OC Watersheds Environmental Engineering
The Environmental Engineering section of the OC Watersheds has two groups that work
together to solve multifaceted issues with a mixture of technical expertise and
policy integration.
Project Management Group
The Project Management Group is responsible for exploring and managing innovative
approaches to address complex water resource management issues within Orange County’s
three Watershed Management Areas (WMA). By incorporating science, policy, and public
opinion, the Project Management Group works with local stakeholders to develop integrated
watershed management plans and projects that address flood management, water use
efficiency, water supply and reliability, recycled water, habitat preservation and
conservation, and water quality protection and improvement.
Coordinating efforts with the US Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) is a critical function
of this group. The Army’s Civil Works office has been involved in various projects
related to water infrastructure, environmental management and restoration, response
to natural and manmade disasters, and engineering and technical services to the
Army. The Civil Works projects begin when citizens see a need for flood protection,
navigation, or other water related infrastructure and asks Congress for help. The
ACOE is then directed by Congress to do a study to see if a project is feasible.
At this point the role of this group develops into a partnership between the County
of Orange and the ACOE.
Engineering Group
The Engineering group offers technical engineering services in support of OC Watershed
water quality objectives. Expertise and assistance are primarily in the planning,
design, implementation, and performance evaluation of structural best management
practices (BMPs) for both dry weather urban and storm runoff. Such facilities include:
dry weather runoff mechanical treatment facilities at either streamside or ocean
side locations; mechanical facilities which divert dry weather runoff from major
flood control channels to sanitary sewers; and public domain BMPs such as water
quality basins, constructed wetlands, and passive sand filters. Staff provides technical
and contract oversight for consultant design of both public domain and proprietary
BMPs, oversight during construction, and conducts or assists in performance evaluations
of treatment efficiency prior to facility acceptance by the County.
Once facilities are constructed, staff coordinates with Operations & Maintenance
on facility operation, performance monitoring, refinement, local agency coordination,
and resource agency permit compliance. In addition to facilities specifically constructed
by OC Watersheds, staff also provides management services for stream bank restoration
and Clean Beach Initiative projects on behalf of other County agencies, and offer
design guidance on runoff BMPs proposed by private entities, local agencies, and
as mitigation features of County flood and road-related projects. Watershed issues
including coastal erosion, dredging and sediment flow through coastal watersheds
are facilitated using a regional approach to protecting, enhancing and restoring
County beaches and watersheds. Engineers participate in cooperative projects co-designed
with engineers from other state, federal and local agencies.
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