CICWQ-JANUARY 2024 Recap
1) State Water Resources Control Board - Construction General Permit for Stormwater
It’s the first wet season under the newly revised General Construction Permit for stormwater, which went into effect on September 1, 2023. Remember to get your updated qualified SWPPP Developer (QSD) and qualified SWPPP Practitioner (QSP) training credentials. See the CASQA website for details. Remember, the most common enforcement actions against permit holders are administrative in nature, such as missing reporting deadlines, submitting missing or incomplete data, or submitting the wrong data.
2) Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board – Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional (CII) Permit for TMDL Watersheds in Los Angeles County
This proposed CII permit is a big deal for all of California's commercial, industrial, and institutional development, which, once adopted for two specific watersheds in Los Angeles County, could gain momentum for application across the state. The Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board, with the backing of the US EPA through their Residual Designation Authority, is adopting a whole new permit covering properties in the CII real estate and land use sector. Stormwater discharges from these properties must be treated using expensive on-site clean-up systems in order to meet the stringent TMDL water quality standards. See the CICWQ comment letters and visit the LA Regional Board website.
3) Water Quality Credit Trading Program Development for Post-Construction Stormwater Permit Compliance
Water quality credit trading is a market-based approach that property owners may wish to pursue as a way to meet post-construction stormwater permit compliance. CICWQ has been working on developing credit trading programs for the public and private sectors since 2015, primarily performing case studies and collaborating with public works agencies, private contractors, and home builders to develop the concept fully. Tremendous momentum for developing credit trading programs is building throughout California, with many efforts underway in the Bay Area and in Southern California. For example, the City of Anaheim just launched a new program for public and private sector land development projects.
4) California Water Quality/Water Supply/Flood Control Legislation Outlook 2024
California legislators got back to work in January of 2024, with hundreds of new bills introduced. Key for the construction industry are several Assembly and Senate Bills which may coalesce into a single Climate Resiliency Bond Measure for voter approval. The Bond Measure would hopefully include funding for additional water storage projects throughout California and an increased focus on funding regional stormwater capture systems for groundwater replenishment and water quality protection.
5) California Water Supply Issues and Updates – January 2024
Of note is the recent court action on the sustainability of the State Water Project in California, where the State Water Contractors won an important legal appeal, with operations approved to 2085.
Check out this comprehensive presentation from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, covering the record water year in 2023 and looking ahead to the outlook for water supply in 2024.
6) CICWQ 2023 Year-In-Review Summary
CICWQ worked throughout 2023 to protect the interests of the building and construction industry working in California. Here’s a round-up of highlights from the year, with important milestones or achievements.
