Clean Watersheds for a Clean Bay Project
Bay Area stormwater agencies are accelerating PCB TMDL implementation in the watersheds surrounding the Bay. The project focuses its activities in watersheds that are contributing PCBs and other pollutants to the Bay including identifying PCB “hot spot” source areas, referring source areas where appropriate to regulatory agencies for clean-up and abatement, coordinating with municipalities to enhance removal of polluted sediments during routine sediment management activities, retrofitting 8-10 urban runoff treatment facilities to remove polluted sediments, and implementing a risk-reduction program for consumers of Bay fish in partnership with the California Department of Health Services.
Project Facts
Recipient: Bay Area Stormwater Management Agencies Association (BASMAA)
Funding: $5,000,000 (non-federal match= $1,940,000)
Project Period: May 2010 – January 30, 2016
Partners: Bay Area Stormwater Management Agencies Association
Partners: California Department of Health Services and the cities of Richmond, Oakland, San Carlos, and San Jose
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OUTPUTS (Activities, efforts, and/or work product during project period) |
OUTCOMES (Environmental results) |
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SHORT-TERM |
LONG-TERM |
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Select five high priority subwatersheds that discharge urban runoff with PCBs and other pollutants to the Bay Identify PCB and mercury source areas within the project subwatersheds and refer these sites to regulatory agencies for cleanup and abatement Develop methods to enhance removal of sediment with PCBs and other pollutants during municipal sediment management activities Retrofit 8 to 10 urban sites with stormwater treatment facilities Facilitate development and implementation of a regional risk communication and exposure reduction program that focuses on educating the public about the health risks of consuming certain species of Bay fish that contain high levels of PCBs and mercury Create public education outreach materials, project web portal, guidance manual, and technical workshops |
Reduce annual loading of PCBs to the Bay by approximately 0.3 - 1.5 kg per year, reducing the current estimated stormwater runoff load of 20 kg/yr by about 2-8% Treat ~ 2 square miles with stormwater retrofits to reduce potential hydrologic impacts on downstream receiving waters Consumers of Bay fish will have a greater awareness and understanding of fish contamination issues and options for reducing their exposure to pollutants |
Identify most promising best management practices (BMPs) for fully meeting the PCB TMDL allocations (2 kg/year) in the future and thereby help address important impairments to the Bay’s beneficial uses Enhance the desirability of commercial enterprise zones and residential neighborhoods in the project watersheds as a result of clean-up activities |
Full List of Project Summaries