This document provides an agenda and information for a storm preparedness presentation. It discusses maintaining storm drains and swales by keeping them clear of debris. It covers erosion control best management practices like silt fences and straw wattles. It also discusses low impact design approaches to managing stormwater like bioswales, permeable pavers, and rain barrels. The conclusion emphasizes being proactive about drainage system upkeep and using low impact development strategies to help protect local watersheds.

1. Storm PreparednessPresentation

2. Agenda
• Storm Drain and Swale Maintenance
• Erosion Control
• Storm Water Pollution and Low Impact Design
• Water Management

3. Preparing for El Niño
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvmeUStFvz8

4. Storm Drain Maintenance
• Keep storm drains, catch basins and landscape area drains free
of trash, sediment, roots and plant debris

5. Storm Drain Maintenance
• If drains are currently clogged, contact professional plumbing
service to remove trapped sediment and debris by
hydrojetting the lines

6. Storm Drain Maintenance
• To prevent sediment build-up in landscape drains, install a
rock border 6” – 36” around the drainage intake

7. Brow/ V- Ditch Maintenance
• Keep free of debris
• Check regularly during rainy season
• Be sure all drain outlets and weep-holes are open and clear of
debris
• Don’t over irrigate slopes as this may cause erosion

8. Erosion Control
• “ The most environmentally dangerous period of development
is the initial construction phase when land is cleared of
vegetation and graded to create a proper surface for
construction. The removal of natural vegetation and topsoil
makes the exposed area particularly susceptible to erosion,
causing transformation of existing drainage areas and
disturbance of sensitive areas”
• US EPA

9. Erosion Control BMPs
•Silt Fence

10. Erosion Control BMPs
•Straw Wattle

11. Erosion Control BMPs
•Straw Blanket

12. Erosion Control BMPs
•Jute Netting

13. Erosion Control BMPs
•Hydroseed/ Hydromulch

14. Storm Water Runoff
• “Urban runoff is the number one pollution source in Southern
California due to our infrequent rain events and unsustainable
landscape practices (including use of herbicides and inorganic
fertilizers). ”
• US Green Building Council San Diego Chapter

15. Watershed
A watershed is the area of land where all of the water that
is under it or drains off of it goes into the same place.

16. San Diego Watershed

17. Sweetwater River Watershed

18. Sweetwater River Watershed

19. Think Blue

20. Low Impact Design (LID)
• “LID is an approach to land development (or re-development)
that works with nature to manage stormwater as close to its
source as possible. LID employs principles such as preserving
and recreating natural landscape features, minimizing
effective imperviousness to create functional and appealing
site drainage that treat stormwater as a resource rather than a
waste product.”
• US EPA

21. Bioswales
• Bioswales are storm water runoff conveyance systems that
provide an alternative to storm sewers. They can absorb low
flows or carry runoff from heavy rains to storm sewer inlets or
directly to surface waters. Bioswales improve water quality by
infiltrating the first flush of storm water runoff and filtering
the large storm flows they convey.
• Natural Resources Conservation Service

22. Bioswales

23. Bioswales

24. Bioswale Maintenance
• Designed to infiltrate water
• Standing water is ok so long as it permeates within 72 hours
• Regular landscape maintenance with minimal soil compaction
• Extremely limited pesticide, fertilizer and herbicide usage.
• Do not pave swale
• Do not lower drainage intakes
• Consult with Civil Engineer or Landscape Architect before
making significant renovations to bioswale drainage

25. Permeable Pavers
• Interlocking pavers with a permeable bases and subbase that
allow the movement of stormwater through the surface.

26. Pervious Concrete
• A special type of concrete with a high porosity that allows
water from precipitation and other sources to pass directly
throughout thereby reducing runoff from site and allowing
ground water recharge
• Periodic maintenance required to maintain porosity

27. Rain Barrels
A rain barrel is a system that
collects and stores rainwater from
your roof that would otherwise be
lost to runoff and diverted to storm
drains and streams

28. Rain Barrel Rebates
• City of San Diego: $1.00 for
every gallon of storage capacity
up to 400 gallons.
• Example:
• 2 – 55 gallon barrels
• 2 * 55 gallons = $110.00 rebate
• SoCal Watermart: $75/barrel.
Maximum 4 per home

29. Water Management
• Manage irrigation proactively with smart controllers, soil
moisture sensors, and rain shut-offs
• Cloud-based smart controllers allow manager to shut off
irrigation system in anticipation of storm events

30. Conclusion
• Be proactive about storm water drainage system management
• Routinely check drains and brow ditches for debris
• Address erosion control using industry recognized BMPs
• Help keep our watersheds and oceans healthy by using LID
strategies whenever possible