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Water Quality Management Plan
Plan Purpose
The purpose of a Water Quality Management Plan (WQMP) is to achieve a level of storm water runoff pollution prevention and abatement that would ensure the health of our local waterways and beaches. The WQMP prescribes post-construction Best Management Practices (BMPs) for the property to accomplish this goal.
Exempt from Submittal of a Plan
All new development/redevelopment projects require a WQMP. However, the following are exempt from the submittal of a WQMP, unless the City determines that the project may result in the discharge of significant levels of a pollutant into a tributary to the stormwater drainage system:
- Construction of a single family detached residence 5,500 square feet or less of interior space including garage
- Improvements to a single family detached residence that will result in a total of 5,500 square feet or less of interior space including garage and additions, or addition of a second story with no increase in the footprint or improvements that will add no more than 25% of existing footprint and will not exceed 1,000 square feet of additional space
Priority & Non-Priority Projects
The City will determine whether or not the project is a Priority Project or a Non-Priority Project. The scope of the WQMP will differ depending on its priority, and report templates for both are provided for your use. A Model WQMP and Technical Guidance Document was developed in 2011 to assist project applicants in preparing WQMPs, which may include but are not limited to;
- Applicable source control BMPs
- Hydromodification BMPs
- Low Impact Development (LID) BMPs
- Site design measures and hydrologic source controls
Low Impact Development
Projects must incorporate Low Impact Development (LID) principles (PDF) in their design as part of their WQMP requirements. Priority projects will be required to infiltrate, harvest-and-reuse, evapotranspire, or biofiltrate the 85th percentile storm event on-site.
Hydromodification Management
Hydromodification management has also emerged as a prominent issue in stormwater runoff management. Hydromodification is defined as the physical degradation or change in channels associated with alterations in flow and sediment due to proposed land-use alteration. The goal of hydromodification management is to integrate hydrologic controls into a proposed project such that post-development 2 year peak flows do not exceed pre-development conditions.
Reducing hydromodification and its effects can protect and restore beneficial uses of receiving waters, hence its importance in water quality land development requirements.
Helpful Resources
- Acceptable Best Management Practices (PDF)
- Anticipated and Potential Pollutants by Land Use (PDF)
- Construction Runoff Guidance Manual December 2012 (PDF)
- Covenant and Agreement Form (PDF)
- Covenant and Agreement Form Non-Priority Projects (PDF)
- Declaration Of Restrictions Form and Standard Water Quality CCR Provision (Updated 2021)
- Environmentally Sensitive Areas Map (PDF)
- Model Water Quality Management Plan (PDF)
- Non-Priority Water Quality Management Plan Template (DOCX)
- Operations and Maintenance Template (PDF)
- Preliminary Water Quality Management Plan Guidelines (PDF)
- Preparers Water Quality Management Plan Checklist (PDF)
- Priority Water Quality Management Plan Template (DOCX)
- State 303(d) List 2010 (PDF)
- Technical Guidance Document (PDF)