The City of Los Angeles is working to comply with stormwater permit requirements and address 22 Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) impacting the city through watershed planning and four Enhanced Watershed Management Plans. The plans outline best management practices like green infrastructure to meet water quality milestones and permit obligations by leveraging resources and coordinating with stakeholders. Stormwater can be viewed as a water resource, and the plans present an opportunity to augment water supplies in a cost-effective and sustainable manner.

1. Managing TMDLs, the MS4
Permit and Watersheds
in the City of Los Angeles
“stormwater runoff as a resource”
Shahram Kharaghani, PhD, PE, BCEE
City of Los Angeles
Stormwater Program Manager
September 26, 2013

2. Outline
Municipal Stormwater Permit •
Watershed Planning •
From Planning to Compliance •
Coordination•
Conclusions •

3. City of Los AngelesCity of Los Angeles
supportive of Regionalsupportive of Regional
Board’s vision of aBoard’s vision of a
comprehensive approachcomprehensive approach
to urban runoff waterto urban runoff water
qualityquality
Municipal Stormwater Permit
Compliance Planning & Monitoring
Enhanced
Watershed
Management
Plan
Coordinated
Integrated
Monitoring
Program
Water QualityWater Quality

4. Municipal Stormwater Permit
4th
Generation Permit
Challenges / Opportunities
– Minimum Control Measures
– Monitoring Requirements
• Receiving Water
• Outfalls
– Watershed-wide Collaboration
• Watershed Management
Plans
• Enhanced Watershed
Management Plans
– Numeric Limits
• Receiving Water
Limitations
• Water Quality Based
Effluent Limitations
– Reasonable Assurance
Analysis
– Time constraints plan
development and
implementation

5. 22 TMDLs impact City of LA out of the 32 in permit
Los Angeles River WatershedLos Angeles River Watershed
• LA River TrashLA River Trash
• LA River NitrogenLA River Nitrogen
• LA Harbor BacteriaLA Harbor Bacteria
• LA River MetalsLA River Metals
• LA River BacteriaLA River Bacteria
• Echo Park Lake ToxicsEcho Park Lake Toxics
• Lincoln Park Lake Trash,Lincoln Park Lake Trash,
NutrientsNutrients
Santa Monica WatershedSanta Monica Watershed
• Santa Monica Bay BeachesSanta Monica Bay Beaches
Bacteria (Dry Weather, WetBacteria (Dry Weather, Wet
Weather)Weather)
• Marina Del Rey BacteriaMarina Del Rey Bacteria
• Marina Del Rey ToxicsMarina Del Rey Toxics
• Santa Monica Bay Nearshore &Santa Monica Bay Nearshore &
Offshore DebrisOffshore Debris
• Santa Monica Bay ToxicsSanta Monica Bay Toxics
Ballona Creek WatershedBallona Creek Watershed
• Ballona Creek TrashBallona Creek Trash
• Ballona Creek MetalsBallona Creek Metals
• Ballona Creek ToxicsBallona Creek Toxics
• Ballona Creek BacteriaBallona Creek Bacteria
• Ballona Creek WetlandsBallona Creek Wetlands
Dominguez Channel WatershedDominguez Channel Watershed
• Machado Lake TrashMachado Lake Trash
• Machado Lake NutrientMachado Lake Nutrient
• Machado Lake ToxicsMachado Lake Toxics
• Dominguez Channel/ LADominguez Channel/ LA
Harbor Metals and ToxicsHarbor Metals and Toxics
Municipal Stormwater Permit
Compliance Planning & Monitoring

6. Municipal Stormwater Permit
Compliance Planning & Monitoring
City of Los Angeles leadsCity of Los Angeles leads
four Enhanced Watershedfour Enhanced Watershed
Management Plans withManagement Plans with
about 30 partner agenciesabout 30 partner agencies

7. 5yr5yr 1010 1515 2020 2525
aa bb cc
#1#1 #2#2 #3#3 #4#4 #5#5
MCMs,
Ordinances,
Distributed &
Regional BMPS
Municipal Stormwater Permit
Compliance Planning & Monitoring
Coordinated Integrated Monitoring
Program
TMDL ComplianceTMDL Compliance
MilestonesMilestones
Enhanced Watershed Management Plan IterationsEnhanced Watershed Management Plan Iterations
Permit CyclePermit Cycle

8. City of Los Angeles Integrated Resources
Plan
Watershed Planning - Water
Sources of untapped water…
• Stormwater :Stormwater :
100 MG/day (dry-weather);100 MG/day (dry-weather);
> 3 BG/day (wet-weather)> 3 BG/day (wet-weather)
• Wastewater:Wastewater:
300 MG/day goes to the ocean300 MG/day goes to the ocean
• Groundwater:Groundwater:
BG of water (contaminated)BG of water (contaminated)
Watershed Planning - Water
““provides a universal view”provides a universal view”

9. City of Los Angeles Water Quality Compliance
Master Plan for Urban Runoff
Watershed Planning - Stormwater
Watershed Planning - Stormwater
Mission
Reduce pollution from urban runoff to meet Clean Water Act MandatesReduce pollution from urban runoff to meet Clean Water Act Mandates
• Source control & institutional measures
• Storm water capture, treatment, & reuse
• Infiltration & groundwater recharge
• Multi-use benefits
• Community & stakeholder value
• Drought tolerant landscaping
• Pervious pavements & green roofs
• Outreach / partnerships

10. From Planning to Compliance
Watershed Planning (IRP, WQCMPUR)
– Institutional Measures
• Public Outreach
– Municipal Ordinances
• Green Building Ordinance
• Landscape Ordinance
• Low Impact Development (LID)
Ordinance
– Local (on-site) Measures
• Rain Barrels
• Rain Gardens
– Regional Measures
• Public Projects
• Green Street Standards Manuals
for Public/Private
• Green Street Standard Plans
MS4 Permit Implementation
o Minimum Control Measures
o LID / Green Street Policy
o Distributed BMPs (Green-Blue
Infrastructure)
o Regional BMPs to retain and
infiltrate 85th
percentile storm

11. Coordination
With Stakeholders
o City departments and officials
o Environmental organizations
o Neighborhood councils
o RWQCB, SWRCB, US EPA
o Municipalities
o County, state agencies
o Others
Coordinate
MS4 Permit negotiations & TMDL
development
Development of EWMPs and CIMPs
Implementation of EWMPs
Implementation of CIMPs
Evaluation of Progress to Compliance

12. • Great opportunity to meet water quality
while augmenting water supply sources
• Leveraging resources
• Cost effective
• Plans may enable the region to secure a
more sustainable source funding
Conclusions

13. Shahram Kharaghani, PhD, PE, BCEEShahram Kharaghani, PhD, PE, BCEE
City of Los Angeles Stormwater ManagerCity of Los Angeles Stormwater Manager
September 26, 2013September 26, 2013Additional Information:
www.lacity.org or www.lastormwater.org
www.facebook.com/lastormwaterprogramwww.facebook.com/lastormwaterprogram
www.youtube.com/user/lastormwaterprogramwww.youtube.com/user/lastormwaterprogram
www.lastormwater.org/blog/www.lastormwater.org/blog/