County Unincorporated Area Stormwater Quality Management Program
Program Background
In July 2000, the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board issued NPDES Permit CAS004002 (Permit), requiring the control of stormwater and urban runoff from the municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4) in the urbanized areas of Ventura County. In response, the County created a stormwater quality management program to fulfill the Permit’s requirements as they apply to urbanized unincorporated areas within Ventura County.
Program Duties
Currently, this program is administered by Public Works Agency (PWA) Watershed Protection District, but overall, the Permit is implemented by a number of County departments within the PWA, the Resource Management Agency (RMA) and the General Services Agency (GSA). The County program closely follows the Ventura Countywide Stormwater Quality Management Plan (SMP), implementing various activities relating to the elimination or mitigation of stormwater pollution in accordance with the Clean Water Act, and as detailed in provisions of the Permit.
Each Permit required activity is defined within the guidelines of the SMP. Additionally, the SMP allows the County to execute a number of pollution prevention related policies and Best Management Practices BMPs under one of the six sub-programs as follows:
1. Management Program
2. Program for Residents
3. Program for Industrial and Commercial Businesses/Illicit Discharge
4. Program for Planning and Land Development
5. Program for Construction Sites
6. Program for Public Agency Activities and Infrastructure
Examples of the six sub-program activities are as follows
Management Program:
· Prepare NPDES Budget for County Co-permittee activities
· Provide guidance/training to County staff on existing and new permit requirements
· Coordinate annual reporting
· Represent the County in various subcommittee meetings
Program for Residents:
· Prepare and distribute public outreach materials
· Conduct various public outreach and educational activities in unincorporated county areas
· Maintain County Stormwater Hotline to serve as a public reporting tool
Program for Industrial and Commercial Businesses/Illicit Discharge:
· Visit/inspect commercial and industrial sites (in County unincorporated) for illicit discharges and potential coverage under the State General Industrial Permit
· Annually target and visit additional businesses (in County unincorporated) for pollutants of concern
· Develop and maintain industrial/commercial business inspection database
· Respond to all assigned calls and complaints regarding illicit discharges and/or illegal dumping in urbanized county unincorporated (and beyond where determined necessary)
Program for Planning and Land Development:
· Conduct project review on all new development in unincorporated County areas and apply SQUIMP
Program for Construction Sites:
· Distribute and educate the public regarding proper construction related BMPs and stormwater pollution prevention techniques in unincorporated County
· Provide construction inspection follow-up, enforcement actions and Regional Board notification
Program for Public Agency Activities and Infrastructure:
· Maintain storm drain stencils
· Conduct all County’ corporate yard inspections for permit compliance
· Train all corporate yard in proper stormwater BMP and illicit discharge response
