Urban stormwater management in Santa Cruz County

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A watershed-related issue examined by the ENVS 560/L Watershed Systems class at CSUMB.


Background

The 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, which usually falls between November and April [1].

Santa Cruz County has four incorporated cities including Scotts Valley, Santa Cruz, Capitola, and Wastonville, with a combined population of nearly 223,000 inhabitants [2]. Each incorporated city is responsible for meeting State Water Resources Control Board [3] (SWRCB) regulations regarding water quality standards. Although the incorporated ares of the county are not beholden to the same laws, the combined population of Aptos, Ben Lomond, Bonny Doon, Boulder Creek, Brookdale, Corralitos, Davenport, Felton, Freedom, La Selva Beach, Rio Del Mar, Soquel and Zayante, which is roughly 135,936, also contributes to runoff issues in the region [4]. 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 Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS), a federally protected marine area of biological and economical importance along the Central Coast of California.

Incorporated Cities

SCwatersheds.jpg


[5]

References

  1. Climate Data
  2. Population Statistics for Incorporated Cities of Santa Cruz County
  3. Storm Water Program
  4. Population Statistics for Incorporated Cities of Santa Cruz County
  5. 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.