comeback initiative by supporting tribal self-governance to protect water quality.
Josh F.W. Cook, EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region Administrator, presented the signed certificate reflecting this authority to the Yurok Tribe at the Regional Tribal Operations Committee meeting in San Francisco.
“We are pleased to recognize – and formalize – the Yurok Tribe’s authority to protect rivers and streams on their tribal lands,” said Cook. “The Yurok will now be able to more directly safeguard their tribal communities and natural resources. The goal of EPA is Indian Self Determination, self-governance, and returning regulatory responsibilities back to the tribes.”
“Treatment as a state significantly increases our capacity to protect and restore the lower Klamath River, which serves as the spiritual, cultural, and ecological foundation of our existence. We extend our sincere gratitude to the U.S. EPA for its formal recognition of our sovereign authority and demonstrated ability to effectively regulate water quality within our homeland,” said Joseph L. James, the Chairman of the Yurok Tribe.
After tribes seeking this “treatment as a state” authority develop water quality standards and gain EPA approval, they directly administer surface water quality standards. EPA’s decision promotes tribal self-government, empowering tribes to issue water quality certifications for actions on their lands requiring federal permits.
There are now 32 tribes in EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region with this authority. With this approval for the Yurok, all Klamath River Basin tribes in the Pacific Southwest, including the Hoopa Valley Tribe, Karuk Tribe, Quartz Valley Indian Reservation, and Pulikla Tribe of Yurok People, have achieved this status.
For more information on “treatment as a state,” and for a list of tribes with the same designation, visit EPA’s webpage on the tribal water quality standards program.
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