Difference between revisions of "Urban stormwater management in the City of Santa Cruz"
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'''San Lorenzo Watershed | '''San Lorenzo Watershed | ||
| − | The San Lorenzo River flows from the summit elevations of the local Santa Cruz Mountains, through the City of Santa Cruz and the Coastal Zone, and out into the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and the Pacific Ocean. The entire city lies within the river’s watershed and receives runoff from areas outside of its jurisdiction. Additional agencies responsible for water quality within the watershed including in and outside of the City boundaries include: County of Santa Cruz, California Department of Parks, California Department of Fish and Game, California Coastal Commission, California Regional Water Quality Control Board, California Environmental Protection Agency, National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, and the Environmental Protection Agency.<ref>[http://www.cityofsantacruz.com/index.aspx?page=735 City of Santa Cruz Storm Water Management Plan 2009] </ref> | + | The San Lorenzo River flows from the summit elevations of the local Santa Cruz Mountains, through the City of Santa Cruz and the Coastal Zone, and out into the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and the Pacific Ocean. The entire city lies within the river’s watershed and receives runoff from areas outside of its jurisdiction. Additional agencies responsible for water quality within the watershed including in and outside of the City boundaries include: County of Santa Cruz, California Department of Parks, California Department of Fish and Game, California Coastal Commission, California Regional Water Quality Control Board, California Environmental Protection Agency, National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, and the Environmental Protection Agency.<ref>[http://www.cityofsantacruz.com/index.aspx?page=735 City of Santa Cruz Storm Water Management Plan 2009] </ref> Five sub-watersheds have been identified within the San Lorenzo Watershed: |
| + | * Moore Creek | ||
| + | * Westside | ||
| + | * Neary Lagoon | ||
| + | * San Lorenzo River | ||
| + | * Arana Gulch | ||
''Information Still Needed'' | ''Information Still Needed'' | ||
Revision as of 14:59, 9 April 2013
Contents
Summary
Information Still Needed The 1972 Clean Water Act requires areas to regulate urban runoff and other "non-point source" discharges via the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program. In response to the Phase II NPDES General Permit for Discharges of Storm Water from Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (General Permit), The City of Santa Cruz has created a comprehensive Storm Water Management Program (SWMP) to manage and reduce urban runoff pollutants [1].
Regulatory Background
Legislation has been developed by multiple regulatory agencies to reduce the level of pollutants and contaminants entering the Monterey Bay and bodies of water within the San Lorenzo River watershed.
Federal
The City of Santa Cruz must comply with Urban stormwater regulations applicable to central coast region and National Pollution Discharge Elimination Systems (NPDES) legislation. In addition, Endangered Species Act (ESA) regulations apply to the population of steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) present in the San Lorenzo River in Santa Cruz [2]. The ESA prohibits the impairment of habitats that contain endangered or threatened species [3].
State
The City of Santa Cruz currently operates under the State of California's General Permit for Storm Water Discharges from Small Municipal Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s). The city is required to develop and implement a Storm Water Management Plan (SWMP), and submit annual reports to the Central Coast Water Quality Control Board that summarize the city's SWMP implementation measures [4]. See Urban stormwater regulations applicable to central coast region and Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (CCRWQCB) pages for specific information regarding stormwater management and legislation for this part of the state.
Local
Santa Cruz County Code
Timeline
- 1972 Federal Clean Water Act is the basic regulatory structure for determining allowable levels and discharges of pollutants from point sources to waters of the United States. Section 402 designates the EPA as the agency responsible for implementation of the NPDES program. Discharges are considered illegal without obtaining a NPEDS permit.
Regulatory Timeline
- SWMP
Resources at Stake
San Lorenzo Watershed
The San Lorenzo River flows from the summit elevations of the local Santa Cruz Mountains, through the City of Santa Cruz and the Coastal Zone, and out into the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and the Pacific Ocean. The entire city lies within the river’s watershed and receives runoff from areas outside of its jurisdiction. Additional agencies responsible for water quality within the watershed including in and outside of the City boundaries include: County of Santa Cruz, California Department of Parks, California Department of Fish and Game, California Coastal Commission, California Regional Water Quality Control Board, California Environmental Protection Agency, National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, and the Environmental Protection Agency.[5] Five sub-watersheds have been identified within the San Lorenzo Watershed:
- Moore Creek
- Westside
- Neary Lagoon
- San Lorenzo River
- Arana Gulch
Information Still Needed
Stormwater Management Plan
- Current plan
Management Strategies
The following lists Santa Cruz's Best Management Practices (BMPs) for stormwater runoff, as listed by the Santa Cruz SWMP of 2009 [6].
- BMP 1: Municipal Operations Program/Pollution Prevention and Good Housekeeping
- BMP 2: Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination Program
- BMP 3: Public Participation Program
- BMP 4: Public Education
- BMP 5: Construction Site Storm Water Runoff Control Program
- BMP 6: Post-Construction Storm Water Management Control Program
- BMP 7: Industrial Facilities Control Program
- BMP 8: Commercial Facilities Control Program
- BMP 9: Addressing TMDLs in the SWMP
- BMP 10: SWMP Program
Stakeholders
References
- ↑ [http://www.cityofsantacruz.com/index.aspx?page=735 City of Santa Cruz Storm Water Management Plan[
- ↑ U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Species Profile
- ↑ U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Endangered Species Program
- ↑ Storm Water Annual Report 2012
- ↑ City of Santa Cruz Storm Water Management Plan 2009
- ↑ City of Santa Cruz Storm Water Management Plan 2009
Links
- Urban stormwater management in the Monterey Bay region
- Urban stormwater management in the City of Pacific Grove
- Urban stormwater management in the City of Scotts Valley
- Urban stormwater management in the City of Capitola
- Urban stormwater management in the City of Watsonville
- Urban stormwater management in Santa Cruz County
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.
