Difference between revisions of "Urban stormwater management in the City of Pacific Grove"

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<span style="color:red">'''Current Overview'''</span>
 
<span style="color:red">'''Current Overview'''</span>
  
The City of Pacific Grove maintains 34 discharge pipes from its Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s) diameter 10-54 inches.  Additional city surface runoff is incorporated into the Pebble Beach watershed while small coastal areas within the city discharge directly into the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary as non-point source runoff.  Designation of thirty four Areas of Special Biological Significance [http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/ocean/docs/asbs/asbs_areas/asbs_swqpa_publication03.pdf (ASBS)] by the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB)  in 1974 for the purpose of preserving sensitive biological diversity and habitat; including the Pacific Grove Marine Gardens Fish Refuge. Urban [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stormwater Stormwater] discharge from 246 point sources was specifically viewed as a source of (allochthonous) contaminants within the California Ocean Plan in the original SWRCB designation.  As urban derived inputs into marine systems, so did the pressure to refine language relevant to urban stormwater inputs into the ocean.  October 18, 2004 the State Water Board notified municipal stormwater parties to cease stormwater and non-point discharge into ASBS, and must obtain a permit under the Ocean Plan (no later than May 31, 2006).  Permitting under special exceptions must be approved by SWRCB, CEQA, and US EPA.  The most recent (March 16, 2012)[http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/ocean/asbs/docs/rev_spcl_prtctns.pdf Attachment B] addressing Special Protections for Areas of Special Biological Significance, Governing Point Source Discharges of Storm Water and Nonpoint Source Waste Discharges [http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/ocean/asbs/docs/asbs_eir022112clean.pdf Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR)] including statewide General Exception to the Ocean Plan includes implementation of Regional Water Board special protections in permitting for discharges into ASBS.
+
The City of Pacific Grove maintains 34 discharge pipes from its Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s) diameter 10-54 inches.  Additional city surface runoff is incorporated into the Pebble Beach watershed while small coastal areas within the city discharge directly into the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary as non-point source runoff.  Designation of thirty four Areas of Special Biological Significance [http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/ocean/docs/asbs/asbs_areas/asbs_swqpa_publication03.pdf (ASBS)] by the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB)  in 1974 for the purpose of preserving sensitive biological diversity and habitat; including the Pacific Grove Marine Gardens Fish Refuge. Urban [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stormwater Stormwater] discharge from 246 point sources was specifically viewed as a source of (allochthonous) contaminants within the California Ocean Plan in the original SWRCB designation.  As urban derived inputs into marine systems, so did the pressure to refine language relevant to urban stormwater inputs into the ocean.  October 18, 2004 the State Water Board notified municipal stormwater parties to cease stormwater and non-point discharge into ASBS, and must obtain a permit under the Ocean Plan (no later than May 31, 2006).  Permitting under special exceptions must be approved by SWRCB, CEQA, and US EPA.  The most recent (March 16, 2012) [http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/ocean/asbs/docs/rev_spcl_prtctns.pdf Attachment B] addressing Special Protections for Areas of Special Biological Significance, Governing Point Source Discharges of Storm Water and Nonpoint Source Waste Discharges [http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/ocean/asbs/docs/asbs_eir022112clean.pdf Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR)] including statewide General Exception to the Ocean Plan includes implementation of Regional Water Board special protections in permitting for discharges into ASBS.
 
::''The Ocean Plan states that: “Waste shall not be discharged to areas designated as being of special biological significance. Discharges shall be located a sufficient distance from such designated areas to assure maintenance of natural water quality conditions in these areas.” This absolute discharge prohibition in the Ocean Plan applies unless an “exception” is granted.''
 
::''The Ocean Plan states that: “Waste shall not be discharged to areas designated as being of special biological significance. Discharges shall be located a sufficient distance from such designated areas to assure maintenance of natural water quality conditions in these areas.” This absolute discharge prohibition in the Ocean Plan applies unless an “exception” is granted.''
 
Regulations within the Ocean Plan; Attachment B to the General Exception, Special Protections for Areas of Special Biological Significance, Governing Point Source Discharges of Storm Water and Nonpoint Source Waste Discharges, implemented by the SWRCB specify a [http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/board_info/agendas/2012/mar/032012_4cs1.pdf 90% reduction] "A 90% reduction in pollutant loading during storm events, for the applicant’s total discharges" and discharges that do not alter receiving water quality outlines within the [http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/ocean/asbs/docs/asbs_eir022112clean.pdf Final Envirnmental Impact Report].  The City of Pacific Grove has been actively working towards preemptively complying with newly proposed regulatory standards by establishing the Monterey Regional Stormwater Management Program<ref name="Storm_Program"> Monterey Regional Stormwater Management Program http://www.montereysea.org/index.php</ref>, implementing Best Management Practices  [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Best_management_practice_for_water_pollution (BMPs)],  aided by funding from 2006 State Water Board Proposition 84 Area of Special Biological Significance grant that contains three phases, including dry weather diversion system, Greenwood Park detention wetland (completed by summer of 2014), and Low Impact Development incetives.   
 
Regulations within the Ocean Plan; Attachment B to the General Exception, Special Protections for Areas of Special Biological Significance, Governing Point Source Discharges of Storm Water and Nonpoint Source Waste Discharges, implemented by the SWRCB specify a [http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/board_info/agendas/2012/mar/032012_4cs1.pdf 90% reduction] "A 90% reduction in pollutant loading during storm events, for the applicant’s total discharges" and discharges that do not alter receiving water quality outlines within the [http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/ocean/asbs/docs/asbs_eir022112clean.pdf Final Envirnmental Impact Report].  The City of Pacific Grove has been actively working towards preemptively complying with newly proposed regulatory standards by establishing the Monterey Regional Stormwater Management Program<ref name="Storm_Program"> Monterey Regional Stormwater Management Program http://www.montereysea.org/index.php</ref>, implementing Best Management Practices  [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Best_management_practice_for_water_pollution (BMPs)],  aided by funding from 2006 State Water Board Proposition 84 Area of Special Biological Significance grant that contains three phases, including dry weather diversion system, Greenwood Park detention wetland (completed by summer of 2014), and Low Impact Development incetives.   

Revision as of 11:27, 7 April 2012

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

The City of Pacific Grove is located on the NW portion of the Monterey Peninsula. The city contains multiple watershed including the Greenwood Park Watershed which is highly urbanized producing large volumes of stormflow runoff which is discharged into the Monterey Bay ASBS. Approximately 43% of the watershed is covered by impervious surfaces and maintains an average slope of 8% which can result in minimal percolation of seasonal precipitation. Map by: Kirk Post

Summary

The City of Pacific Grove urban stormwater discharge into coastaline Areas of Special Biological Significance (ASBS) is under more stringent regulatory pressure to comply with urban stormwater regulatory standards set by the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB)[1], the entity responsible for permitting and regulating prohibited waste discharges into ASBS under the California Ocean Plan amendments. Direct discharge from municipal separate storm sewer system(MS4s) outfalls into ASBS/MPA receiving waters are listed for as 303(d) impaired water bodies under the Clean Water Act (CWA). In response to more stringent regulations, the City of Pacific Grove and other regional municipalities formed the Monterey Regional Stormwater Management Program (MRSWMP) including: Cities of Carmel, Del Rey Oaks, Marina, Monterey, Pacific Grove, Sand City, and Seaside have been responsible for obtaining National Pollution Discharge Elimination (NPDES) stormwater permits under an regional umbrella for compliance cost reduction purposes. Urban stormwater management strategies to comply with newly proposed 90% reduction in contaminant load within the final State Water Board permit for General Exception to the Ocean Plan has prompted the city to implement BMPs including Low-impact development strategies.

Location

The City of Pacific Grove, California

Impervious landcover on the Monterey Peninsula highlighting the Greenwood Park Watershed. Map by: Kirk Post

Stakeholders[2]

  • City of Pacific Grove
  • Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
  • Monterey Coastkeeper
  • Tourism Industry
  • MPAs
  • Friends of the Otter
  • Areas of Special Biological Significance on Monterey Peninsula (ASBS)
  • California Stormwater Quality Association (CASWQA)
  • Recreational Users

Regulatory Background: Laws and Policies

Federal

  • United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA)
    • Clean Water Act: Amendment Sect:402(p) established framework for stormwater discharge permits and regulations under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit system.
      • The NPDES permit system under the CWA maintains both Phase I and Phase II municipal Storm drain (MS4s) operators to comply and obtain NPDES permits.
Phase I-As of 1990 permits include municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s) defined as medium or large, serving >100,000 people.
Phase II-Beginning in 1999 permits include State’s General Storm Water Permit for Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) comply with NPDES permit components (6). NPDES Phase II program
  • Porter-Cologne Act
  • Marine Life Protection Act

State

  • State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB)
    • Urban stormwater runoff Cease to Desist order
    • Exception to the California Ocean Plan for Areas of Special Biological Significance Waste Discharge Prohibition for Storm Water and Nonpoint Source Discharges, with Special Protections.[3]

Region

  • Monterey Regional Storm Water Management Program (MRSWMP)
  • Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (CCRWQCB)
  • Regional Wastewater Pollution Control Agency (MRWPCA)

Local

  • Cease and Desist from Discharging Waste to Areas of Special Biological Significance (ASBS) in Violation of Prohibitions Prescribed by the State Water Resources Control Board (February 11, 2005)[4]
  • RWQCB requirements directing all cities to develop and implement a set of Best Management Practices (BMPs)
  • City Ordinance
  • Urban Storm Water Quality Management and Discharge Control

Timeline[5]

UNDER CONSTRUCTION Regulatory and Program Timeline

Following is a timeline of events for the State Board’s development of the ASBS Special Protections and the City’s request for an exception:

  • 2004 State Board notifies ASBS dischargers of the requirement to prohibit waste discharges into the ASBS.
  • 2005 Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board drafts Cease and Desist Orders (CDO) to require Pacific Grove, Monterey and others to either apply for and receive an exception to the Ocean Plan or cease the discharge of storm water runoff into the ASBS. The CDOs have been held in abeyance while State Board drafts Special Protections and conducts the CEQA review of a General Exception.
  • 2005 State Board requires municipalities and other discharges to apply for exceptions to the Ocean Plan to allow the discharges to continue.
  • 2006 State Board releases initial draft Special Protections to address storm water and

nonpoint source discharges into ASBS.

  • 2006 City of Pacific Grove submits one of twenty-seven ASBS Exception Requests
  • 2007 State Board deems City of Pacific Grove exception request to be complete (see Attachment 3).
  • 2008 State Board issues revised draft Special Protections
  • 2008-2009 Central Coast ASBS jurisdictions develop proposal for a Regional Monitoring Program
  • 2010 State Board issues CEQA Initial Study and Notice of Preparation of an EIR for a General Exception to discharges into ASBS statewide
  • 2011 State Board issues CEQA Draft Program Environmental Impact Report and sets hearings for adoption of the Special Protections (see Attachment 5)
  • 2012 Final version-Exception to the California Ocean Plan for Areas of Special Biological Significance Waste Discharge Prohibition for Storm Water and Nonpoint Source Discharges, with Special Protections.Cite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag[6]
  • National Water Quality Inventory
  • Monitoring of stormwater quality within the City of Pacific Grove is performed by multiple entities including:
    • Citizen Watershed Monitoring Network organizes annual First Flush
    • Urban Watch, and Snapshot monitoring activities for the Monterey region that document stormwater quality conditions for the first storm of the season
    • Monterey Bay Sanctuary Citizen Watershed Monitoring Network (Citizen)[7]
  • Monterey Bay Sanctuary Citizen Watershed Monitoring Network

Management Strategies

Current Overview

The City of Pacific Grove maintains 34 discharge pipes from its Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s) diameter 10-54 inches. Additional city surface runoff is incorporated into the Pebble Beach watershed while small coastal areas within the city discharge directly into the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary as non-point source runoff. Designation of thirty four Areas of Special Biological Significance (ASBS) by the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) in 1974 for the purpose of preserving sensitive biological diversity and habitat; including the Pacific Grove Marine Gardens Fish Refuge. Urban Stormwater discharge from 246 point sources was specifically viewed as a source of (allochthonous) contaminants within the California Ocean Plan in the original SWRCB designation. As urban derived inputs into marine systems, so did the pressure to refine language relevant to urban stormwater inputs into the ocean. October 18, 2004 the State Water Board notified municipal stormwater parties to cease stormwater and non-point discharge into ASBS, and must obtain a permit under the Ocean Plan (no later than May 31, 2006). Permitting under special exceptions must be approved by SWRCB, CEQA, and US EPA. The most recent (March 16, 2012) Attachment B addressing Special Protections for Areas of Special Biological Significance, Governing Point Source Discharges of Storm Water and Nonpoint Source Waste Discharges Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) including statewide General Exception to the Ocean Plan includes implementation of Regional Water Board special protections in permitting for discharges into ASBS.

The Ocean Plan states that: “Waste shall not be discharged to areas designated as being of special biological significance. Discharges shall be located a sufficient distance from such designated areas to assure maintenance of natural water quality conditions in these areas.” This absolute discharge prohibition in the Ocean Plan applies unless an “exception” is granted.

Regulations within the Ocean Plan; Attachment B to the General Exception, Special Protections for Areas of Special Biological Significance, Governing Point Source Discharges of Storm Water and Nonpoint Source Waste Discharges, implemented by the SWRCB specify a 90% reduction "A 90% reduction in pollutant loading during storm events, for the applicant’s total discharges" and discharges that do not alter receiving water quality outlines within the Final Envirnmental Impact Report. The City of Pacific Grove has been actively working towards preemptively complying with newly proposed regulatory standards by establishing the Monterey Regional Stormwater Management Program[8], implementing Best Management Practices (BMPs), aided by funding from 2006 State Water Board Proposition 84 Area of Special Biological Significance grant that contains three phases, including dry weather diversion system, Greenwood Park detention wetland (completed by summer of 2014), and Low Impact Development incetives.

2011-Recent

  • 2012 (March 19) Request for Proposals(RFP): Design, Environmental Review and Permitting of a Stormwater Treatment System at Greenwood Park[9]
  • 2012 Current Greenwood Park Monitoring[10][2]
  • 2011 Report and data on Pacific Grove Stormwater Outfalls[11]
  • 2011 iTree[12]
  • 2010 Integrated Regional Water Management Plan (IRWMP). Monterey Peninsula, Carmel Bay, and South Monterey Bay Integrated Regional Water Management Regional Acceptance Process Materials[13]

2001-2010

  • Best Management Practices (BMPs)
    • Low Impact Development (LID) technologies implemented as Best Management Practices BMPs throughout the watershed.
  • Annual Reports: Monterey Regional Storm Water Management Program (MRSWMP)
  • Date unknown Urban Forest Management Plan. By RBF consulting.[14]
  • 2006 MACTEC Engineering and Consulting, Inc. for Phase III dry weather and stormflow runoff into Pacific Grove area of ASBS.[15]
  • 2006 Proposition 84 Areas of Special Biological Significance (ASBS) Grant Program(The Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coast Protection Bond Act)[16]
  • 2005 CASQA California Ocean Plan, Areas of Special Biological Significance, Waste Discharge Prohibition[17]
  • 2002 Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the Monterey Regional Storm Water Pollution Prevention Program[18][8]
  • 2002 Model Urban Runoff Program: A How-To guide for Developing Urban Runoff Programs for Small Municipalities. July 1998 (revised February 2002, by the California Coastal Commission)[19]

1991-2000

  • 2000 (began) First Flush Event Monitoring by the Sanctuary Citizen Watershed Monitoring Network[20]
  • 1998 Model Urban Runoff Program (MURP)
  • 1997 (Established) Monterey Bay Sanctuary Citizen Watershed Monitoring Network(MBSCWMN)[21]

1981-1990

1970-1980

text
The City of Pacific Grove and Monterey County participants in the Monterey Regional Storm Water Management Program have created have established municipality specific contact diagrams to more effectively create and implement BMPs.[22]
  • Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS)[23]

Metadata

References

  1. http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/stormwater/
  2. 2.0 2.1 CSUMB Class ENVS 660: Pugh K, Arenas R, Cubanski P, Lanctot M, Purdy A, Bassett R, Smith J, Hession S, Stoner K, Ashbach R, Alberola G, Jacuzzi N, Watson F. 2011. Stormwater outfall watershed delineation, land cover characteristics, and recommended priorities for monitoring and mitigation in the City of Pacific Grove, California. The Watershed Institute, California State Monterey Bay, Publication No. WI-2011-02, 74 pages. http://ccows.csumb.edu/pubs/reports/CSUMB_ENVS660_ClassReport_PGStormwater_120306.pdf
  3. http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/ocean/asbs/docs/asbs_eir022112clean.pdf
  4. http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/centralcoast/board_info/agendas/2005/feb/item28/item28_2005_0008_cdo_pg_2_03_05_final.pdf
  5. http://www.ci.pg.ca.us/age/CCO/A-CCO20110302/15b.pdf
  6. http://www.monterey.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=vPF8dkMtHbY%3d&tabid=927&mid=5113&language=en-US
  7. http://montereybay.noaa.gov/monitoringnetwork/about_us.html
  8. 8.0 8.1 Monterey Regional Stormwater Management Program http://www.montereysea.org/index.php
  9. http://www.ci.pg.ca.us/RFP%20Wetland_GreenwoodPark.pdf
  10. Watson, F., Krone-Davis, P., and Smith, J. 2012 in prep. Streamflow gaging at Greenwood Park, Pacific Grove, California: January-April 2012. Report prepared for Monterey Bay Sanctuary Foundation and the City of Pacific Grove. The Watershed Institute, California State University Monterey Bay, Publication No. WI-2012-3. Available from: http://ccows.csumb.edu/pubs/
  11. http://ccows.csumb.edu/pubs/proj_pubs/2011/ENVS660_PGStormwater/index.htm
  12. http://www.ci.pg.ca.us/pubworks/iTree.pdf
  13. Monterey Peninsula, Carmel Bay, and South Monterey Bay Integrated Regional Water Management Regional Acceptance Process Materials http://www.mpwmd.dst.ca.us/Mbay_IRWM/Mbay_IRWM.htm
  14. Urban Forest Management Plan. By: RBF consulting http://www.ci.pg.ca.us/pubworks/CC%20Presentation_Final.pdf
  15. MACTEC Report
  16. http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/grants_loans/asbs/docs/prop84_asbsguidelines.pdf
  17. http://waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/ocean/docs/asbs/wrkshp083105/casqa.pdf
  18. Memorandum of Agreement for the Monterey Regional Storm Water Pollution Prevention Program http://www.ci.pg.ca.us/pubworks/mrswmp/MRSWMP_a.pdf
  19. Monterey Bay Sanctuary Citizen Watershed Monitoring Network http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/msea/Literature/Documents/MURP.pdf
  20. http://sanctuarysimon.org/monterey/sections/waterQuality/project_info.php?projectID=100141&sec=wq
  21. Monterey Bay Sanctuary Citizen Watershed Monitoring Network http://montereybay.noaa.gov/monitoringnetwork/pdf/ff2011.pdf
  22. http://monterey.org/en-us/departments/planspublicworks/engineering/stormwaterprogram/mrswmp.aspx
  23. http://montereybay.noaa.gov/

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.