Creek Connection I Stormwater News
December 2022
The West Valley Clean Water Authority (Authority) would like to extend a very special thank you to the Authority’s departing board members, Paul Resnikoff, Rishi Kumar, and Mary-Lynne Bernald, for their contributions to the program over the last several years. The Authority would also like to thank the Board of Directors and member agency staff for their continued support during this last year and into 2023.
FY2021-22 Annual National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Reports
The FY2021-22 Annual NPDES Reports were submitted to the State Water Resources Control Board on September 30, 2022. The annual reports provide documentation of the activities conducted during FY2021-22. The reports can be found on the Authority’s website at:
Campbell FY2021-22 Annual Report
Los Gatos FY2021-22 Annual Report
Monte Sereno FY2021-22 Annual Report
Saratoga FY2021-22 Annual Report
Water Board staff conducted a “completeness” level review to confirm that all permittees submitted all sections of the FY2021-22 Annual Reports, and a more focused review of C.4 (Industrial and Commercial Site Controls), C.6 (Construction Site Controls), and C.10 (Trash Load Reduction). The Authority is assisting municipal staff to provide responses to the Water Board’s comments and questions. For additional information contact Sheila Tucker.
Santa Clara Valley Urban Runoff Pollution Prevention Program (SCVURPPP) Proposed Budget
The SCVURPPP is proposing a 9% budget increase in FY2022-23. The primary increases include the cost to implement the new Municipal Regional Permit 3.0 (MRP) monitoring requirements (Trash/Low Impact Development), Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)/Mercury load reduction programs, and a 4% labor increase. The SCVURPPP Management Committee will consider approval of the budget at its January 19, 2023, meeting.
Santa Clara Valley Urban Runoff Pollution Prevention Program (SCVURPPP) Fourth Amendment to Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
Approval of the Fourth Amendment to the MOU is under review and consideration. The MOU outlines its countywide members, management committee roles and responsibilities, cost allocations, and other organizational terms and provisions. The SCVURPPP Management Committee will consider moving the Amendment forward to the signature stage at their January 19, 2023, meeting. The West Valley cities/Town Councils will have 90 days to approve the Memorandum of Agreement.
State National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit Fees
On September 20, 2023, the State Water Resources Control Board adopted a 2022 fee schedule for regulated dischargers. There were no increases in the NPDES municipal stormwater permit fees for 2022. The fee schedule documents are linked to the meeting agenda.
Authority Executive Assistant Recruitment
The Authority is recruiting for a part-time Executive Assistant. The job announcement is posted here: Executive Assistant | CalOpps. The initial cutoff for applications is December 16, 2022. The job will remain open until filled.
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Regional Permit (MRP) Reissuance
The Water Board adopted the MRP 3.0 Revised Tentative Order on May 11, 2022. A summary of the key new and expanded requirements can be found here: Summary. The MRP 3.0 Five-Year Work Plan including provisions, sub-provisions, changes from MRP 2.0, implementation lead, implementation/due dates, and reporting dates is posted here: MRP 3.0 Five-Year Work Plan.
New Development and Redevelopment New Requirements (Provision C.3)
New development and redevelopment projects above certain impervious surface area thresholds are required to treat stormwater runoff using Low Impact Development (LID) techniques or Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI). These techniques may include the construction of bioretention areas, pervious pavement, and infiltration structural control measures. MRP 3.0 reduces the impervious surface area thresholds from 10,000 sf to 5,000 sf for most types of projects. Beginning July 1, 2023, the following projects will be required to implement LID treatment:
- Private and public new development and redevelopment projects that replace/create ≥ 5,000 sf of impervious area.
- New roads or lane additions that replace/create ≥ 5,000 sf of impervious area.
- Some road repair or improvement activities ≥ 5,000 sf of contiguous impervious area.
- Road reconstruction and pavement widening projects that create/replace ≥ 1 acre of contiguous impervious area, including major utility trenching projects.
- Single-family homes that create/replace ≥ 10,000 sf of impervious area.
Permittees are also required to retrofit existing public streets and parking lots to treat stormwater runoff with LID/GSI measures. The West Valley cities/Town must construct GSI projects during the permit term to meet the MRP 3.0 target of 3 acres treated per 50,000 population. The City of Campbell’s target is 2.51 acres. The Town of Los Gatos and the City of Saratoga’s targets are 1.81 acres, and the City of Monte Sereno’s target is 0.21 acres. The targets can be met at the countywide level however, each agency must individually implement at least one GSI project, with a minimum of 0.2 acres treated.
The Authority conducted a C.3 kickoff meeting with City Planning & Public Works staff in September to begin preparing for new requirements for development, roads, and right-of-way projects. Please note the Year-1 MRP 3.0 C.3 Work Plan deliverables. The cities/Town formed implementation teams and are holding regular work group meetings. Review and updates to outreach materials are underway for Notice to Applicant and Developer Fact Sheets. A new fact sheet is underway for single-family residential homes. Teams are currently conducting reviews for legal authority and identifying projects in the pipeline that will be grandfathered to MRP 2.0 C.3 requirements.
New Pesticide Reporting, Tracking, and Integrated Pest Management Plans (Provision C.9)
Cities/Town, and their contractors, are required to track new pesticides of concern beginning July 1, 2022. These include three new pyrethroids: (S)-Cypermethrin, Alpha-Cypermethrn, and Permethrin, and three Neoniccotoids: Imidacloprid, acetamiprid, and Dinotefuran. Please note the new Pesticide Tracking Form. The new MRP requires the submittal of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Plans to the Water Board with the 2023 Annual Reports. Review and updates of the IPM Plans and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) will begin in the first quarter of 2023.
Trash Load Reductions (Provisions C.10)
Permittees are required to continue implementing control measures and other actions to reduce trash loads from municipal storm drain systems and achieve the following trash reduction benchmarks (relative to established baseline levels): 90 percent trash reduction by June 30, 2023; and 100 percent trash reduction by June 30, 2025. Authority staff continues to work with city/town staff and SCVURPPP to update trash maps, install full capture devices, complete fieldwork, and update trash plans and programs to meet trash load reduction targets.
Cost Reporting (Provision C.21)
MRP 3.0 includes a new provision that requires Permittees to develop a regional cost reporting framework and methodology by June 30, 2023. Starting in FY2024-25, the cities/Town will be required to track their costs of complying with the MRP and submit these costs annually to the Regional Water Board, using the approved framework. Authority staff is working on a regional work group to develop the cost reporting framework.
Discharges Associated with Unsheltered Homeless Populations (Provision C.17)
MRP 3.0 adds a new requirement to address potential stormwater quality concerns associated with unsheltered homeless populations. The West Valley cities/Town are required to develop maps identifying the approximate location(s) of unsheltered homeless populations, compile information on current practices to manage discharges associated with these populations, and plan for the implementation of enhanced actions to address current/potential stormwater quality concerns. All agencies in the county will be relying on Santa Clara County's Point-in-Time Counts and Survey of Unsheltered Individuals to meet the mapping requirements.
Watershed Watch Consultant Selection Request for Proposal (RFP)
The SCVURPPP issued an RFP to retain the services of an outreach and marketing consultant to plan and implement its multi-year Watershed Watch Campaign. The final selection is in progress.
Valley Water Grant - Youth Commissions
The Authority continues to work with local youth commissions to implement stormwater pollution prevention projects. Saratoga's Youth Commission is organizing a SED Talk event on February 4, 2023, and is currently working to incorporate stormwater into the program. The Authority has offered assistance to the Los Gatos Youth Commission regarding outreach for the Town's Food Service Ware Ordinance which will take effect January 1, 2023.
Municipal Operations Tailgate Training Factsheets (Provision C.2)
The C.2 Tailgate Training Factsheets are currently being finalized. They will consist of BMP handouts and training guides for street and road repair, plaza, sidewalk, and graffiti cleaning, bridge and structure maintenance, and sanitization procedures.
Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in San Francisco Bay Water
Scientists with the San Francisco Bay Regional Monitoring Program detected PFAS, also known as "forever chemicals," at parts per trillion concentrations in the waters of the Bay. A recent report finds the contaminants present in Bay water including the well-studied PFOS and PFOA, as well as their replacements. Visit SFEI.org for more information.
Outreach and Public Information/Participation
The Authority's #WaterWednesday fall campaign consisted of messages concerning litter, pet waste, auto pollutants, car washing, reusable products, leaves, and spill reporting. Since the last publication of the Creek Connections Newsletter, the Authority has participated in several community and school events: Saratoga’s Farmers’ Market (September 10), Coastal Cleanup Day (September 17), Los Gatos Teen Community Day (September 20), Saratoga State of the City (October 1), Saratoga Westgate Classic Car Wash (October 19), Los Gatos Farmers’ Market (November 6), Village School Enviroscape Presentation (November 7), and Campbell Farmers’ Market (December 4).
Newsletter Articles
The City of Monte Sereno published the Authority's article on the new MRP 3.0 stormwater regulations in their Fall "Peaceful Mountain Monitor" Newsletter. West Valley Collection & Recycling published two stormwater articles: Greening Streets, Buildings and Parking Lots (Fall Commercial Newsletter) and Ecological Landscape Design (Fall Residential Newsletter).
Recent and Upcoming Training/Conferences
2022 California Stormwater Quality Association (CASQA) Annual Conference - Over 1,000 attendees gathered for the conference in October to celebrate milestones and talk about the future of stormwater.
2023 California Stormwater Quality Association (CASQA) Virtual Annual Meeting - January 19, 2023. The event will focus on the state of California stormwater, including the most significant regulatory initiatives related to stormwater quality as well as CASQA’s Priorities for 2023.
Upcoming Meetings and Events
Capri Elementary School Presentation, December 15, 2022, 8:45 AM to 11:30 AM
Authority Board Meeting, February 2, 2023, 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Saratoga Farmers' Market, February 25, 2023, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Please share any content in the Authority newsletters in your agency publications. Likewise, if you would like to share any stormwater information with other cities/Town, please email Pia Lusk and we will include it in our next publication.
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