The California Stormwater Quality Assn. (CASQA) presented six awards at the 12th annual CASQA Stormwater Conference awards luncheon on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2015.
Ventura County received the Outstanding Stormwater BMP Implementation Award for its County Government Center Parking Lot Green Streets Urban Retrofit project. The project replaced traditional concrete gutters with pervious concrete gutters to capture, treat and infiltrate storm water and dry weather flows. The intent of the project was to minimize retrofit area for future maintenance, while simultaneously maximizing storm water capture. Approximately 5,000 ln ft of pervious gutters, 13,000 sq ft of pervious concrete strips, and more than 500 dry wells were constructed.
The city of Santa Barbara received the Outstanding Stormwater BMP Implementation Award for its Oak Park, Stevens Park and Westside Neighborhood Center Storm Water Infiltration Project. The project replaced impermeable asphalt surfaces with permeable pavers. The project improves water quality in city creeks by capturing and treating polluted runoff, restoring the natural hydrology of each site and demonstrating how this can be accomplished throughout the city. Pre and post-project monitoring was performed to assess the project’s effectiveness. Results showed that the project captured and treated 100% of the storm water and its associated pollutants that fell on the sites. An extensive outreach program was developed for the project to demonstrate its benefits to the community.
Also, the city of Santa Barbara Creeks Div. received the Outstanding Sustainable Stormwater Project Award for its Upper Las Positas Creek Restoration and Stormwater Management Project. The project converted five acres of asphalt, manicured turf, and degraded creek habitat into diverse wetlands, bioswales, and storm water ponds that improve water quality and environmental stewardship, reduce pesticide and irrigation use, and recharge groundwater. This sustainable storm water project retains and treats four million gallons of urban runoff, features over 12,000 native plants, and included over 1,500 students in planting and educational activities.
The city of Torrance received the Outstanding Stormwater BMP Implementation Award for its Stormwater Basin Enhancement Project. The project was developed to reduce bacteria levels in the Herondo Drain by improving water quality in the city’s three storm water basins: the Amie, Henrietta and Entradero Basins. The project was designed to infiltrate, retain and treat runoff, and recharge groundwater while enhancing wildlife habitat and recreational areas through the use of treatment wetlands, education, walking trails and signage.
The city of Cupertino received the Outstanding Sustainable Stormwater Project Award for its Stevens Creek Corridor Park & Restoration Phase 2 project. The second phase of this project widened and restored an important section of Stevens Creek in Cupertino, Calif., which provides habitat to a variety of rare and protected wildlife species. Project elements include creek restoration, enhanced habitat for rare species, extensive new public open space, environmental education areas and a completed trail connection. These elements support a healthy, self-sustaining watershed which can benefit the citizens and wildlife of this area for generations to come. This project demonstrates the compatibility of water conservation and flood protection with public access, recreational and educational amenities, and outstanding wildlife habitat.
The Orange County Stormwater Program received the Outstanding Stormwater News, Information, Outreach and Media Award for its “Overwatering is Out” Public Education Campaign. Overwatering is Out utilizes a mix of increases in awareness, exposure to the program, and demonstrated behavior change to demonstrate efficacy of the program. Overwatering is Out aims to address the issue of pollution runoff resulting from residential home outdoor water use. Addressing any storm water pollution problem is challenging but nonpoint source pollution introduces the challenge of helping people understand that the hundreds of seemingly insignificant behavioral changes can culminate into a big positive impact on our environment.
