Plans and Reports
Water Quality Improvement Plans
The City collaborated with other jurisdictions and stakeholders throughout the San Diego Region to develop Water Quality Improvement Plans (WQIPs) for each watershed within its jurisdiction. The goal of the WQIPs is to protect, preserve, enhance, and restore the water quality of receiving water bodies. This goal will be accomplished through an adaptive planning and management process that identifies the highest priority water quality conditions within a watershed and implements strategies to improve the quality of discharges from the Responsible Agencies' storm drain systems.
The City of San Diego is the lead on the WQIP development for the San Dieguito, Los Peñasquitos and Mission Bay watersheds. The City is also a participating agency in the San Diego River, San Diego Bay and Tijuana River watersheds. For more information on the plans and annual reporting, please visit the link below:
The City of San Diego prepared the Mission Bay Watershed WQIP FY 21 Annual Report. The Mission Bay WQIP FY 21 Annual Report includes additional information related to the City actions to address water quality regulations and improve water quality shown in the online dashboards.
To estimate the funding needed to implement the WQIP strategies, the City developed a robust cost tool that calculates and organizes the annual cost for each strategy. For more information about the development of the tool, anticipated costs and potential improvements, see the fact sheet below:
To support the development of the WQIPs, the City performed a literature review and accompanying analysis to quantify potential pollutant load reductions associated with certain non-structural best management practices or strategies. The results are summarized in the following technical memorandum:
Jurisdictional Runoff Management Plan
The City's Jurisdictional Runoff Management Plan encompasses citywide programs and activities designed to prevent and reduce stormwater pollution within City boundaries. Read more here.
Stormwater Fee Study
The City of San Diego Stormwater Fee Study was completed to meet a requirement in the Settlement Agreement and Release for the City’s Master Maintenance Program and Programmatic Environmental Impact Report. The Agreement stipulates that the City shall complete a fee study conducted by a third-party expert within three years of the effective date of the Agreement (Sept. 27, 2013) and shall post the Fee Study on the City Stormwater Division’s website by Sept. 26, 2016.
Watershed Asset Management Plan
The Stormwater Division has prepared the following Watershed Asset Management Plan to identify the broad investments required to maintain the City's stormwater management system. The plan is consistent with the City's general asset management practices and is one of the first comprehensive asset management planning efforts in the stormwater field that addresses both flood risk management and stormwater quality. The Plan incorporates the strategies identified in the Comprehensive Load Reduction Plans, also available on this page as a foundation for meeting the requirements and compliance standards of the new Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit issued by the Regional Water Quality Control Board on May 8, 2013.
Comprehensive Load Reduction Plans
(2013 Update)
The following Comprehensive Load Reduction Plans (CLRPs) are the second phase of an ongoing effort to identify the projects and funding levels needed to comply with stormwater regulations established by the Regional Water Quality Control Board. These updated plans expand on the methodology and rationale presented in the initial CLRP documents filed with the Board on Oct. 4, 2012 (available below). The City will continue to refine the project list and cost estimate presented in these plans and expects to post further updates at a future date. The City encourages public evaluation of these documents and welcomes questions, comments and suggestions for improvements.
- San Diego River Watershed CLRP (2013 Update)
- San Diego Bay, Chollas Watershed CLRP (2013 Update)
- Mission Bay & La Jolla Watershed, Scripps CLRP (2013 Update)
- Mission Bay & La Jolla Watershed, Tecolote CLRP (2013 Update)
Comprehensive Load Reduction Plans
- San Diego River Watershed CLRP
- San Diego Bay, Chollas Watershed CLRP
- Mission Bay & La Jolla Watershed, Scripps CLRP
- Mission Bay & La Jolla Watershed, Tecolote CLRP
Bacteria-1 Total Maximum Daily Load
- Feb. 3, 2006 - City of San Diego letter regarding bacteria TMDL and CEQA analysis
- Sept. 18, 2006 - City of San Diego letter regarding bacteria TMDL and CEQA analysis
- July 25, 2007 - City of San Diego letter regarding bacteria TMDL and CEQA analysis
Areas of Special Biological Significance
Areas of Special Biological Significance (ASBS) are areas unique in marine diversity and opportunities for beneficial use and research. There are 34 ASBS along California's coast where water quality is monitored by the State. Two of these areas are located off of the La Jolla coast.
- 2014 Compliance Plan - Final Report
- La Jolla Watershed Management Plan - Final Report
- La Jolla Watershed Management Plan - Appendices A-H
- Dec. 15, 2004 - Discharge Exemption Request
- May 31, 2006 - Discharge Exemption Application
- Aug. 15, 2006 - City of San Diego letter regarding ASBS Special Protections analysis
- Prop 84 ASBS Grant Application Project Description
Master Stormwater System Maintenance Program
The City of San Diego has adopted a Master Stormwater System Maintenance Program for flood control facilities in neighborhoods across the City. The Master Program will allow the City to better identify flood control channels requiring maintenance services over the next five years. Each fiscal year, the City will identify a small group of channels that have deposits of sediment and overgrowth of vegetation requiring maintenance to restore flood control capacity.
Strategic Plan for Watershed Activity Implementation
In 2007, the Stormwater Division created The Strategic Plan for Watershed Activity Implementation as part of the requirements of the 2007 Municipal Storm Water Permit (NPEDES Order No. R9-2007-001). This document has been replaced by the Water Quality Improvement Plans.
- Overview
- Table of Contents
- Section 1 - Introduction
- Section 2 - Watershed Activity Prioritization by Watershed
- Section 3 - Watershed Implementation Strategy
- Section 4 - Initial Watershed Activities
- Section 5 - Potential Watershed Activities
- Section 6 - Estimated Total Annual Watershed Activity Costs
- Section 7 - Effectiveness Assessment and Monitoring Framework
Surveys
As part of the Stormwater Division's commitment to pollution prevention, surveys are conducted regularly to gauge the public's knowledge of stormwater and help guide our outreach efforts and Division priorities.
- 2014 Residential Survey Final Report and Survey Instrument
- 2013 Residential Survey Final Report and Survey Instrument
- 2012 Residential Survey Final Report and Survey Instrument
- 2011 Residential Survey Final Report and Survey Instrument
- 2010 Residential Survey Final Report and Survey Instrument
- 2009 Residential Survey Final Report and Survey Instrument
- 2008 Residential Survey Final Report
- 2008 Survey Instrument
- 2007 Residential Survey Final Report
- 2007 Survey Instrument
- 2004 Chollas Creek Watershed Focus Groups Final Report
- 2004 Residential Survey Final Report
- 2004 Survey Instrument
- 2003 Residential Survey Final Report
- 2003 Survey Instrument
- 2002 Residential Survey Final Report
- 2002 Survey Instrument
- 2001 Residential Survey Final Report
- 2001 Survey Instrument
Water Quality Studies
The Stormwater Division conducts many studies on many subjects, including pollution prevention and flood protection efforts. These studies allow the Division to improve efficiencies and maximize benefits to the community and the environment.
- Chollas Creek Copper, Lead and Zinc Water-Effect Ratio (WER) Study (May 27, 2011)
- La Jolla Area Of Special Biological Significance Site Specific Dilution And Dispersion Model (May 2013)
- 2007 Aerial Deposition Study, Phase I
- 2009 Aerial Deposition Study, Phase II
- 2009 Aerial Deposition Study, Phase III (Source Evaluation of TMDL Metals in the Chollas Creek Watershed)
- 2009 Characterization and Assessment of Storm Drain Sediments in Switzer Creek
- 2009 La Jolla Shores Sediment Characterization Study
- 2009 Los Penasquitos Sediment Source Identification Study, Phase I
- Mission Bay Final Report
- Mission Bay Final Report Appendices