OC Watersheds South OC Watershed Management Area
The SOC WMA includes the area that encompasses the San Juan Hydrologic Unit (SJHU)
in South Orange County as defined in the Water Quality Control Plan of the San Diego
Basin.
The SJHU is a collection of coastal watersheds that covers 496 square miles in San
Diego, Orange, and Riverside counties. The SJHU is naturally divided by major water
bodies and represents an important water resource in one of the most arid regions
of the nation. It is comprised of seven major watersheds: 1) Newport Coast, 2) Laguna
Coastal Streams, 3) Aliso Creek, 4) Dana Point Coastal Streams (Salt Creek), 5)
San Juan Creek, 6) San Clemente Coastal Streams, and 7) San Mateo Creek, and two
groundwater basins: 1) San Juan Groundwater Basin and 2) San Mateo Groundwater Basin.
In 2004, the South Orange County Integrated Regional Water Management Group (Group)
was formed by the County, South Orange County cities, water, and special districts
located within the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board’s region. This
Group was formed for two main purposes: short-term to prepare a South Orange County
Integrate Regional Watershed Management Plan (IRWMP) and subsequent grant application
in 2005 for Prop 50 funds; and long-term to provide an integrated and coordinated
local water resources planning function.
In June 2005, the SOC IRWMG submitted the South Orange County Integrated Regional Water Management Plan
for Proposition 50, Chapter 8 Integrated Regional Water Management Program Implementation
Grant funds. In January 2007, the SOC IRWMP was one of seven statewide proposals
recommended for funding. As a result, South Orange County will receive $25,000,000
for seven projects included in the SOC IRWMP. They include:
- Water Use Efficiency Program Expansion: Municipal Water District of Orange County
on behalf of 13 cities and 12 special districts in South Orange County
- Canada Gobernadora Multipurpose Basin: Santa Margarita Water District
- Heisler Park Marine Habitat Protection: City of Laguna Beach
- J.B. Latham Treatment Plant – Advanced Water Treatment: South Orange County Wastewater
Authority, in cooperation City of San Juan Capistrano, Moulton Niguel Water District,
and South Coast Water District
- Recycled Water Transmission System Improvements: City of San Juan Capistrano
- Recycled Water Treatment and Distribution: City of San Clemente
- Aliso Creek Water Quality SUPER (Stabilization, Utility Protection, Environmental
Restoration) Project: County of Orange, South Orange County Wastewater Authority
(SOCWA), Moulton Niguel Water District (MNWD), and South Coast Water District (SCWD)
In July 2007, the SOC IRWMG executed a Prop 50 Integrated Regional Water Management
Implementation Grant Agreement; with the State Water Resources Control Board to
receive grant funds in an amount of $25,000,000.
In September 2009, OC Public Works received notice from DWR that the SOC IRWMG will
be recognized as a Region and therefore eligible to compete for Prop 84 funds.
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