Difference between revisions of "Urban stormwater management in Santa Cruz County"

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A [[Watershed Issues|watershed-related issue]] examined by the [[ENVS 560/L Watershed Systems]] class at [http://csumb.edu CSUMB].
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=Legal Background=
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Since 1999, certain counties and cities are required by [[Urban stormwater regulations applicable to central coast region|Phase II of Section 402]] of the [[Clean Water Act]] to have storm water management plans (SWMP). <ref> [http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/guidance/wetlands/section402.cfm Clean Water Act, Section 402] </ref>
  
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=County Regulations=
  
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'''Santa Cruz County Code''' 
  
=Background=
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Santa Cruz County has its own regulations for stormwater that apply to all cities and unincorporated municipalities.  
Urban stormwater runoff is caused by rain or snow melt that runs off surfaces such as paved streets, highways, rooftops and parking lots, potentially carrying a variety of pollutants such as oil, sediment, pesticides trash and bacteria. Depending on the system, this runoff can drain directly into a local stream, lake or ocean. Polluted stormwater discharges from Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems  <ref name="MSWP">[http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/stormwater/municipal.shtml SWRCB Municipal Stormwater Program] </ref>, which is generally not treated before entering a local waterbody <ref> [http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/munic.cfm Stormwater Discharges From Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s)] </ref>. The 1972 Federal Clean Water Act (CWA) regulates urban stormwater runoff and other "non-point source" discharges by the Regional Water Quality Control Boards (RWQB) and National Pollution Discharge Elimination System ([[NPDES]]) general permits and stormwater management program requirements.
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Two phases of MS4 permits:
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[http://www.codepublishing.com/ca/santacruzcounty/ Chapter 7.79: Runoff and Pollution Control]
* Phase 1
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**Medium (100,000-250,000 people) to large (>250,000 people) municipalities are required to obtain NPDES permit coverage for their stormwater discharges.
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**A Storm Water Management Plan/Program (SWMP) is required under this permit with a goal of reducing the discharge of pollutants to the maximum extent practicable (MEP), the performance standard specified by Section 402(p) of the Clean Water Act.
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* Phase 2
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** Small MS4s in urbanized areas and small MS4s outside urbanized areas, that are regulated and designated by the permitting authority, are required to obtain NPDES permit coverage for their stormwater discharges.
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=Overview of Santa Cruz County=
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=Affected Municipalities=
The [http://www.co.santa-cruz.ca.us/ County of Santa Cruz] is located on California's Central Coast just over 70 miles south of San Francisco; 30 miles southwest of San Jose; and 43 miles north of Monterey. It is bordered by the San Mateo County to the north, Santa Clara County to the east, Monterey County to the south, and the Pacific Ocean on the west. The peak of the Santa Cruz Mountain Range is over 2,600 feet. The climate is generally Mediterranean but has low humidity. The mean annual precipitation is 31 inches, occurring predominantly between November and April <ref>[http://www.usclimatedata.com/climate.php?location=USCA1020 Climate Data]</ref>.
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Santa Cruz County has four incorporated cities including Scotts Valley, Santa Cruz, Capitola, and Wastonville, with a combined population of nearly 223,000 inhabitants. The incorporated areas of the county, with a combined total population of approximately 136,000, include Aptos, Ben Lomond, Bonny Doon, Boulder Creek, Brookdale, Corralitos, Davenport, Felton, Freedom, La Selva Beach, Rio Del Mar, Soquel and Zayante, also contribute to runoff issues in the region <ref>[http://www.santacruz.org/press/facts-stats-faqs.php Population Statistics for Incorporated Cities of Santa Cruz County] </ref>. The County of Santa Cruz works with the City of Capitola for all their SWMP development.
 
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Santa Cruz County has four incorporated cities including Scotts Valley, Santa Cruz, Capitola, and Wastonville, with a combined population of nearly 223,000 inhabitants <ref>[http://www.santacruz.org/press/facts-stats-faqs.php Population Statistics for Incorporated Cities of Santa Cruz County] </ref>. Each incorporated city is responsible for meeting State Water Resources Control Board <ref>[http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/stormwater/ Storm Water Program]</ref> (SWRCB) regulations regarding water quality standards. The incorporated areas of the county are not beholden to the same laws and the combined populations (which amounts to roughly 135,936) of Aptos, Ben Lomond, Bonny Doon, Boulder Creek, Brookdale, Corralitos, Davenport, Felton, Freedom, La Selva Beach, Rio Del Mar, Soquel and Zayante, also contribute to runoff issues in the region <ref>[http://www.santacruz.org/press/facts-stats-faqs.php Population Statistics for Incorporated Cities of Santa Cruz County] </ref>. Santa Cruz County residents and municipalities recognize that the natural resources located in the region provide important habitats for aquatic life of all varieties and opportunities for public recreation and enjoyment as well as commercial operations and ventures. It is understood that all urban runoff eventually flows to the [http://montereybay.noaa.gov/ Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary] (MBNMS), a federally protected marine area of biological and economical importance along the Central Coast of California.
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=Incorporated Cities=
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[[Image:Countymapweb.jpg|400px|thumb|left]]
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[[Image:SCwatersheds.jpg|350px|thumb]]
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* [http://ecoviz.csumb.edu/wiki/index.php/Urban_storm_water_management_in_the_City_of_Scotts_Valley City of Scotts Valley]
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**Population: 11,764
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***Square miles:  4.6
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*[http://ecoviz.csumb.edu/wiki/index.php/Urban_storm_water_management_in_the_City_of_Santa_Cruz City of Santa Cruz]
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**Population: 58,982
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***Square miles: 12
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*[http://ecoviz.csumb.edu/wiki/index.php/Urban_storm_water_management_in_the_City_of_Capitola City of Capitola]
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**Population: 10,073
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***Square miles: 1.6
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*[http://ecoviz.csumb.edu/wiki/index.php/Urban_storm_water_management_in_the_City_of_Watsonville City of Watsonville]
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**Population: 51,882 
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***Square miles: 5.9
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<ref>[http://www.santacruz.org/press/facts-stats-faqs.php Population Statistics for Incorporated Cities of Santa Cruz County] </ref>
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*[[Urban stormwater management in the City of Scotts Valley|City of Scotts Valley]]
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*[[Urban stormwater management in the City of Santa Cruz|City of Santa Cruz]]
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*[[Urban stormwater management in the City of Capitola|City of Capitola]]
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*[[Urban stormwater management in the City of Watsonville|City of Watsonville]]
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
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==Links==
 
==Links==
*[http://www.co.santa-cruz.ca.us/ SC County Home Page]
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*[[Urban stormwater regulations applicable to central coast region]]
*[http://www.dpw.co.santa-cruz.ca.us/npdes/Home.html SC County Public Works Department Storm Water Home Page]
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*[[Urban stormwater management in the City of Scotts Valley]]
*[http://www.coastal.ca.gov/nps/lid/5Fatoohi-StormwaterManagementLIDSantaCruzCounty.pdf Stormwater Management and LID in Santa Cruz County]
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*[[Urban stormwater management in the City of Santa Cruz]]
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*[[Urban stormwater management in the City of Capitola]]
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*[[Urban stormwater management in the City of Watsonville]]
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*[[Urban stormwater management in the Monterey Bay region]]
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*[[Urban stormwater management in the City of Pacific Grove]]
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*[http://www.co.santa-cruz.ca.us/ Santa Cruz County Home Page]
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*[http://www.dpw.co.santa-cruz.ca.us/npdes/Home.html Santa Cruz County Public Works Department Storm Water Home Page]
  
 
==Disclaimer==
 
==Disclaimer==
This page may contain student work completed as part of assigned coursework. It may not be accurate. It does not necessary reflect the opinion or policy of CSUMB, its staff, or students.
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This page may contain student work completed as part of assigned coursework. It may not be accurate. It does not necessary reflect the opinion or policy of [http://csumb.edu CSUMB], its staff, or students.

Latest revision as of 16:42, 9 April 2013

Legal Background

Since 1999, certain counties and cities are required by Phase II of Section 402 of the Clean Water Act to have storm water management plans (SWMP). [1]

County Regulations

Santa Cruz County Code

Santa Cruz County has its own regulations for stormwater that apply to all cities and unincorporated municipalities.

Chapter 7.79: Runoff and Pollution Control

Affected Municipalities

Santa Cruz County has four incorporated cities including Scotts Valley, Santa Cruz, Capitola, and Wastonville, with a combined population of nearly 223,000 inhabitants. The incorporated areas of the county, with a combined total population of approximately 136,000, include Aptos, Ben Lomond, Bonny Doon, Boulder Creek, Brookdale, Corralitos, Davenport, Felton, Freedom, La Selva Beach, Rio Del Mar, Soquel and Zayante, also contribute to runoff issues in the region [2]. The County of Santa Cruz works with the City of Capitola for all their SWMP development.

References

  1. Clean Water Act, Section 402
  2. Population Statistics for Incorporated Cities of Santa Cruz County

Links

Disclaimer

This page may contain student work completed as part of assigned coursework. It may not be accurate. It does not necessary reflect the opinion or policy of CSUMB, its staff, or students.