Polluted Urban Runoff on the Monterey Peninsula
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Polluted Urban Runoff on the Monterey Peninsula Urban Runoff Is the Largest Solving a Major Threat to Our Source of Water Pollution Economy and Our Waters Urban runoff, or stormwater, is the largest source of water pollution in California and the United States.1 Urban runoff The Monterey Peninsula carries toxics, oil, grease, bac- Is Home to a Magnifi- teria, viruses and other pollut- cent and Sensitive ants and dumps them un- Ocean Environment treated into our local water- The Monterey Peninsula ways. This pollution sickens has among the most bio- water users, causes economic logically rich and sensitive losses from beach closures, marine ecosystems in the and contaminates shellfish world. The Peninsula is beds and fish tissue. Silt and home to the nation’s larg- sediment carried by runoff fills est marine sanctuary, five in sensitive coastal habitats. of the 34 designated ma- Nutrients carried by runoff rine Areas of Special Bio- feed toxic algal blooms that logical Significance in Cali- 3 recently killed dozens of sea fornia, the California Sea lions and other marine mam- Polluted runoff flows into Bay at Otter Game Refuge, the mals off the Central Coast. Lover’s Point in Pacific Grove. Big Creek Marine Re- Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary sources Protection Act The Monterey Peninsula Is Ecological Reserve, and Not Immune from This Significant Problem other protected and special areas. The produc- Water quality testing conducted by the Monterey tivity and diversity of the ocean off the Mon- Bay National Marine Sanctuary has documented terey Peninsula attracts marine scientists from increasing levels of toxic metals such as copper, around the globe. lead, and zinc at sites throughout the region, many of which far exceed state standards. Bac- The Monterey Peninsula’s Coastal Waters teria and sediment levels also have increased. As Fuel Local Economies a result, tests show that areas of local polluted Tourism in Monterey County is a $1.8 billion runoff are toxic to marine life.2 For this reason, industry, with many people coming to admire NOAA’s National Marine Sanctuary Office and observe Monterey’s magnificent marine found that “an environment. The Monterey Bay Aquarium, essential part which high- of protecting lights the the [Monterey] abundance and sanctuary is diversity of life reducing land- in Monterey’s based pollution coastal waters, that flows into is among the the sea.” most visited Brown Sea Nettle floats off Pacific Grove. sites in Califor- Marc Shargel Reprinted with Permission. nia. The area Sea otter naps off Monterey. Marc Shargel. Reprinted with Permission. also has significant commercial kelp harvesting This is a start, but more needs to be done. The and other marine-dependent operations.4 Monterey region has a projected 21% growth rate this decade, which will bring significant National and State Laws Require Controls increases in polluted urban runoff.6 The time is on Polluted Runoff to Protect Our Waters now to work together to craft and implement a The 1972 federal Clean Water Act has signifi- well-tailored management program that will cantly reduced pollution from major dischargers, control stormwater pollution and preserve our such as municipal treatment plants and industry ocean wealth for ourselves and our future. point sources. In response to a growing recog- nition of the problems caused by land-based pollution, Congress specifically added stormwa- ter control requirements to the Clean Water Act 17 years ago. Large cities complied first under “Phase I” of the stormwater requirements. Now, virtually all municipalities, including Mon- terey Peninsula communities, must apply for coverage under, and comply with, the “Phase II” stormwater General Permit. Polluted urban runoff can be reduced through the use of “best management practices.” Many existing municipal practices, such as street sweeping, hazardous waste roundups, inspec- tions, environmental education, and routing of runoff to green areas can help meet these 1 State Water Resources Control Board, Water Quality Order U.S. EPA stormwater No. 2003-0005 – DWQ, National Pollutant Discharge Elimi- requirements. Even nation System General Permit No. CAS00000X, Waste Dis- the most expensive charge Requirements for Storm Water Discharges From Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems, at 1 (General Per- structural stormwater mit); United States EPA, Report to Congress on the Phase II Storm controls installed in Water Regulations (Oct. 1999), I.3-I.6; 40 C.F.R. § 123.35(b); new developments add “National Urban Runoff Program” (US EPA, 1983), Chapter 7; State of the Bay 1998, Executive Summary (Santa Monica Bay less than one percent Restoration Project, Mar. 17, 1998). to the overall cost of 2 See, e.g., http:// www.mbnms.nos.noaa.gov/ the developments; and monitoringnetwork/pdf/ff2003.pdf. because these controls 3 The Pacific Grove Marine Gardens Fish Refuge and Hopkins are highly effective at Marine Life Refuge ASBS, the Carmel Bay ASBS, Point Lo- bos Ecological Reserve ASBS, Julia Pfeiffer Burns Underwa- reducing or eliminating ter Park ASBS, and the Ocean Area Surrounding the Mouth pollutants, they yield of Salmon Creek ASBS. significant economic 4 Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau; Economic 5 Assessment of Seven Ocean-Dependent Activities (CA Resources Poster Available from Monterey Bay benefits. National Marine Sanctuary Agency, 1992). 5 The Cities of Pacific Grove, Monterey, Seaside, Horner, Richard R., Fundamentals of Urban Runoff Management: Technical and Institutional Issues (Aug. 1994); U.S. EPA, Economic Sand City, Del Rey Oaks, Marina, and Carmel- Benefits of Runoff Controls at 1; Center for Watershed Protection, by-the-Sea, the County of Monterey, and the The Economic Benefits of Better Site Design in Virginia at 2. Pebble Beach Company submitted to the Cen- 6 California Institute of Governments Projected Growth Rate tral Coast Regional Water Board a “Monterey for Monterey County, http://www.cicg.org/ Regional Storm Water Management Program.” publications/profiles/monterey_county.pdf. .