Managing TMDLs, the MS4 Permit and Watersheds

in the City of Los Angeles“stormwater runoff as a resource”

Shahram Kharaghani, PhD, PE, BCEE

City of Los Angeles

Stormwater Program Manager

September 26, 2013

OutlineMunicipal Stormwater Permit •

Watershed Planning •From Planning to Compliance •

Coordination•Conclusions •

City of Los Angeles City of Los Angeles supportive of Regional supportive of Regional

Board’s vision of a Board’s vision of a comprehensive approach comprehensive approach

to urban runoff water to urban runoff water qualityquality

Municipal Stormwater PermitCompliance Planning & Monitoring

EnhancedWatershedManagementPlan

CoordinatedIntegratedMonitoringProgram

Water QualityWater Quality

Municipal Stormwater Permit4th Generation Permit

Challenges / Opportunities– Minimum Control Measures– Monitoring Requirements

• Receiving Water• Outfalls

– Watershed-wide Collaboration• Watershed Management

Plans• Enhanced Watershed

Management Plans– Numeric Limits

• Receiving Water Limitations• Water Quality Based Effluent

Limitations– Reasonable Assurance Analysis– Time constraints plan development

and implementation

22 TMDLs impact City of LA out of the 32 in permit

Los Angeles River WatershedLos Angeles River Watershed

• LA River TrashLA River Trash• LA River Nitrogen LA River Nitrogen • LA Harbor Bacteria LA Harbor Bacteria • LA River Metals LA River Metals • LA River BacteriaLA River Bacteria• Echo Park Lake ToxicsEcho Park Lake Toxics• Lincoln Park Lake Trash, Lincoln Park Lake Trash,

NutrientsNutrients

Santa Monica WatershedSanta Monica Watershed

• Santa Monica Bay Beaches Santa Monica Bay Beaches Bacteria (Dry Weather, Wet Bacteria (Dry Weather, Wet Weather) Weather)

• Marina Del Rey Bacteria Marina Del Rey Bacteria • Marina Del Rey ToxicsMarina Del Rey Toxics• Santa Monica Bay Nearshore & Santa Monica Bay Nearshore &

Offshore DebrisOffshore Debris• Santa Monica Bay ToxicsSanta Monica Bay Toxics

Ballona Creek WatershedBallona Creek Watershed• Ballona Creek TrashBallona Creek Trash• Ballona Creek MetalsBallona Creek Metals• Ballona Creek ToxicsBallona Creek Toxics• Ballona Creek BacteriaBallona Creek Bacteria• Ballona Creek WetlandsBallona Creek Wetlands

Dominguez Channel WatershedDominguez Channel Watershed• Machado Lake TrashMachado Lake Trash• Machado Lake NutrientMachado Lake Nutrient• Machado Lake ToxicsMachado Lake Toxics• Dominguez Channel/ LA Dominguez Channel/ LA

Harbor Metals and ToxicsHarbor Metals and Toxics

Municipal Stormwater PermitCompliance Planning & Monitoring

Municipal Stormwater PermitCompliance Planning & Monitoring

City of Los Angeles leads City of Los Angeles leads four Enhanced Watershed four Enhanced Watershed Management Plans with Management Plans with

about 30 partner agenciesabout 30 partner agencies

5yr5yr 1010 1515 2020 2525

aa bb cc

#1#1 #2#2 #3#3 #4#4 #5#5

MCMs, Ordinances,

Distributed & Regional BMPS

Municipal Stormwater PermitCompliance Planning & Monitoring

Coordinated Integrated MonitoringProgram

TMDL ComplianceTMDL ComplianceMilestonesMilestones

Enhanced Watershed Management Plan IterationsEnhanced Watershed Management Plan Iterations

Permit CyclePermit Cycle

City of Los Angeles Integrated Resources Plan

Watershed Planning - Water

Sources of untapped water…• Stormwater :Stormwater :100 MG/day (dry-weather);100 MG/day (dry-weather);> 3 BG/day (wet-weather)> 3 BG/day (wet-weather)• Wastewater: Wastewater: 300 MG/day goes to the ocean300 MG/day goes to the ocean• Groundwater:Groundwater:BG of water (contaminated)BG of water (contaminated)

Watershed Planning - Water

““provides a universal view”provides a universal view”

City of Los Angeles Water Quality Compliance Master Plan for Urban Runoff

Watershed Planning - StormwaterWatershed Planning - Stormwater

MissionReduce pollution from urban runoff to meet Clean Water Act MandatesReduce pollution from urban runoff to meet Clean Water Act Mandates

• Source control & institutional measures• Storm water capture, treatment, & reuse• Infiltration & groundwater recharge• Multi-use benefits• Community & stakeholder value• Drought tolerant landscaping• Pervious pavements & green roofs• Outreach / partnerships

From Planning to ComplianceWatershed Planning (IRP, WQCMPUR)

– Institutional Measures• Public Outreach– Municipal Ordinances• Green Building Ordinance• Landscape Ordinance• Low Impact Development (LID)

Ordinance– Local (on-site) Measures• Rain Barrels• Rain Gardens– Regional Measures• Public Projects• Green Street Standards Manuals for

Public/Private • Green Street Standard Plans

MS4 Permit Implementation

o Minimum Control Measures

o LID / Green Street Policy

o Distributed BMPs (Green-Blue Infrastructure)

o Regional BMPs to retain and infiltrate 85th percentile storm

Coordination

With Stakeholders

o City departments and officialso Environmental organizationso Neighborhood councilso RWQCB, SWRCB, US EPAo Municipalitieso County, state agencieso Others

Coordinate

MS4 Permit negotiations & TMDL development

Development of EWMPs and CIMPs

Implementation of EWMPs Implementation of CIMPs

Evaluation of Progress to Compliance

• Great opportunity to meet water quality while augmenting water supply sources

• Leveraging resources

• Cost effective

• Plans may enable the region to secure a more sustainable source funding

Conclusions

Shahram Kharaghani, PhD, PE, BCEEShahram Kharaghani, PhD, PE, BCEECity of Los Angeles Stormwater ManagerCity of Los Angeles Stormwater Manager

September 26, 2013September 26, 2013Additional Information: www.lacity.org or www.lastormwater.org

www.facebook.com/lastormwaterprogramwww.facebook.com/lastormwaterprogram

www.youtube.com/user/lastormwaterprogramwww.youtube.com/user/lastormwaterprogram

www.lastormwater.org/blog/www.lastormwater.org/blog/