Who is SAWPA? SAWPA Regional Planning Efforts Santa Ana Middle Santa Ana River Watershed TMDL Task Force SAWPA is a Watershed Agency Focused on Emerging Constituents Task Force Sucker Basin Monitoring Program Task Force Regional Water Issues Conserva�on Team Regional Water Quality Monitoring Task Force Formed originally in 1968 as a planning agency, the SANTA ANA SUCKER One Water One Watershed Program Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority (SAWPA) was Santa Ana Sucker Conservation Team CONSERVATION TEAM created to help resolve interagency conflicts and address Lake Elsinore and Canyon Lake TMDL Task Force A group of public agencies dedicated to the recovery of the regional water issues in the Santa Ana River watershed. Forest First Santa Ana sucker in the Santa Ana River Watershed SAWPA tackles issues related to water supply reliability, WECAN water quality improvement, recycled water, wastewater Arundo Habitat Management treatment, groundwater management, and brine disposal. Lake Elsinore & San Jacinto Watersheds Authority
SAWPA’s Role SAWPA Member Agencies What is the Santa Ana Sucker What are the goals of the Team? SAWPA Administers Multi-Agency Task Forces Conservation Team? Protect and Increase the Population and SAWPA serves as an administrator for several Task The Santa Ana Sucker Conservation Team, formed Range of Santa Ana Sucker Forces within the watershed through meeting facilitation, in 1998, is a task force of public agencies led by the The Santa Ana sucker was listed as a threatened species contract service administration, and Task Force Agreement Orange County Water District, City of Riverside, and in 2000 under the federal Endangered Species Act. Even coordination. Through collaborative processes, SAWPA Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority (SAWPA), before the species was listed, the Team has worked together creates value by building relationships among regulators, and includes many other local water agencies, to understand the distribution of sucker in the watershed SAWPA members, and regulated parties that allow for stormwater management agencies, regulatory and the reasons for their decline in order to create effective economies of scale, reduced costs, or increased benefits agencies and non-profits in the watershed. The recovery programs. Over the last 20 years, the Team has in addressing water related issues; provides regional Team’s goal is to determine the reasons for the conducted: capacity and neutral venue for supporting multi-agency decline of the Santa Ana sucker (Catostomus • Habitat protection projects and programs forum(s) to address the water resources challenges santaanae) in the Santa Ana River Watershed and • Education and outreach in the Santa Ana River Watershed; and assists in the devise strategies for the recovery of the species. • Surveys to monitor fish status, and assessment of habitat establishment and on-going facilitation of stakeholder conditions processes to address watershed-specific issues. • Research to increase understanding of fish population and What is the Santa Ana sucker? range in the watershed SAWPA Supports its Member Agencies and The Santa Ana sucker is a small freshwater fish that Other Organizations with Water Planning can be found in the Santa Ana River, Los Angeles River, The Santa Ana sucker is SAWPA is a Joint Powers Authority of five member Learn More and Contact Information Santa Clara River, and San Gabriel River basins. Their one of only a few native freshwater fish species agencies that supports water resources planning: Eastern For the latest information on the Santa Ana sucker preferred habitat contains a mixture of sand, cobble currently in existence in Municipal Water District, Inland Empire Utilities Agency, Conservation Team, please visit: and gravel. Orange County Water District, San Bernardino Valley southern California. Municipal Water District, and Western Municipal Water www.sawpa.org/sawpa.org/ Why are they threatened? District. SAWPA seeks to create and facilitate partnerships task-forces/santa-ana-sucker- According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's 2014 with and between organizations pursuing shared interests Desktop Santa Ana Recovery Plan, “The primary threat to the conservation-team/ “The [native] fish inthe Santa Ana River are probably smaller and overall watershed sustainability. Our regional leader- Santa Ana sucker includes past and ongoing habitat in size and less healthy than they would otherwise be if they ship provides a model of collaboration and cooperation loss through hydrological modifications throughout were living in more natural surroundings in the mountains.” utilizing integrated solutions. SAWPA’s Mission is to: Contact Ian Achimore at the range of the species.” —Heather Dyer, General Manager, San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District • Facilitate communication • Implement programs envelope [email protected] • Identify emerging • Build projects opportunities • Operate and maintain Successes to Date • Develop regional plans facilities Key Outcomes: Teaming Up to Protect the Sucker • Secure funding Santa Ana GRANT FUNDING SUCKER RECOVERY The Santa Ana Sucker Conservation Team is one of our success stories – additional information about SAWPA Sucker Together, the Team is eligible to Team projects implemented in the programs can be found at www.sawpa.org. receive grant funding unavailable to Watershed improve suitable habitat Conservation Team regulated entities. Through 2018, it and contribute to recovery of the has received over $100,000 in State Santa Ana sucker species. and federal funding. Task Force Project Partnerships Santa Ana Riverwalk 6 Sucker Habitat Project Funding Partners Work- The Santa Ana Riverwalk is an annual aquatic habitat ing Together with Local Agencies and Non-Profits survey within the Santa Ana River. Volunteers organize SAWPA, Orange County Water District, City of Riverside into groups and collectively walk an 18-mile stretch combined their funding with grants from Santa Ana Regional of river to sample 100 GPS identified locations. The Water Quality Control Board and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service purpose of the walk is to assess the quality of the river to implement key habitat restoration efforts for the sucker. bottom for fish habitat. At each location, volunteers 1 assess the makeup of the river bottom in addition to HABITAT RESTORATION measuring the width of the channel, maximum depth, PROJECT and percent vegetation on the stream banks. This effort has informed water agencies and the public of the River’s conditions and helped identify river segments that would benefit from habitat improvement projects.
4 book book (Above) The Santa Ana Riverwalk has STUDIES surveyed 100 points along an 18-mile FOCUSED ON THE book book stretch of river annually since 2006. SANTA ANA SUCKER gavel (Left) Volunteers measure the width of Regulatory the River at each location during the Agencies last Riverwalk. Over 400 volunteers building have participated since 2006. Water Agencies hand-holding-seedling 11 Non-Profits YEARS OF POPULATION binoculars MONITORING Habitat Restoration Project Highlight Team Successes Santa Ana Sucker Habitat Protection and Fish Population Surveys and Related Studies Beneficial Use Enhancement Project Beginning in 1999, the Team has pooled resources to fund SAWPA and partner Orange County Water District local studies focused on population levels and habitat constructed the Santa Ana Sucker Habitat Protection 14 quality in the Santa Ana River Watershed. In 2001, the and Beneficial Use Enhancement Project in October ANNUAL Team investigated migration patterns, exotic fish preda- clipboard-check 2018. A 15-foot rock groin, a hydraulic structure often HABITAT tion and the significance of the Santa Ana River’s tributar- used for flood control purposes, was installed near SURVEYS ies to the species long-term survival. Building on the initial the City of Riverside. In order to create suitable rocky studies, the Team investigated the feasibility of Santa Ana Rendering of the 15-ft partially submerged rock groin with bottom habitat, the Project created localized erosion to sucker recovery. They outlined a long-term Conservation upstream and downstream boulder clusters to create nearly expose existing gravel beds and cobbles, the preferred Program based on the best available scientific information 500 square feet of rocky bottom aquatic species habitat. habitat of the Sucker. and utilized adaptive management techniques.
Partnerships with Law Enforcement This Project provides habitat for aquatic species at a range of water depths to accommodate the frequently The Team has partnered with law enforcement, such as changing depth of the Santa Ana River. In addition the City of Colton Police Department, to implement addi- to creating habitat for a threatened species, this tional off highway vehicle patrols to protect prime Santa Project provides useful information to agencies like Ana sucker habitat in the mainstem of the Santa Ana River. the San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District Financial assistance by the Team has allowed law enforce- who are leading the construction of aquatic species ment to enforce local codes and ordinances on holiday habitat projects per the Upper Santa Ana River Habitat weekends beginning in 2015. After 1 year of enforcement, Conservation Plan. there was a 30% decrease in education contacts and The installed Project post construction in October 2018. Off-road vehicle trespassing is still an 45% decrease in enforcement contacts, demonstrating the issue in the Santa Ana River Watershed. effectiveness of the enforcement partnership. Task Force Project Partnerships Santa Ana Riverwalk 6 Sucker Habitat Project Funding Partners Work- The Santa Ana Riverwalk is an annual aquatic habitat ing Together with Local Agencies and Non-Profits survey within the Santa Ana River. Volunteers organize SAWPA, Orange County Water District, City of Riverside into groups and collectively walk an 18-mile stretch combined their funding with grants from Santa Ana Regional of river to sample 100 GPS identified locations. The Water Quality Control Board and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service purpose of the walk is to assess the quality of the river to implement key habitat restoration efforts for the sucker. bottom for fish habitat. At each location, volunteers 1 assess the makeup of the river bottom in addition to HABITAT RESTORATION measuring the width of the channel, maximum depth, PROJECT and percent vegetation on the stream banks. This effort has informed water agencies and the public of the River’s conditions and helped identify river segments that would benefit from habitat improvement projects.
4 book book (Above) The Santa Ana Riverwalk has STUDIES surveyed 100 points along an 18-mile FOCUSED ON THE book book stretch of river annually since 2006. SANTA ANA SUCKER gavel (Left) Volunteers measure the width of Regulatory the River at each location during the Agencies last Riverwalk. Over 400 volunteers building have participated since 2006. Water Agencies hand-holding-seedling 11 Non-Profits YEARS OF POPULATION binoculars MONITORING Habitat Restoration Project Highlight Team Successes Santa Ana Sucker Habitat Protection and Fish Population Surveys and Related Studies Beneficial Use Enhancement Project Beginning in 1999, the Team has pooled resources to fund SAWPA and partner Orange County Water District local studies focused on population levels and habitat constructed the Santa Ana Sucker Habitat Protection 14 quality in the Santa Ana River Watershed. In 2001, the and Beneficial Use Enhancement Project in October ANNUAL Team investigated migration patterns, exotic fish preda- clipboard-check 2018. A 15-foot rock groin, a hydraulic structure often HABITAT tion and the significance of the Santa Ana River’s tributar- used for flood control purposes, was installed near SURVEYS ies to the species long-term survival. Building on the initial the City of Riverside. In order to create suitable rocky studies, the Team investigated the feasibility of Santa Ana Rendering of the 15-ft partially submerged rock groin with bottom habitat, the Project created localized erosion to sucker recovery. They outlined a long-term Conservation upstream and downstream boulder clusters to create nearly expose existing gravel beds and cobbles, the preferred Program based on the best available scientific information 500 square feet of rocky bottom aquatic species habitat. habitat of the Sucker. and utilized adaptive management techniques.
Partnerships with Law Enforcement This Project provides habitat for aquatic species at a range of water depths to accommodate the frequently The Team has partnered with law enforcement, such as changing depth of the Santa Ana River. In addition the City of Colton Police Department, to implement addi- to creating habitat for a threatened species, this tional off highway vehicle patrols to protect prime Santa Project provides useful information to agencies like Ana sucker habitat in the mainstem of the Santa Ana River. the San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District Financial assistance by the Team has allowed law enforce- who are leading the construction of aquatic species ment to enforce local codes and ordinances on holiday habitat projects per the Upper Santa Ana River Habitat weekends beginning in 2015. After 1 year of enforcement, Conservation Plan. there was a 30% decrease in education contacts and The installed Project post construction in October 2018. Off-road vehicle trespassing is still an 45% decrease in enforcement contacts, demonstrating the issue in the Santa Ana River Watershed. effectiveness of the enforcement partnership. Who is SAWPA? SAWPA Regional Planning Efforts Santa Ana Middle Santa Ana River Watershed TMDL Task Force SAWPA is a Watershed Agency Focused on Emerging Constituents Task Force Sucker Basin Monitoring Program Task Force Regional Water Issues Conserva�on Team Regional Water Quality Monitoring Task Force Formed originally in 1968 as a planning agency, the SANTA ANA SUCKER One Water One Watershed Program Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority (SAWPA) was Santa Ana Sucker Conservation Team CONSERVATION TEAM created to help resolve interagency conflicts and address Lake Elsinore and Canyon Lake TMDL Task Force A group of public agencies dedicated to the recovery of the regional water issues in the Santa Ana River watershed. Forest First Santa Ana sucker in the Santa Ana River Watershed SAWPA tackles issues related to water supply reliability, WECAN water quality improvement, recycled water, wastewater Arundo Habitat Management treatment, groundwater management, and brine disposal. Lake Elsinore & San Jacinto Watersheds Authority
SAWPA’s Role SAWPA Member Agencies What is the Santa Ana Sucker What are the goals of the Team? SAWPA Administers Multi-Agency Task Forces Conservation Team? Protect and Increase the Population and SAWPA serves as an administrator for several Task The Santa Ana Sucker Conservation Team, formed Range of Santa Ana Sucker Forces within the watershed through meeting facilitation, in 1998, is a task force of public agencies led by the The Santa Ana sucker was listed as a threatened species contract service administration, and Task Force Agreement Orange County Water District, City of Riverside, and in 2000 under the federal Endangered Species Act. Even coordination. Through collaborative processes, SAWPA Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority (SAWPA), before the species was listed, the Team has worked together creates value by building relationships among regulators, and includes many other local water agencies, to understand the distribution of sucker in the watershed SAWPA members, and regulated parties that allow for stormwater management agencies, regulatory and the reasons for their decline in order to create effective economies of scale, reduced costs, or increased benefits agencies and non-profits in the watershed. The recovery programs. Over the last 20 years, the Team has in addressing water related issues; provides regional Team’s goal is to determine the reasons for the conducted: capacity and neutral venue for supporting multi-agency decline of the Santa Ana sucker (Catostomus • Habitat protection projects and programs forum(s) to address the water resources challenges santaanae) in the Santa Ana River Watershed and • Education and outreach in the Santa Ana River Watershed; and assists in the devise strategies for the recovery of the species. • Surveys to monitor fish status, and assessment of habitat establishment and on-going facilitation of stakeholder conditions processes to address watershed-specific issues. • Research to increase understanding of fish population and What is the Santa Ana sucker? range in the watershed SAWPA Supports its Member Agencies and The Santa Ana sucker is a small freshwater fish that Other Organizations with Water Planning can be found in the Santa Ana River, Los Angeles River, The Santa Ana sucker is SAWPA is a Joint Powers Authority of five member Learn More and Contact Information Santa Clara River, and San Gabriel River basins. Their one of only a few native freshwater fish species agencies that supports water resources planning: Eastern For the latest information on the Santa Ana sucker preferred habitat contains a mixture of sand, cobble currently in existence in Municipal Water District, Inland Empire Utilities Agency, Conservation Team, please visit: and gravel. Orange County Water District, San Bernardino Valley southern California. Municipal Water District, and Western Municipal Water www.sawpa.org/sawpa.org/ Why are they threatened? District. SAWPA seeks to create and facilitate partnerships task-forces/santa-ana-sucker- According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's 2014 with and between organizations pursuing shared interests Desktop Santa Ana Recovery Plan, “The primary threat to the conservation-team/ “The [native] fish inthe Santa Ana River are probably smaller and overall watershed sustainability. Our regional leader- Santa Ana sucker includes past and ongoing habitat in size and less healthy than they would otherwise be if they ship provides a model of collaboration and cooperation loss through hydrological modifications throughout were living in more natural surroundings in the mountains.” utilizing integrated solutions. SAWPA’s Mission is to: Contact Ian Achimore at the range of the species.” —Heather Dyer, General Manager, San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District • Facilitate communication • Implement programs envelope [email protected] • Identify emerging • Build projects opportunities • Operate and maintain Successes to Date • Develop regional plans facilities Key Outcomes: Teaming Up to Protect the Sucker • Secure funding Santa Ana GRANT FUNDING SUCKER RECOVERY The Santa Ana Sucker Conservation Team is one of our success stories – additional information about SAWPA Sucker Together, the Team is eligible to Team projects implemented in the programs can be found at www.sawpa.org. receive grant funding unavailable to Watershed improve suitable habitat Conservation Team regulated entities. Through 2018, it and contribute to recovery of the has received over $100,000 in State Santa Ana sucker species. and federal funding.