Urban stormwater management in the City of Santa Cruz

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Arial view of Santa Cruz, California

Summary

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] Sediment and silt and Fecal Indicator Bacteria are the two primary pollutants of concern for the City's watersheds [2].

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 [3]. The ESA prohibits the impairment of habitats that contain endangered or threatened species [4].

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 [5]. 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

Stormwater Management Plan

Stormwater Management Utility

The Management Utility was created by the city in order to establish utility fees which help to pay for the City's share of costs for flood control projects and stormwater pollution prevention. The federal government, state and City will share the cost of implementing the San Lorenzo Flood Control Project, estimated to cost over $66 million, approximately $4.4 million will be the City's share of costs. These costs include the reconstruction of four bridges, levee raising, river landscaping, and the Laurel Street Extension/Third Avenue Riverbank Stabilization Project. Estimated costs for stormwater pollution abatement are over $650,000 per year.[6] A Stormwater Ordinance was created in order to establish standards and programs that would improve stormwater system maintenance, monitor pollutants in stormwater, and provide information and educational activities for the community.

Management Strategies

Best management practices for specific areas such as retail, industrial, and construction activities are being developed and implemented. These activities support the goal of the City to minimize the pollutants from the City storm drain system entering Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Stormwater utility fees and Clean River, Beaches and Ocean tax funds will pay for these activities.

The following lists Santa Cruz's Best Management Practices (BMPs) for stormwater runoff, as listed by the Santa Cruz SWMP of 2009 [1]

San Lorenzo RIver Flood Control and Restoration Improvement Project

Since 1978, the CIty of Santa Cruz has been working on improving the flood capacity of the San Lorenzo River levees, costing them $1.1 million with an additional $20 million funded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers [7]. The improvements include raising the height of the levee from one to five feet, depending on location, and restore the riparian habitat along with levees. Since completion of the first phase of levee improvements enabled increased flood protection,the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has granted the A-99 flood zone designation.

University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC) Storm Water Management Plan

The UCSC Storm Water Management Plan covers UC Santa Cruz’s main campus and its off-site facilities located in urban areas of Santa Cruz.

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

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.[1]

Five sub-watersheds have been identified within the San Lorenzo Watershed:

  • Moore Creek
  • Westside
  • Neary Lagoon
  • San Lorenzo River
  • Arana Gulch

Stakeholders

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 City of Santa Cruz Storm Water Management Plan 2009
  2. SWMP Overview
  3. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Species Profile
  4. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Endangered Species Program
  5. Storm Water Annual Report 2012
  6. Stormwater Management Utility
  7. City of Santa Cruz Management Utility

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.