Orange County California Watershed

Executive Committee History & Purpose Overview
by
Chris Crompton, County of Orange
August 18, 2004

Presentation Outline

Background on Newport Bay watershed
Regulatory/water quality planning history
Section 208 Sediment Control Master Plan
Watershed organizational structure and implementation agreements

Background

Newport Bay

Lower Bay is one of the largest pleasure boat harbors
Upper Bay contains 752 acre habitat reserve
Severe sediment impacts following 1969 floods and excess algae in 1980s

[Picture of Upper Newport Bay]

Newport Bay Watershed

Total watershed approx. 150 sq.mi
Watershed cities Costa Mesa, Irvine, Laguna Hills, Laguna Woods, Lake Forest, Newport Beach, Orange, Santa Ana and Tustin
Major tributary San Diego Creek approx. 118 sq. miles
San Diego Creek was channelized into Newport Bay in 1963
Land use has changed from agriculture to urban

[Map of Newport Bay Watershed]

Regulatory/Water Quality Planning History

Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972

Added Section 208 which provided for the preparation of area wide plans for the control of pollution from non-point sources.
Established national objective to make nation's waters fishable and swimable by 1983.

CWA Section 208 Planning Process

In 1975 , the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) was designated the area wide (entire southern coastal area) 208 Agency by EPA.
The Newport-Irvine Waste Management Planning Agency (NIWA) was designated as a sub-regional planning agency for the Newport Bay area.
The County of Orange was designated as the sub-regional planning agency for the remainder of Orange County.

CWA Section 208 Planning Process

NIWA was established in March 1975 as a joint powers agency and expanded in 1976.
NIWA comprised of representatives from the cities of Costa Mesa, Irvine, Newport Beach, Orange and Santa Ana, County of Orange, County HBP, County Flood, OCSD, OCWD, IRWD and DF&G.
Supervisor Thomas Riley, 5th District was delegated as the chair of the NIWA Board of Directors.

CWA Section 208 Planning Process

In the late 1970's SCAG requested NIWA to prepare the Draft 208 plan element for sedimentation issues impacting Newport Bay.
NIWA established a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), consisting of representatives of each member agency which was chaired by the County.
The TAC recommended the construction of the in-channel sediment trapping basins in San Diego Creek and the foothill basins to control sediment to the Upper Bay.

CWA Section 208 Planning Process

NIWA was dissolved in the early 1980's after becoming dormant due internal dissent and grants being directed to County/cities.
After NIWA, Supervisor Riley formed an Executive Committee, through a Cooperative Agreement, supported by a TAC to continue to implement the sediment control elements outlined in the "San Diego Creek Comprehensive Stormwater Sedimentation Control Plan".

Section 208 Sediment Control Master Plan

CWA Section 208 Plan

Planning initiated in late 70's to address excess sediment in Newport Bay.
Sediment Control Master Plan was completed in 1983.
The Master Plan has been implemented since that time in conjunction with the Flood Control Master Plan.

[Map of Foothill Retarding Basins]

[Picture of East Hicks Canyon Retarding Basin Outlets]

[Picture of Agua Chinon Retarding Basin Outlets]

[Picture of Round Canyon Retarding Basin Outlets]

[Picture of Marshburn Retarding Basin Outlets and Inlets]

[Picture of Round Canyon Retarding Basin]

[Map of In-channel Sediment Basins]

[Picture of In-channel Basin 1]

[Picture of In-channel Basin 2]

San Diego Creek In-channel basin 2 outlet structure - looking upstream.

[Picture of In-channel Basin 3]

San Diego Creek In-channel basin 3. Note outlet structure in foreground.

[Map of Monitoring Locations]

[Picture of Sediment Monitoring Station]

[Picture of Bay Dredging]

[Picture of Dredging Barge]

Additional 208 Plan Elements

Channel stabilization
Agricultural practices
Construction site practices

Watershed Organizational Structure

Watershed Committees

Formed in the early 1980s for the sediment control program after NIWA

Executive Committee
Technical Committee

Modified in the late 1990s as watershed committees in response to the TMDLs

Executive Committee
Management Committee
Work groups
$261,000 18 Month Study
Draft Agreement D99-047 for $46,000

Review of Vessel Waste Program

In Preparation by PFRD

Committee Objective

Provide environmental enhancement to improve water quality in Newport Bay and its tributaries

Newport Bay Watershed Committee

[Chart of Newport Bay Watershed Committee]

Executive Committee Role

Strategic decisions
Coordinate project implementation
Project development
Project/program advocacy
Communication forum

Management Committee Role

Monitor/direct work products
Inform and advise Executive Committee
Coordinate with indirect work
Review and recommend on indirect work products of others

Cooperative Agreements

Committee structure is underpinned by multi-party agreements that address funding
Participants include

County of Orange
Orange County Flood Control District
Watershed cities
Major landowner - The Irvine Company
Irvine Ranch Water District
State - Regional Board and Fish and Game
$261,000 18 Month Study
Draft Agreement D99-047 for $46,000

Review of Vessel Waste Program

In Preparation by PFRD

[Chart of Timeline]

Questions?