Framing an Appropriate Research Question 6b9b26d93da94caf993c038d9efcdedb.pdf
Watson
1. Watershed Management
Programs
Presented by
Richard Watson, A.I.C.P.
Richard Watson & Associates, Inc. (RWA)
Presented to
Southern California Water Summit & Fall Conference
Coronado, CA
November 8, 2014
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2. Los Angeles MS4 Permit Strongly
Encourages Watershed Management
Allows flexibility to implement permit requirements on a
watershed scale through customized strategies, control
measures, and BMPs.
Participation is voluntary.
Can be developed collaboratively or individually.
Based on defined Watershed Management Areas, but may
use subwatersheds to focus efforts by receiving water.
Two options: Watershed Management Programs (WMPs)
and Enhanced Watershed Management Programs (EWMPs)
EWMPs given an extra year for program preparation, but
have to meet additional requirements.
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5. Basic WMP Requirements
Prioritize water quality issues for stormwater and non-stormwater
discharges.
The Permit specifies three categories of Water Quality
Priorities
Category 1 – TMDLs
Category 2 – 303(d) Listed Waterbody-Pollutant Segments
Category 3 – Other pollutants exceeding standards, but not
303(d) Listed
Identify and implement strategies, control measures,
and BMPs to achieve specified outcomes.
(Continued) 5
6. Basic WMP Requirements (Continued)
Include detailed implementation schedules to meet interim
milestones and final compliance dates.
Execute an integrated monitoring program and assessment
program.
Provide appropriate opportunity for meaningful stakeholder
input.
Modify strategies, control measures, and BMPs, as
necessary, based on monitoring data (adaptive management
process every two years).
Allowed to meet interim compliance milestones with BMPs,
but final compliance is numeric.
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7. San Diego MS4 Permit Watershed
Management Plan - Similar Requirements
Called Water Quality Improvement Plan
Focus on guiding JURMPs
Also based on WMAs with opportunity to separate into sub-watersheds
Flexibility in defining priorities – most defining TMDLs as highest
priorities
Also have to identify strategies and schedules for improving water
quality and meeting numeric goals
Also includes an adaptive management process
Must demonstrate reasonable progress for TMDL compliance
No BMPs for interim milestones, except for TMDLs
No equivalent of EWMPs
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12. Water Quality Improvement
Strategy
Multi-pronged strategy initially focused on source
control control, total suspended solids (TSS) reduction,
and runoff reduction
A particular emphasis on true source control for metals
SB 346 for copper
Future use of Safer Consumer Product Regulations for
zinc
Lead is already under control – no further reduction
required by TMDL
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13. Water Quality Improvement Hierarchy
Treatment
Controls
Capture and
Use
Capture and
Infiltration
Operational Source Control
LID and Green Streets
TSS Reduction
Runoff Reduction
True Source Control
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15. Control Measures
LID Ordinances
Green Streets Policies
Minimum Control Measures
Non-structural Control Measures
True source control
Runoff reduction, including continued water
conservation and improved irrigation practices
TSS reduction, including vacant land ordinances
(Continued1) 5
16. Control Measures
(Continued)
Structural Control Measures
Focus on Regional Water Capture Projects
Could cost as much as $332 million
Preliminary work on three sites
Funding sources needed
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17. 13 sites as
LCC Potential Projects
Site Name Location
Progress Park Paramount
Bike Trail Bellflower
Sims Park Bellflower
Mayfair Park Lakewood
Caruthers Park Bellflower
Heartwell Park Long Beach
Junior Golf Course Long Beach
Heartwell Park Long Beach
Pan American Park Long Beach
Skylinks Long Beach
Wardlow Park Long Beach
Skylinks LCC Long Beach
Reservoir Park Signal Hill
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18. Reasonable Assurance Analysis (RAA)
The LCC Watershed and two adjoining watersheds
went together on an RAA using the USEPA-approved
and MS4 Permit authorized Watershed Management
Modeling System.
Zinc was identified as the “limiting pollutant” for wet
weather and bacteria for dry weather.
Control measures to adequately reduce zinc, expected
to reduce other pollutants as well.
Controlling bacteria is going to be very difficult.
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19. Reasonable Assurance Analysis
Treatment systems must be
sized to capture (or
equivalently treat) 193
million gallons of runoff.
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20. Questions?
Richard Watson
Richard Watson & Associates, Inc. (RWA)
949-855-6262
rwatson@rwaplanning.com
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