Manager- Mary Anne Skorpanich MaryAnne.Skorpanich@rdmd.ocgov.com

Environmental Resources Section - Chris Crompton chris.crompton@pfrd.ocgov.com

Environmental Studies Unit - Lane Waldner lane.waldner@pfrd.ocgov.com

Sediment Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Compliance in the Newport Bay-San Diego Creek Watershed
Newport Bay is one of the most important environmental and recreational resources in Orange County, but is listed as impaired for excess sediment on the Clean Water Act Section 303(d) list.

In 1998, the State, through the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB), approved a TMDL for sediment through an amendment to its Water Quality Control Plan (Basin Plan). The TMDL is intended to remove the impairment in Newport Bay by allocating responsibility to sources for reducing the amount of sediment released.

The TMDL calls for a reduction of the current sediment load by 50% over a ten-year period through 2008 and establishes targets for improvement in the Bay itself. Subsequently, in 1999, the RWQCB adopted a further order that requires monitoring and reporting in accordance with the sediment TMDL.

The County of Orange, The Irvine Company, and the cities of Irvine, Lake Forest, Newport Beach, and Tustin are coordinating on a program to comply with the sediment TMDL. This involves maintenance of existing sediment control structures and the development of new ones to meet the loading reduction; implementation of sediment source control measures; and monitoring of progress towards compliance with the TMDL.

A sediment TMDL compliance report is prepared annually and is available through this web site.

County Land Acquisition - Hazardous Materials Assessments
The County is one of the largest owners of land in Orange County. Each year, new land is acquired through acquisitions or dedications. The Board of Supervisors requires assessments of these properties prior to acquisition in order to ensure that they are free of contamination. Hazardous Materials Assessments, also known as Phase I Environmental Site Assessments, include historical research, site inspections, review of regulatory agency databases, interviews, and an area reconnaissance.

Hydrologic & Meteorologic Data Management
The County, with its infrastructure of regional parks, roads, and over 350 miles of flood control channels and other facilities, has placed a top priority on predicting flood events and reacting in a timely manner to areas of flooding and severe soil erosion.

The ALERT (Automated Local Evaluation in Real Time) Flood Detection System consists of a network of over 100 rainfall and flood control and reservoir-level sensors strategically located throughout Orange County. The ALERT system transmits data via radio transmission to the County's base station computer, which allows for real time monitoring of storm conditions. Satellite and radar storm tracking provided by the National Weather Service (NWS), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), and a contract meteorologist support the ALERT network.
A hydrologic data report is prepared annually and is available for review on this web site.

Lake Management
Lakes in County Regional Parks provide an aesthetic and recreational benefit to the public and are considered jewels within the park system. To ensure the beneficial uses of the lakes are maintained, a lake management program has been established. The program consists of water quality monitoring, algae and aquatic weed growth mitigation, and coordinating fish stockings with the State Department of Fish and Game.

Water Quality Monitoring Unit - Bruce Moore bruce.moore@pfrd.ocgov.com

In order to better protect Orange County's rivers, creeks, bays, and estuaries countywide, water quality monitoring is conducted throughout the year, with emphasis on chemical constituents in stormwater runoff. Storms are of particular interest because that is the time when most pollutants are washed out of the air and off the land into the waters of Orange County. All runoff from our streets eventually ends up in places like Newport Bay, Dana Point Harbor, the Bolsa Chica wetlands and the Pacific Ocean but unlike sewage it receives no treatment. The intent of the monitoring program is to evaluate the impacts of stormwater and urban runoff on these receiving waters and the effectiveness of water quality control practices.

Stormwater Quality Program Unit - Grant Sharp Grant.Sharp@pfrd.ocgov.com

Countywide Water Pollution Investigations and Spill Abatement
Chemical Spill Emergencies: call 911
24-Hour Water Pollution Problem Reporting Hotline: Telephone: 714-567-6363
Spills of chemicals, both accidental and occasionally otherwise occur throughout Orange County. While many are small and are easily cleaned up, such as fuel spills from accidents, others which have greater potential for harm also occur. The San Diego fuel pipeline rupture of 1985, the American Trader oil spill of 1989 and the Brea tire factory fire of 1996 are examples of this type. Environmental Resources staff are available 24 hours a day to respond to. investigate and abate the effects of spills. While the primary goal is the protection of the environment, investigations may, in some instances, lead to prosecution. To report a spill to our office, use the phone numbers above.
Orange County Stormwater Program
The 1987 Water Quality Act holds municipalities responsible for the urban sources of pollutants that are discharged through their storm drains. To reduce or eliminate sources of pollutants in Orange County, Environmental Resources coordinates the efforts of the County, the Orange County Flood Control District and the 31 cities. Specific countywide water quality protection initiatives that have been implemented under the auspices of the Orange County Stormwater Program include: public education (e.g. No Dumping Drains to Ocean stenciled on 28,000 catch basins); extensive monitoring of creeks, channels, bays, and harbors; intensive inspections of illicit connections; water quality protections requirements for all new developments; and the adoption in 1997 of a new water quality ordinance to support program implementation.
Support to Watershed Planning
Environmental Resources is supporting these multi-agency efforts and has received grant funding under the Clean Water Act to conduct further studies and coordinate the watershed approach.

Engineering and Project Management Section - Sonia Nasser sonia.nasser@pfrd.ocgov.com

Watershed Planning Unit
In recent years, the focus of water quality and habitat enhancement efforts has shifted to initiatives conducted on a broader watershed basis that looks at a watercourse in its entirety. Currently three watersheds within Orange County, Aliso Creek, San Diego Creek, and San Juan Creek, have watershed management plans underway. Two more watershed management plans, for Westminster Watershed and for the Coyote Creek-Carbon Creek Watershed, will begin in 2002.
Capital Projects Unit
Some water quality problems can be addressed with structural solutions. The Capital Projects Unit implements those solutions, designing and managing the construction of projects.