Creek Connection I Stormwater News
December 2020
The West Valley Clean Water Program Authority (Authority) is pleased to report that despite this unprecedented year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 has been a year filled with many accomplishments which would not have been made possible without the support of the Board of Directors and all of our member agency staff. Thank you all!
NPDES Permit Reissuance/MRP 3.0 Update
The State Water Board released a revised tentative schedule for MRP 3.0 that indicates an Administrative Draft release in January, an adoption hearing in December 2021, and an effective date for the reissued MRP of July 1, 2022.
NPDES State Stormwater Fees
The State Water Board adopted its three-year fee schedules for all waste discharge permits. Fees will increase 5.3% in FY20-21, 3% in FY21-22, and 7.3% in FY22-23.
New Bacteria Control Measures in MRP 3.0
MRP 3.0 is likely to include new bacteria control measures in C5 IDDE Investigations, C8 Monitoring, and C14 Bacteria. The requirements are anticipated to relate to identifying and implementing control measures and creek monitoring for bacteria. Primary sources are homeless encampments and pet waste.
Bay Area Stormwater Management Agencies Association
The Bay Area Stormwater Management Agencies Association (BASMAA) will be dissolved as a formal organization in January 2021. The Board of Directors is continuing to discuss its future structure and close-out actions.
California Stormwater Quality Association
With deep appreciation for his years of outstanding leadership, the California Stormwater Quality Association (CASQA) Board of Directors announces that Geoff Brosseau will transition from the role of Executive Director to that of Executive Advisor, and Karen Cowan will assume the role of Executive Director, effective January 1, 2021. Please see the press release announcing the Executive Director transition for CASQA.
FY2019-20 Annual NPDES Report
The FY2019-20 Annual Reports were submitted to the State Board on September 30, 2020. The annual report provides documentation of activities conducted during FY2019-20. The reports can be found on the West Valley Clean Water Program Authority’s (Authority) website at:
Campbell FY2019-20 Annual Report (PDF)
Los Gatos FY2019-20 Annual Report (PDF)
Monte Sereno FY2019-20 Annual Report (PDF)
Saratoga FY2019-20 Annual Report (PDF)
Cost of Service and Long-term Funding Options Study
The Authority entered into an agreement with SCI Consulting Group for financial consulting services to conduct a cost of service study and evaluate long-term funding options. Initial data gathering is underway to determine baseline costs and revenue where applicable.
GSI Handbook Part 2
The final GSI Handbook Part 2 and the bioretention and pervious pavement typical details (in CAD and PDF) have been completed and posted on the Santa Clara Valley Urban Runoff Pollution Prevention Program (SCVURPPP) website. SCVURPPP staff are continuing to revise details for general components related to bioretention and pervious pavement and other updates over the next few months.
C.3 Stormwater Handbook Updates
SCVURPPP staff have begun working on minor updates to the 2016 version of the C.3 Handbook, based on information learned from use of the Handbook over the past few years. Additional updates will be made next fiscal year, once MRP 3.0 has been adopted.
Stormwater Treatment Measure (STM) Data Portal
SCVURPPP continues to work on updates to the STM Data Portal (formerly the GSI Database) to provide publicly accessible maps of installed STMs as well as to include trash full capture systems. A link to the publicly accessible page (map layers and filters) of the Data Portal is now available in the GSI section of the SCVURPPP website.
On-land Visual Trash Assessments (OVTA)
FY20-21 OVTAs are now underway and will be conducted at a similar level of effort as FY19-20. The OVTA protocol has been updated to collect information on the number of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) items observed during assessments to better understand the litter impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Through October 2020, roughly 500 OVTAs have been conducted to date.
Los Gatos Creek Trail Grant
The City of Campbell and the Town of Los Gatos completed installation of 10 trash and recycling receptables, pet waste stations and interpretive trail signs along a six mile stretch of the Los Gatos Creek (from a Valley Water B2 Grant).
Underpass Mural Art Grant Recipient
The Authority, in partnership with the South Bay Clean Creeks Coalition (SBCCC) and the City of Campbell (Campbell), are excited to announce the grant recipient to paint a mural under the Creekside Way Bridge in Campbell along the Los Gatos Creek Trail. The winning artist is Andrew Roulette’s design. Installation of the mural will commence in December, pending weather conditions.
Creek Cleanups
Due to the COVID-19 Shelter-In-Place throughout Santa Clara County schools presentations andcommunity events continue to be cancelled. However, in partnership with the Authority, the South Bay Clean Creeks Coalition (SBCCC) hosted two cleanup events in October and November with volunteers following strict safety protocols. Approximately 4.5 tons of garbage was removed along the Los Gatos Creek at Creekside Way in Campbell.
Earth Smart Actions
In January 2021, the Authority will launch Earth Smart Actions, an online platform to engage the community and students with a variety of engaging activities to accomplish meaningful environmental changes in their neighborhood.
Watershed Watch Media Campaign
As part of the countywide campaign, media advertising began in October. Advertisements on Integrated Pest Management and Low Impact Development (rain barrels, rain gardens, and pervious pavement) ran on targeted digital media (e.g., Mercury News, CNN, Business Insider), KQED Mobile App, KSTS Telemundo 48, KNTV NBC 11, KSOL 98.9/91.9 FM, KCBS 740 AM/106.9 FM, and KUFX “K-FOX” 98.5 FM.
Social Media
In addition to Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, the Authority can also be found now on Instagram as CleanCreeks.
Fall/Winter Campaigns
The Authority’s fall campaign ran in October and November and featured posts with Stormy the Storm Drain. Messages focused on litter, reusable products, and microplastics, a No Plastic Straw Challenge Pledge/Giveaway, and a free coloring page. The current winter campaign is on Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) with weekly #WaterWednesday posts through January that will highlight and explain individual GSI features.
FY2020-21 SCVURPPP Trainings
The FY2020-21 planned training schedule is as follows. Training content will be discussed and finalized in the appropriate AHTGs.
|
Topic
|
Date
|
|
Construction Site Inspectors
|
February 2021
|
|
Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
|
March 2021
|
|
Municipal Maintenance
|
April 2021
|
|
Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI)
|
April/May 2021
|
|
IND/IDDE Inspectors
|
Early June 2021
|
Upcoming Meetings and Events
CASQA Quarterly Meeting - Annual State of California Update: Highlighting Regulatory Initiatives and Exploring Emerging Science, Thursday, January 14, 2021 - 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM;Agenda Register - Deadline: 12:00 PM PT (noon) - Wednesday, January 13, 2021 (webcast).
Authority Board Meeting, Thursday, February 4, 2021 from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM (PST), Monte Sereno City Hall, 18041 Los Gatos-Saratoga Rd., Monte Sereno, CA 95030.
Santa Clara Valley Green Gardener Training, February 24, 2021 to March 5, 2021 (one class per week). The registration link is available at Green Gardening Registration.
Please share any content in the Authority newsletters in your agency publications. Likewise, if you would like to share any stormwater information with other member agencies, please email Pia Lusk at plusk@wvcwp.org and we will include it in our next publication.
