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Jason UhleyChief of Watershed Protection

Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District

Santa Ana Region Stormwater Permit TMDL Requirements and Costs

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Federal program to protect the Beneficial Uses of lakes, rivers and streams

Clean Water Act

Recreation on Canyon Lake

Water Supply

Warm and Cold Water Habitat

Fishing

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Construction

Pesticide/Herbicide Use

Clean Water Act implemented through National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permits

Industrial

Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4)

De-minimus (dewatering)

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Today discussing MS4 Permit

Construction

Pesticide/Herbicide Use

Industrial

De-minimus (dewatering)

Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4)

• Santa Ana Permit reissued in 2010

• Issued jointly to cities and County (Permittees)

• Regulates Permittee Activities

• Regulates private Activities

• Residential• Business• Development• Other governments

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MS4 Permit requires Cities and County to comply with Lake Elsinore/Canyon Lake Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)

Riverside County*BeaumontCanyon LakeHemetLake ElsinoreMenifee*Moreno Valley*Murrieta*PerrisRiverside*San JacintoWildomar*

* Only applies to portions of the City/County within the San Jacinto Watershed

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Permittee TMDL Compliance Activity Timeline

2001 – San Jacinto Construction Permit – interim new development controls

2002 – Third-term Stormwater Permit Adopted

2004 – TMDL Adopted

2006 – TMDL Task Force Formed

2006 – Final Water Quality Management Plan for New Development

2007 – Stormwater compliance programs enhanced to better address TMDL

2010 - Fourth-term Stormwater Permit Adopted

2020 – Compliance with TMDL required

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Comprehensive Nutrient Reduction Plan (CNRP) for Lake Elsinore/Canyon Lake TMDL

• Required by 2010 Permit, due to RWQCB December 31,

2011

• Must specify compliance actions and schedule for

implementation

• Allows for adaptive management

• Allows Permittees to plan and budget

• Requires RWQCB approval

Alternative:

• Direct liability for TMDL targets

• Substantive fines and penalties for non-compliance

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VOLUME: The impediment to complianceScenario 1: Typical Storm

Typical BMP Design Event 0.5”/day rainfall

83,000 acres of urbanized area (17% of total watershed area)

~90% urban area untreated

May need 700 acres set aside for treatment (across urban area)

$177 Million capital cost + O&M

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VOLUME: The impediment to complianceScenario 2: The “BIG” Storm

January 1993 – 10”/10 days

December 2010 – 7”/ 8 days

Peak rainfall 3”/day

Minimum 4,000 acres set aside within urban area for treatment

Equivalent to a “NEW” Lake Elsinore

Billion dollar solution + O&M

Needed once every 20 years

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CNRP Proposal – Identify and Implement Feasible Watershed Based Controls

Illegal Discharge Investigations

Urban Retrofit Projects

Education/Outreach Business Inspection Programs

New Development Controls

Street Sweeping

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Alternative Option: In-Lake Treatment

Aeration/Oxygenation

Water Column Mixing

Fishery Management

Chemical Addition

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BMP Capital Costs (estimated)

Annual Operation Costs (estimated)

Lake Elsinore Aeration, Mixing, Fish Management

N/A $500,000

Hypolimnetic Oxygenation System

$2-4 million $250,000

Lake Water Addition N/A $1,500,000

Chemical Nutrient Binders

N/A $300,000

In-Lake Solutions = Greater Cost/Benefit

Watershed BMPs only: $1 Billion (?) $ millions (?)

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In-Lake Solutions

• Pros

• Potentially order of magnitude less expensive

• Multiple Cost-Share Partners

• Treat extreme events over time

• Cons

• Requires Regional Board approval

• Will still need watershed controls

• May require enhancements

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Consider other pollutant trading options

• Agricultural land fallowing / MSHCP conservation

• Septic system to sewer conversions

• Other pollutant trading opportunities

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Next Steps

CNRP Development – Due to RWQCB December 31, 2011

• District coordinating draft with City / County staff

• City staff providing data on existing and proposed BMPs

• TMDL Task Force providing data on in-lake solutions

• Review draft with City Managers in November