Difference between revisions of "Urban stormwater management in the City of Scotts Valley"

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[[Image:Carbonera_Creek.jpg|350px|thumb|Image 1. View of Carbonera Creek - Branciforte Creek intersection]]
 
==Summary==
 
==Summary==
 
[http://www.scottsvalley.org Scotts Valley] is a small city within [http://www.co.santa-cruz.ca.us/ Santa Cruz County, California], located approximately six miles north of the city of [http://www.cityofsantacruz.com/ Santa Cruz]. Scotts Valley lies within the San Lorenzo River watershed <ref>[http://scceh.com/Home/Programs/WaterResources/WatershedandStreamHabitatProtection/SantaCruzCountyWatersheds.aspx Santa Cruz County Watersheds] </ref>, with the primary land use represented by medium- to low-density residential development with a growing commercial/industrial sector <ref> [http://www.scottsvalley.org/downloads/planning/ZoningMap.pdf City of Scotts Valley Zoning Map] </ref>. Carbonera Creek, a perennial stream that eventually flows into the San Lorenzo River, is the central waterway and main recipient of urban storm water within Scotts Valley.The city of Scotts Valley published a Storm Water Management Plan (SWMP) in 2009 in accordance with the [http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/ National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)] General Permit requirements for small Municipal Seperate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) <ref> [http://www.scottsvalley.org/downloads/public_works/SWMP.pdf City of Scotts Valley Storm Water Management Plan, 2009] </ref>.
 
[http://www.scottsvalley.org Scotts Valley] is a small city within [http://www.co.santa-cruz.ca.us/ Santa Cruz County, California], located approximately six miles north of the city of [http://www.cityofsantacruz.com/ Santa Cruz]. Scotts Valley lies within the San Lorenzo River watershed <ref>[http://scceh.com/Home/Programs/WaterResources/WatershedandStreamHabitatProtection/SantaCruzCountyWatersheds.aspx Santa Cruz County Watersheds] </ref>, with the primary land use represented by medium- to low-density residential development with a growing commercial/industrial sector <ref> [http://www.scottsvalley.org/downloads/planning/ZoningMap.pdf City of Scotts Valley Zoning Map] </ref>. Carbonera Creek, a perennial stream that eventually flows into the San Lorenzo River, is the central waterway and main recipient of urban storm water within Scotts Valley.The city of Scotts Valley published a Storm Water Management Plan (SWMP) in 2009 in accordance with the [http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/ National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)] General Permit requirements for small Municipal Seperate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) <ref> [http://www.scottsvalley.org/downloads/public_works/SWMP.pdf City of Scotts Valley Storm Water Management Plan, 2009] </ref>.
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* [http://www.ecoact.org Ecology Action]
 
* [http://www.ecoact.org Ecology Action]
  
==Regulatory Background==
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== Local 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.
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===Federal===
 
'''Clean Water Act, Section 402: National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)''' - The [http://www.epa.gov/ United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)] is required to manage a permit system regulating point sources of water pollution. This system requires industrial and municipal agencies to obtain an NPDES permit before discharging point source pollution into local bodies of water. In addition to regulating pollutant discharge, the permit requires municipal separate storm water systems (MS4s) to develop a Storm Water Management Plan (SWMP) for their region <ref> [http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/guidance/wetlands/section402.cfm Environmental Protection Agency. Clean Water Act Section 402] </ref>.
 
*'''Phase I''' (1990) requires cities and certain counties with populations of 100,000 or more to acquire NPDES permits for their storm water discharges. Phase I MS4s are covered by individual permits <ref> [http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/munic.cfm Stormwater Discharges From Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s)] </ref>.
 
*'''Phase II''' (1999) requires regulated MS4s for cities and certain counties with populations under 100,000 to acquire NPDES permits for their storm water discharges. Phase II MS4s are covered by a general permit <ref> [http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/munic.cfm Stormwater Discharges From Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s)] </ref>.
 
'''Endangered Species Act (ESA)''' - The ESA prohibits the impairment of habitats that contain endangered or threatened species <ref> [http://www.fws.gov/endangered/laws-policies/ U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Endangered Species Program] </ref>. The San Lorenzo River maintains a population of [http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/fish/steelheadtrout.htm steelhead (''Oncorhynchus mykiss'')], which is listed as threatened under the ESA <ref> [http://ecos.fws.gov/speciesProfile/profile/speciesProfile.action?spcode=E08D U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Species Profile] </ref>.
 
 
===State===
 
'''California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB)'''
 
 
[http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/stormwater/caltrans.shtml CalTrans Program]
 
* The [http://www.dot.ca.gov/ California Department of Transportation (CalTrans)] is the governing agency responsible for the management, maintenance, construction, and design of the State highway system, including freeways, bridges, tunnels, CalTrans' facilities, and associated properties. CalTrans is subject to the permitting requirements defined by the Clean Water Act, Section 402(p) NPDES program. Though storm water discharges were originally regulated by individual permits, the State Water Board issued a State-wide permit (Order No. 99-06-DWQ) which regulated all discharges from Caltrans MS4s, construction activities, and maintenance facilities <ref> [http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/stormwater/caltrans.shtml State Water Resources Control Board, CalTrans Program].
 
[http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/stormwater/construction.shtml Construction Storm Water Program]
 
*
 
[http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/stormwater/industrial.shtml Industrial Storm Water Program]
 
*
 
[http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/stormwater/municipal.shtml Municipal Storm Water Program]
 
*
 
 
===Regional===
 
'''Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board'''
 
 
===Local===
 
'''Santa Cruz County Code'''
 
 
[http://www.codepublishing.com/ca/santacruzcounty/ Chapter 7.79: Runoff and Pollution Control]
 
  
 
'''Scotts Valley Municipal Code'''
 
'''Scotts Valley Municipal Code'''
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'''BMP 1: Public Education and Outreach'''
 
'''BMP 1: Public Education and Outreach'''
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* The Public Education and Outreach program achieves public outreach through th''Brochures''
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*''Children's Educational Program''
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*''Local Events''
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*''Storm Water Information on the City's Website''
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*''Evaluate Community Based Marketing Strategies''
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*''Education/Outreach for Commercial Activities''
  
 
'''BMP 2: Public Involvement and Participation'''
 
'''BMP 2: Public Involvement and Participation'''
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*''Storm Drain Labeling''
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*''Storm Water Hotline''
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*''Interagency Coordination''
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*''Public Meetings''
  
 
'''BMP 3: Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination'''
 
'''BMP 3: Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination'''
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*''Non Storm Water Discharge''
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*''Develop a Storm Water Ordinance that Addresses Illicit Discharge''
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*''Maintain a Master Storm Drain Map''
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*''Illicit Discharge/Connection Investigation and Abatement''
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*''Respond to Reported Spills, Sewer Overflows and Illegal Discharges''
  
 
'''BMP 4: Construction Site Storm Water Runoff Control'''
 
'''BMP 4: Construction Site Storm Water Runoff Control'''
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*''Grading Ordinance''
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*''Construction Site Inspections''
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*''Public Comment''
  
 
'''BMP 5: Post-Construction Storm Water Management in New and Re-developments'''
 
'''BMP 5: Post-Construction Storm Water Management in New and Re-developments'''
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*''Enforceable Mechanisms''
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*''Project Review Process''
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*''Post Construction BMP Inspection''
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*''Hydromodification Control Criteria''
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*''Applicability Thresholds''
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*''Implementation Strategy for LID and Hydromodification Control''
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*''Long Term Watershed Protection''
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*''TMDL for Carbonera Creek and Camp Evers Tributary''
  
 
'''BMP 6: Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping for Municipal Operations'''
 
'''BMP 6: Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping for Municipal Operations'''
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*''City Storm Drain Maintenance''
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*''Street Sweeping Operations''
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*''Citywide BMPs''
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*''Municipal Inspections''
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*''Training''
  
 
'''BMP 7: Program Effectiveness Assessment'''
 
'''BMP 7: Program Effectiveness Assessment'''
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== Links ==
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* [[Urban stormwater management in Santa Cruz County]]
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* [[Urban stormwater management in the Monterey Bay region]]
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* [[Urban stormwater regulations applicable to central coast region]]
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
 +
==Disclaimer==
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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 CSUMB, its staff, or students.

Latest revision as of 16:47, 9 April 2013

Image 1. View of Carbonera Creek - Branciforte Creek intersection

Summary

Scotts Valley is a small city within Santa Cruz County, California, located approximately six miles north of the city of Santa Cruz. Scotts Valley lies within the San Lorenzo River watershed [1], with the primary land use represented by medium- to low-density residential development with a growing commercial/industrial sector [2]. Carbonera Creek, a perennial stream that eventually flows into the San Lorenzo River, is the central waterway and main recipient of urban storm water within Scotts Valley.The city of Scotts Valley published a Storm Water Management Plan (SWMP) in 2009 in accordance with the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General Permit requirements for small Municipal Seperate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) [3].

Stakeholders

Local Regulatory Background

Scotts Valley Municipal Code

Chapter 12.14: Stormwater and Urban Runoff Pollution Control

Timeline

Resources at Stake

The most common pollutants entering the Carbonera Creek via storm water runoff within Scotts Valley include sediment, pesticides and herbicides, nutrients, heavy metals, toxins, oil and grease, solvents, viruses, and bacteria [4]. These pollutants impair waterways physically, through sediment transport affecting turbidity and flow rate, and biologically, through nitrification and exposure of harmful toxins to the biological community. Steelhead, listed as a threatened species under the ESA, are commonly found within the San Lorenzo river and its tributaries; impairment of riparian habitats within the San Lorenzo River Watershed could significantly affect the rehabilitation of Steelhead within this region [5].

Management Strategies

The following lists Scotts Valley's Best Management Practices (BMPs) for storm water runoff, as listed by the Scotts Valley SWMP of 2009 [6]:

BMP 1: Public Education and Outreach

  • The Public Education and Outreach program achieves public outreach through thBrochures
  • Children's Educational Program
  • Local Events
  • Storm Water Information on the City's Website
  • Evaluate Community Based Marketing Strategies
  • Education/Outreach for Commercial Activities

BMP 2: Public Involvement and Participation

  • Storm Drain Labeling
  • Storm Water Hotline
  • Interagency Coordination
  • Public Meetings

BMP 3: Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination

  • Non Storm Water Discharge
  • Develop a Storm Water Ordinance that Addresses Illicit Discharge
  • Maintain a Master Storm Drain Map
  • Illicit Discharge/Connection Investigation and Abatement
  • Respond to Reported Spills, Sewer Overflows and Illegal Discharges

BMP 4: Construction Site Storm Water Runoff Control

  • Grading Ordinance
  • Construction Site Inspections
  • Public Comment

BMP 5: Post-Construction Storm Water Management in New and Re-developments

  • Enforceable Mechanisms
  • Project Review Process
  • Post Construction BMP Inspection
  • Hydromodification Control Criteria
  • Applicability Thresholds
  • Implementation Strategy for LID and Hydromodification Control
  • Long Term Watershed Protection
  • TMDL for Carbonera Creek and Camp Evers Tributary

BMP 6: Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping for Municipal Operations

  • City Storm Drain Maintenance
  • Street Sweeping Operations
  • Citywide BMPs
  • Municipal Inspections
  • Training

BMP 7: Program Effectiveness Assessment

Links

References

  1. Santa Cruz County Watersheds
  2. City of Scotts Valley Zoning Map
  3. City of Scotts Valley Storm Water Management Plan, 2009
  4. City of Scotts Valley Storm Water Management Plan, 2009
  5. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Species Profile
  6. City of Scotts Valley Storm Water Management Plan, 2009

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.