SR-502-001-06 (2)
EPWM :Bacteria TMDLReport05-06.doc
Council Meeting: July 12, 2005
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Santa Monica, California
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
Mayor and City Council
City Staff
Recommendation to Approve Multi-Jurisdictional Bacteria Reduction
Implementation Plan to Improve Water Quality in Santa Monica Bay
Introduction
This report recommends that the City Council approve the Santa Monica Bay Beaches
Bacteria Total Maximum Daily Load Implementation Plan for Jurisdictional Groups 2 and 3
to improve ocean water quality and for submittal in compliance with Regional Water Quality
Control Board requirements.
Background
The California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) has been authorized by
the federal Clean Water Act, as implemented in California by the Porter-Cologne Water
Quality Act, to establish limits on pollutants entering Santa Monica Bay via urban runoff
(lower volume water flows that occur during dry weather from over-irrigation, car washing,
etc.) and stormwater (higher volume water flows associated with storm events ). Consistent
with this authority, the SWRCB has established programs and policies to limit the amount
of trash. bacteria and heavy metals that enter the ocean.
To advance this effort, in 1998 the SWRCB identified impaired water bodies within
California and many of the beaches along Santa Monica Baywere so designated due to
high bacteria concentrations. Elevated bacteria levels and resulting beach postings or
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closures prevent full beneficial use of the ocean for human recreation. The bacteria that
has impacted impaired beaches typically enters the ocean via urban runoff and stormwater.
The SWRCB has adopted a pollutant management and reduction strategy known as the
Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) approach to reduce pollutants and their impacts on the
ocean environment. A TMDL specifies the amount of a pollutant that a water body can
receive and still meet water quality objectives. The TMDL is then expressed in terms of the
maximum number of days per year in which the bacterial levels exceed the targets. Under
guidance from the SWRCB, the Los Angeles Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) has
adopted TMDL's for trash and bacteria for Santa Monica Bay. Standards for heavy metals
are expected within the next year.
Discussion
To meet the targets for bacteria TMDL in Santa Monica Bay, the RWQCB has required the
development of implementation plans for the seven watersheds that comprise the Los
Angeles region. These watersheds often extend across more than one jurisdiction, as is
the case with the two watersheds within which Santa Monica is located (please see
Attachment 1). For purposes of the TMDL programs, Santa Monica is defined as a part of
Jurisdictions 2 and 3. Interagency coordinating efforts in Jurisdiction 2 are led by the City
of Los Angeles (with Santa Monica as a participating partner), while Santa Monica has
been designated the lead agency in Jurisdiction 3. Other agencies participating in both
jurisdictions include EI Segundo, the County of Los Angeles, and the California Department
of Transportation (CaITrans). The implementation plan is the result of the joint planning
efforts of these agencies to meet bacterial TMDL requirements for urban runoff and
stormwater.
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The participating partners and an assisting consultant (CH:CDM Consulting) have
developed a phased and integrated implementation plan to meet increasingly stringent
mandated bacteria standards through 2021. By this date, the City and all other
jurisdictions in the Los Angeles region will be required to meet TMDL standards for dry
weather, "wintery" dry weather and wet weather conditions.
The implementation plan (Attachment 2) identifies the projects and activities that each
participating partner will undertake or consider undertaking over the implementation period
in order to meet the bacterial TMDL standards. Projects may include the installation of
storage cisterns, green roofs, infiltration devices, pervious pavement and bio-retention
devices. As summarized in Table 21 of the plan, 26 sites owned/controlled by the City of
Santa Monica have been identified for the possible installation of devices to treat or retain
urban runoff and stormwater to reduce bacteria and other pollutants. Of the 26 sites, ten
are listed as "committed", indicating that there is a high likelihood of the project being
implemented. At five of these ten sites, devices are already constructed or their
construction will be completed by the end of 2005. Of the five remaining sites listed as
"committed", all are in the planning and/or design phase and have been funded.
Regarding the sites listed as "to be considered", staff has determined that they meet
minimum criteria, such as available open space and/or potential for surface or subsurface
improvement over the next 16 year period. Inclusion on the "consider" list does not
commit the City to future action and should be viewed only as a commitment to consider
the site for suitability.
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The participating agencies have worked closely over the past two years with the staff of the
Los Angeles RWQCB and local environmental groups to ensure that the plan is drafted in a
manner consistent with their requirements. In March of this year, the RWQCB and Heal
the Bay provided comments on a draft plan, and staff have continued a high level of
coordination during the preparation of the final draft plan. The RWQCB requires that the
implementation plan be approved by the elected bodies of the participating agencies and
submitted for their final approval by July 15, 2005.
Concurrent with the development of the multi-jurisdictional implementation plan, staff has
undertaken a comprehensive urban runoff and stormwater planning effort. The resulting
plan with implementation and financing strategies will be presented for City Council
consideration this summer or fall. Projects and activities identified in the multi-jurisdictional
bacteria reduction plan and presented for approval now are consistent with those
developed in the comprehensive plan.
BudaetlFinanciallmpact
There are no new budget impacts related to the approval of this staff report, as all projects
and activities to which the City is committing have been funded by prior City Council
actions.
Recommendation
This report recommends that the City Council approve the Santa Monica Bay Beaches
Bacteria Total Maximum Daily Load Implementation Plan for Jurisdictional Groups 2 and 3
to improve ocean water quality and for submittal in compliance with Regional Water Quality
Control Board requirements.
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Prepared by: Craig Perkins, Director, Environmental & Public Works Management
Brian Johnson, Manager, Environmental Programs Division
Attachments: 1 - Map of Jurisdictions 2 and 3 of Implementation Plan
2 - Implementation Plan for Jurisdictional Groups 2 and 3
(A hardcopy of the document is available for public review in the
City Clerk's office)
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ATTACHMEI'tT 1
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