- Master Storm Water System Maintenance Program Project
- Street Sweeping Pilot Study
- Mission Bay Outreach - Summer 2009
Master Storm Water System Maintenance Program
The Development Services Department has released the Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR)
for the City's Master Storm Water Maintenance Program for public review. The public
comment period runs from July 9 to August 22, 2009.
The City of San Diego will be hosting two meetings to provide information and accept comments
regarding the City's proposed Master Storm Water System Maintenance Program. The Maintenance Program is
intended to guide future maintenance of the City's storm water facilities including natural and concrete
drainage channels, detention basins and outfalls. The public is invited to visit various informational
tables to obtain information about the maintenance activities, environmental effects and the overall approval
requirements for the Maintenance Program. The meetings will be held from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the following locations.
An organized presentation will begin at 6:00 pm.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Valencia Park/Malcolm X Library (multi-purpose room)
5148 Market Street
San Diego, CA 92114
6 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Nobel Recreation Center (multi-purpose room)
8810 Judicial Drive
San Diego, CA 92122
6 p.m. - 7 p.m.
The complete PEIR including appendices is available for download below.
You may also purchase a copy from the Development Services Department.
Questions related to the PEIR or the environmental process should be directed to Myra Herrmann at 619-446-5372.
Street Sweeping Pilot Study (Updated 4/14/09)
Background
The Storm Water Department is continuing its street sweeping efforts to help reduce pollution entering San Diego Bay, Mission Bay and the ocean off La Jolla Shores. Under the current pilot study, the Storm Water Department is providing more frequent street sweeping in the developed areas that drain into these waters. The goal of the pilot study is to determine if increased street sweeping can help the City better comply with local, state and federal Clean Water regulations.
Chollas Creek Street Sweeping Route Change
As planned and supported by neighborhood residents, the City will be changing street sweeping schedules in the Chollas Creek
neighborhood, which includes the communities of Greater North Park, Normal Heights, Kensington-Talmadge, City Heights, Logan Heights,
and Memorial. The City will be decreasing the frequency of street sweeping in the Chollas Creek area from Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
and Thursday of each week, to just Monday and Thursday.
The new schedule will reduce parking restrictions by half due to street sweeping. The neighborhood will be beginning a less frequent schedule
of street sweeping beginning April 13. The routes in Clairemont and La Jolla will remain at the currently posted schedules.
Over the past year, Chollas Creek has received more frequent street sweeping as part of a storm water pollution prevention pilot study.
The study was initiated by the City to help identify the types and amounts of pollutants entering the City's storm water system. Chollas
Creek was chosen as one of three neighborhoods to participate in the study and will be the only neighborhood returning to a less frequent
street sweeping schedule.
The pilot study, initiated in April of 2008, provided more frequent street sweeping in a developed
area that drains into San Diego Bay. The goal of the pilot study, which is still ongoing, is to determine the optimal street sweeping frequencies
and machinery that will help the City better comply with local, state and federal Clean Water regulations. Since the study began, the City has
swept the equivalent of over 2,100 miles of streets in Chollas Creek and has collected over 51.5 tons of trash and debris from the area. The City
is analyzing the materials collected to help determine ways to cut down on the pollutants that may find their way into the storm drain system and
eventually into San Diego Bay.
Stage 2: Street Sweeping Frequency Reduction
As the study enters Stage 2, the City will decrease the frequency of sweeping in the Chollas Creek route to each side of the street once per week
(one time per week on each side of the street, on Monday and Thursday). The change will allow the City to compare the effectiveness of pollutant
removal when the sweeping frequency is reduced to this level.
The new frequency will be in effect until the completion of Phase I of the Pilot Study, which is now scheduled to end in June 2009. Upon completion,
recommendations for an optimum street sweeping frequency for the Chollas Creek area will be developed. Phase II of the pilot study will compare the performance
of conventional mechanical sweepers with the performance of the vacuum-assisted sweepers acquired and employed as part of the pilot study effort.
Street Sweeping Signs to be Updated as Pilot Study Continues
For the duration of Phase I, the sweeping frequency in the Chollas Creek area of the Street Sweeping Pilot Study will be decreased to once a week
(one time per week on each side of the street). The commercial and retail areas included in the pilot study (sections of University Avenue, El Cajon
Boulevard and Fairmont Avenue) will continue to be swept from 2 am to 6 am. The residential areas (including Wightman Street, Meade Avenue and Orange Avenue)
will also continue to be swept between the hours of 8 am and 11am. Sweeping will occur on Mondays and Thursdays only.
The City will update existing street sweeping signs along the pilot study route to reflect this decrease in sweeping frequency. The signs will be updated
and unveiled on Saturday, April 11, 2009 in preparation for the schedule change which is to begin on Monday, April 13, 2009. Residents in the Chollas Creek
area will be notified of the change in sweeping frequency beginning on Monday, April 6.
Chollas Creek Street Sweeping Project: 2009 Schedule
| Task |
Chollas Creek Routes |
| Display Ads & Legal Notices Regarding Frequency |
04/06/09-04/13/09 |
| Press Release |
04/03/09 |
| Email Blast to Community Groups and Web site Update |
04/06/09 |
| Signs changed to reflect new schedule |
04/11/09 |
| Adjusted Street Sweeping Routes Begin |
04/13/09 |
| Conduct Monitoring |
04/13/09-05/29/09 |
| Pilot Sweeping Schedule Ends |
06/05/09 |
| Prepare Findings & Final Report |
06/05/09-06/10 |
Pilot Study Implemented in Three Phases
The increased street sweeping pilot study is intended to significantly reduce the amount of trash, debris, and other harmful pollutants, such as metals, entering local waters after washing down from the City's roadways. The pilot study is expected to last 24 months and is being implemented in three phases.
- Phase I began on April 1, 2008 and included the Chollas Creek Watershed communities of Greater North Park, Normal Heights, Kensington-Talmadge, City Heights, Logan Heights, and Memorial.
- Phase II began in May 2008 and included the Clairemont Mesa, Kearny Mesa, and Linda Vista communities surrounding the Mission Bay watershed.
- Phase III began in October 2008 and included the La Jolla, University, Torrey Pines, and Torrey Hills communities draining into the La Jolla Shores watershed.
Each phase of the pilot study includes increased sweeping of routes in both commercial and residential areas. In addition, the City has employed new vacuum assisted sweepers as part of the pilot effort and has been communicating the increased frequency of sweeping and the new sweeping schedules to the affected communities.
Street Sweeping Pilot Route Maps
- Greater North Park, Kensington-Talmadge, & City Heights Community Routes (Map updated 4/14/09) (PDF: 737K)
- Logan Heights & Community Routes (PDF: 389K)
- Clairemont Mesa, Kearny Mesa, & Linda Vista Community Routes (PDF: 894K)
- La Jolla, University, Torrey Pines, & Torrey Hills Community Routes (North) (PDF: 1.4Mb)
- La Jolla, University, Torrey Pines, & Torrey Hills Community Routes (South) (PDF: 1.1Mb)
- La Jolla Street Sweeping Pilot Detailed Map (PDF: 1.0Mb)
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New Effort Part of Larger Water Quality Improvements Strategy
The pilot study is part of ongoing effort to reduce water pollution and maintain the City's compliance with water quality regulations. The program was developed as part of the City's Strategic Plan for Watershed Activity Implementation completed in November 2008. The plan outlines a process to identify activities that can be implemented to meet multiple storm water regulations in an integrated and efficient manner. A full copy of the plan can be found at Program Reports.
The pilot study is designed to investigate the impact of two different improvements to the City's street sweeping program. First, the City is investigating the most efficient sweeping frequencies for both residential and commercial areas. Second, the City is comparing its existing mechanical sweepers with newly acquired vacuum-assisted sweepers to determine which one is more effective in removing pollutants, especially harmful metals, off of City roads.
Locations for Pilot Study Efforts Based on Careful Monitoring
Locations for the pilot study were selected based on monitoring data showing that these areas that have a high potential for metal contaminants. These areas typically have, or are near, high concentrations of industrial and commercial facilities and/or are crisscrossed with heavily traveled major streets.
The Storm Water Department has been working together, in conjunction with other City entities, to plan, implement, and eventually assess this pilot study. In addition, several professional consultants and local non-profit organizations, such as San Diego Coastkeeper and Alpha Project for the Homeless, Inc., are assisting with various outreach and education aspects of the pilot study.
For additional information regarding the street sweeping pilot study and other water quality improvement programs, please call the Storm Water Department at (858) 541-4300. City staff will answer any questions that residents and businesses may have about the pilot study.
For information regarding street sweeping routes in your neighborhood, please see the City's Street Sweeping Schedule.
Mission Bay Outreach - Summer 2009
Help Keep Mission Bay Clean and Safe!
Please join Think Blue in promoting pollution prevention in Mission Bay. Think Blue will once again be out in Mission Bay
every holiday weekend this summer (Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day) in order to educate residents and help prevent pollution in Mission Bay.
City staff and volunteers will be on location in the Think Blue booth to answer questions and provide educational outreach materials to visitors,
RVers and boaters. The greeting station will be located in East Mission Bay, adjacent to the De Anza boat launch, and just North of the Visitor's Center.
The station will also be decorated with educational banners and be supplied with outreach materials and give-away items.
All visitors to Mission Bay are welcome to stop by the booth to learn about ways to prevent pollution and help keep Mission Bay clean and safe for everyone.
For more information or to report storm drain pollution, please call that Storm Water Hotline at (619) 235-1000.
Helpful Hints for Keeping Mission Bay Clean and Safe
Visitors:
- Leave your picnic area clean for the next user
- Tie up trash bags when full to keep birds out of trash
- Place overflow trash at the park's larger trash dumpsters
- Pick up pet waste and dispose of it in trash bins
- Change baby's diaper before playing in the water, and always use swim diapers for infants
- Never use the Bay as a "restroom"
Boaters:
- Install recycle and garbage bins on your boat. Store trash and food remains and dispose of them on land, never in the water
- Switch to reusable cups and containers on your boat to reduce trash
- Never throw cigarette butts into the Bay or ocean. Once submerged in water, toxic chemicals from the smoke in the filters threatens marine life
- Never dump sewage into the Bay, and please remember, it is illegal to dump sewage within three miles of the coast
- Properly pump out your boat, and use pump-out locations such as Quivira Basin in Mission Bay
RVers:
- Use trash bins and dumpsters or bring your own empty bags to fill
- Tie up trash bags when full to help birds stay out of trash
- Clean up after your pet and dispose of pet waste in trash bins
- Change baby's diaper before playing in the water, and always use swim diapers for infants
- Use only RV dump stations to empty your septic tanks. Follow proper procedures to prevent spills
- In addition to the dump station at the Visitor's Center, there are many stations identified throughout San Diego for your use
Program and Project Background
Think Blue continues to maintain its ongoing programmatic focus to reduce storm drain pollution and educate the public on steps that
they can take to help. The City has decided to provide this outreach program for Mission Bay as an additional dimension for Summer 2008.
The City has chosen to outreach to Mission Bay RV users, boaters, and general visitors during holiday weekends and to observe the use of the
Bay. Direct outreach to bay users will be conducted at Mission Bay boat launches, RV parking areas, and special events by disseminating postcards
created specifically for each user group with pollution prevention tips for boats, RVs, and general visitors. A second postcard has been created for RV users,
listing alternative locations for proper waste dumping, because there is only one operational dumping station in Mission Bay (located at the Visitor's Center).
The Think Blue team is also taking time to observe high-activity, holiday and event behaviors at Mission Bay to improve the effectiveness of future "Think Blue"
pollution-prevention education and outreach programs. Volunteers will also make observations and documentation of use in different areas of the Bay, including boat
launches per day, daily RV counts, pedestrian traffic counts, and overall observations of the areas. Throughout this program, the City will establish partnerships with
stakeholders to disseminate information in their organizations, create a newsletter to be distributed to stakeholders and conduct community-based social marketing efforts
to encourage behavior change.
Research
Mission Bay has seen increased pollution due to high beach traffic, boat wash-down pollution, storm drain discharges, and waste disposal practices from RVs and boats
not monitored. According to the California Department of Boating and Waterways, one weekend boater or RV dumping untreated sewage into a body of water produces the same
amount of bacterial pollution as 10,000 people whose sewage passes through a treatment plant.
Mission Bay is a Federal "No Discharge" Zone, which means that no treated or untreated waste discharge into the Bay is allowed. 5 out of the 7 locations where water
samples most frequently exceeded established bacterial safety levels were in the east side of Mission Bay (Wildlife Refuge, Campland, De Anza Cove, Visitor's Center, Leisure Lagoon).
Boats, RVs, and illegal sewage dumping in the bay or storm drains may contribute to periodic increases in bacteria in Mission Bay. Scientific studies have found birds are the primary
source of bacteria in Mission Bay waters (67%), followed by unknown sources (10%), canine sources (9%), and human sources (5%). Storm drains are a likely source of bacteria as grassy areas
have high levels of bacteria, and irrigation can cause higher level of bacteria in receiving waters via run-off. Eel grass and algae deposits at wrack line (high tide line) and in storm drain
outflows helps trap bacteria and encourages its growth and survival for longer periods of time.
San Diego Watersheds Common Grounds/San Diego Bay
Grant Project
This section is coordinating a three year project to bring water quality monitoring data to the public's fingertips by developing an internet-based geographic information system for the San Diego Bay Watershed. Partners in this endeavor are: San Diego State University Geography Department, SANDAG, Unified Port of San Diego, and San Diego Baykeeper. The goal of project is the establishment of a fully functional, user friendly web interface that provides the public with San Diego Bay water quality information. The tool will be available to the public and on line in 2007. The San Diego Watersheds Common Ground Project: San Diego Bay Watershed Demonstration.is funded by a grant by the State Water Resources Control Board under Proposition 13.
Areas of Special Biological Significance
Clean Up and Abatement Orders
Chollas TMDL- A link to RWQCB site
