WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENTS

Local Water Organizations that Work for a Pollution-Free San Diego September is a month focused on ‘all things water’ with specific holidays dedicated to the protection of water quality such as National Estuaries Week (9/16-9/23), World Water Monitoring Day (9/18), World Rivers Day (9/24), and Stormwater Awareness Week (9/25-9/29). One of the largest and most successful cleanup events takes place on September 23rd, the 39th Annual Coastal Cleanup Day, hosted by I Love A Clean San Diego. While this day typically focuses on cleaning up our beaches and coastline, it’s equally important to protect our non-coastal and inland waterbodies. About 80% of water pollution begins inland and flows downstream through our storm drain system and local waterways where it ultimately reaches the ocean. The County of San Diego, Watershed Protection Program, works hard to ensure good water quality for our San Diego community, and there are many other local organizations who do their part to protect the health of our local waterways, watersheds, and ocean. See what some of those organizations are doing year-round to protect water quality for generations to come.

• Our Bays - The Port of San Diego manages State lands surrounding the San Diego Bay and works to improve and protect bay water quality. Their Stormwater Management Program focuses on educating county residents on ways to reduce stormwater pollution such as stopping irrigation runoff, minimizing use of herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers, and properly disposing of used oil and other toxic chemicals. That’s My Bay is a pollution prevention campaign that encourages residents to do their part in keeping the bay looking classy, not trashy!
• Our Estuaries - The Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve (TRNERR) protects and manages the natural and cultural resources of the Tijuana River Estuary, Southern California’s largest coastal wetland. Their efforts focus on habitat conservation and restoration, endangered species preservation, and the management of solid waste and sediment, including wastewater from Mexico. In addition to their youth group, school, and public education programs, volunteer stewardship opportunities are available to help TRNERR with brush and invasive species removal, planting of native species, and habitat conservation/restoration tasks – all with the aim of preserving water quality and reducing water pollution.
• Our Rivers - The San Diego River Park Foundation (SDRPF) is dedicated to improving the health of the San Diego River by conserving and restoring the local environment along the San Diego River and its tributaries Some of SDRPF’s key programs include community cleanups, community garden beautification, and habitat restoration.
• Our Lagoons - Lagoon organizations such as the Batiquitos Lagoon Foundation, Agua Hedionda Foundation, and Buena Vista Audubon Society offer educational programs, kid camps, hikes, and lagoon/trail cleanups and restoration events. These efforts help our community get to know the lagoon environment and our respective watersheds.
• Our Coast - In addition to Coastal Cleanup Day, there are many other local environmental advocates such as I Love A Clean San Diego, Surfrider Foundation San Diego, and San Diego Coastkeeper who are leading the way to address water pollution through cleanups and zero-waste solutions.

Like our local waterway organizations, you too can play a role in protecting our waterways!  A good place to start is by reviewing the County’s many educational resources on stormwater pollution. Get involved in any of the dedicated events happening in September. Join other like-minded volunteers on September 23^rd for Coastal Cleanup Day, or throughout the month of September for other water pollution-prevention and waste-reduction events.

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

Find My District

ONLINE SERVICES

Report Stormwater Pollution
Report observed pollution to the correct jurisdiction.

Citizen Access Portal
Research property information and permits. Apply for some permits online.

GIS Maps
Find property information including zoning designation with our web-based mapping tool. 

Watershed Protection Website
sandiegocounty.gov/stormwater

Learn more about available water quality rebates that you could apply to your property!

Project Clean Water efforts are focused on providing a centralized point of access to water quality information and resources for San Diego County Watersheds. Click HERE to visit Project Clean Water’s website.