OCGov.com - Orange County - Our Community Out Commitment Directors Name Jess Carbajal Contact the County Orange County Seal
OCPW Header Banner
OC Watersheds
Public Education website
Water Quality Management Plan (WQMP)
Storm Maps
New Requirements for Land Development

 

Orange County Watersheds

Welcome to the website of the OC Watersheds Program!

Water pollution prevention is important to Orange County’s quality of life, its businesses and tourism industry as well as to its environmental and ecological sustainability. The OC Watersheds program is dedicated to protecting Orange County’s waterways and educating the community in ways to prevent water pollution.

This website has technical information about water quality regulations, research, best management practices for residents, businesses and schools as well as games and videos in a separate website dedicated to general public education and outreach.

Mission Statement:
To develop regional management strategies to preserve, protect, and enhance coastal resources and surface waters throughout Orange County. A watershed approach considers the entire geographic area that a watercourse drains to address a broad range of issues.

Program History:
The integrated OC Watersheds Program at the County of Orange was created in the spring of 2000 to provide a more cohesive focus on protecting and improving water resources throughout Orange County. Stemming from requirements of the federal Clean Water Act, the County monitors the physical, chemical and biological condition of Orange County’s waterways.

What is a watershed?
A watershed is the geographic area draining into a river system, ocean or other body of water through a single outlet and includes the receiving waters. Watersheds are usually bordered and/or separated from other watersheds by mountain ridges or other naturally elevated areas.

In other words, all of the land in Orange County drains to a body of water that ultimately leads to the Pacific Ocean by traveling through the watershed. To simplify the concept of a watershed, if you were to cup your hands and someone poured water on your palms, the water would all run to the point where your hands meet – this point simulates a river or creek and your palms simulate the land of a watershed. Orange County has 11 unique watersheds – click here to learn more about the watershed where you live.

Popular Links
a
 
Resource Links
a
      Orange County Nitrogen and Selenium Management Program (NSMP) web site

     No Dumping Drains to Ocean

     Water Pollution Hotline

     Earth Day