Water Quality Improvement
Storm Catchers
The City of Santa Barbara Creeks Division is looking for some dedicated volunteers to assist with a storm water monitoring project. We will be sampling several creeks that run through the city and testing the water for a wide range of pollutants, nutrients, and bacteria. Sampling could take place during a large storm.
If you are interested in participating, you can call the Santa Barbara Creeks Office at 897-2658 or send an email to Tim Burgess with your contact information including name, phone number and email address.
For more information, contact Tim Burgess at (805) 897-2658.
Water Quality Monitoring Program
Background
In May 2001, the City began an extensive weekly water quality monitoring program of over 30 sites in  Arroyo Burro, Laguna Channel, Mission and Sycamore creeks. Water samples are evaluated for the presence of indicator bacteria including total coliform and Enterococcus. High levels of these bacteria are an indication that the water may contain other bacteria that are unhealthful for humans. These sites were chosen in order to best evaluate bacteriological water quality throughout City creeks, under a wide range of creek conditions, and to determine whether weekly sampling gives a demonstrably better picture of the variability in creek water quality. The purpose of the program is to gather baseline data on bacterial pollution in the creeks and to determine priority areas for water quality improvement capital projects and restoration programs. Over time, the City intends to continue monitoring water quality to determine the effectiveness of its programs and projects.
Primary Goals
The primary goal of the Water Quality monitoring program is to identify and track any problem pollutants and evaluate how these problem pollutants change as a result of restoration and water quality treatment projects. For lack of standards, problem pollutants are defined as any pollutant, which exceeds drinking water quality standards or human contact standards.
Secondary Goal
The secondary goal is to determine the quality of water for aquatic organisms – fish, invertebrates, amphibians, plants –and evaluating how water quality for aquatic organisms changes as a result of restoration and water quality treatment projects.
After baseline data has been collected, the program will be modified to focus on sampling the pollutants that have been identified as problems within each tributary, creek, and estuary.
Bacteria Monitoring
The goals of bacteria monitoring are to track changes in Bacteria levels at key points in the watershed, at hot spots and where we plan to do water treatment diversions or restoration projects; determine effectiveness of reducing bacteria at specific restoration and water quality project sites; and, measure overall success of water quality improvement program.
Restoration and Water Quality Project Monitoring
The goals of sampling at restoration and water quality improvement project sites are to attain comprehensive baseline water quality data for creeks at restoration sites; identify problem pollutants; and, track the effectiveness of specific restoration and water quality projects in reducing problem pollutants.
Storm Sampling
The goals of sampling during storm events are to determine which pollutants are a problem throughout each watershed and the effectiveness of reducing pollutants during storm events.
A Five Year Water Quality Report was prepared in March 2007. The report is available here.
For more information, contact Jill Murray at (805) 897-2658.
Storm Water Management Program
The Storm Water Management Program (SWMP) was prepared by the City of Santa Barbara in response to the State Water Resources Control Board Water Quality Order 2003-005-DWQ for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase II General Permit No. CAS000004. The City has received comments on the Draft SWMP from the Regional Water Quality Control Board. To view the comments, click here.
For more information, contact Autumn Malanca at (805) 897-2658.
Creek Clean-ups
The Creeks Program contracts with an outside vendor to clean creeks on a biweekly basis. Trash, furniture, appliances, bicycles, mattresses and grocery carts are collected as well as any other material that does not belong in the creek. This garbage is logged, weighed and then properly disposed of. The Creeks Program keeps record of these data for evaluation purposes. In Santa Barbara, the areas with significant garbage problems include Lower Mission Creek at Bohnett Park and Montecito Street, Sycamore Creek from Alameda Padre Serra to Dwight Murphy field, and the Laguna Channel.
While the relationship between garbage in creeks and water quality is unclear, it is apparent that cleaning debris from creeks helps to keep debris off beaches and out of the ocean. However, fecal matter from wild animals, pets and people is also found in our creeks and while every attempt is made to remove it in a timely manner, some inevitably finds its way to the ocean, degrading the water quality and posing health risks to human and non-human populations. For more information please read the Water Quality Report posted March 2007.
For more information, contact Tim Burgess at (805) 897-2688.
Enforcement Program
The City of Santa Barbara has a system of regulations to protect its waterways and the ocean from pollution and degradation. These rules can be found in the City’s Municipal Code and cover an array of concerns including, but not limited to, waste disposal, construction responsibilities, and drainage connections.
The Creeks Program has a full-time enforcement officer that responds and resolves enforcement issues. The enforcement officer has the authority to issue violation notices and fines under municipal code Title 16. However, the preferred way of handling enforcement issues is to work with community members and business owners to reduce water pollution rather than issue citations. For informational brochures developed by the City and County Project Clean Water, click here.
Since 2000, logs have been kept on each enforcement call for evaluation purposes. The most common violations include dumping yard debris and garbage into the creeks (illegal dumping), hosing off sidewalks and floor mats (restaurants), and allowing dirt and silt to erode into the storm drains (construction).
For more information, contact Tim Burgess or Autumn Malanca at (805) 897-2688.
Storm Water/Urban Runoff Projects
In an effort to clean water before it enters the City’s water systems, 100 special storm drain filters have been installed in key locations including the City’s Yanonali Street Annex Yard and at the intersection of Haley Street and Brinkerhoff. These filters capture debris, garbage and sediment that otherwise would have gone into the creeks.
For more information, contact Jill Murray at (805) 897-1911.
Street Sweeping Program
During December 2001, the City of Santa Barbara piloted a street sweeping program in the Downtown and Westside neighborhoods along Mission Creek. The purpose of piloting Clean Sweep was to  determine the effectiveness of street sweeping in improving water quality as well as to evaluate other aspects of implementing a citywide street sweeping program. In 2003 the program expanded to include the Eastside neighborhood.
Partially funded by the Creeks Program, Clean Sweep keeps trash and debris out of storm drains and creeks. The debris collected from the streets is considered solid waste and is sent to landfill. Program records indicate that the sweeper regularly picks up dirt, leaves, trash, yard waste, and construction runoff. This material is tested on a regular basis for heavy metals, petroleum products, and residual pesticides.
For more information, contact Nick Cabugos at (805) 897-2541. |