Water Quality and Supply Issues Monthly Update-FEBRUARY 2025
CICWQ extends its heartfelt condolences to all those affected by the devastating Los Angeles County wildfires in January. The loss of life and property is immeasurable. As representatives of the construction industry, our member organizations are stepping up to support recovery efforts—providing funding, technical resources, and assistance to public agencies and communities working to rebuild.
Here’s what we’ve been working on this month:
➡️ Rainy Season Preparedness 🌧️
With February bringing much-needed rain to California, now is the time to ensure your construction sites are storm-ready. Conduct thorough inspections and confirm that erosion and sediment control measures are in place. A key update: CASQA is now the official SWPPP training system operator for compliance with the General Construction Permit (CGP). If you’re a Qualified SWPPP Practitioner (QSP) or Developer (QSD), be sure to maintain your credentials under the 2022 updated CGP requirements.
➡️ New Stormwater Infiltration Policy 💧
The State Water Resources Control Board is developing a new urban stormwater capture and infiltration policy aimed at enhancing groundwater recharge while ensuring public safety. Public workshops are underway, providing an opportunity for industry professionals to engage in shaping the policy.
Stay informed and stay involved—your participation matters!
FEBRUARY NEWSWORTHY ITEM
New Training System Operator for Construction General Permit QSDs and QSPs working in California
With the rainy season upon us, we want to make sure the construction industry and its stormwater professionals are aware that CASQA is taking over responsibility from the Sacramento State University Office of Water Programs for administering the training system for Qualified SWPPP Developer (QSD), Practitioner (QSP), and Industrial Stormwater (QISP) training qualification programs via the CASQA website. Certified professionals are required on all construction job sites which obtain a general permit from the state to discharge stormwater.
State Water Resources Control Board Urban Stormwater Infiltration Policy Development
The State Water Resources Control Board is developing a new policy that will set standards for urban stormwater infiltration. The proposed new policy will encourage infiltration of urban stormwater to increase groundwater recharge and strengthen local water supply resiliency, provide greater protection to surface water quality, and develop projects with multiple benefits for communities. The Policy will also prohibit infiltration under inappropriate conditions where beneficial uses of groundwater may be impacted.
Two workshops were held in February to obtain initial stakeholder feedback on the proposed policy, and a companion California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) scoping meeting is scheduled for March 12, 2025. To learn more about the policy making effort, the State has established a web site with more program details and process information and published a 4-page fact sheet.
California Department of Water Resources (DWR) Releases Results of Second Snow Survey Winter 2024 – Updates State Water Project Supply Allocation
The second manual survey for winter 2025 recorded 22.5 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent of 8 inches, which is 46 percent of average for the Phillips Station location. The snow water equivalent measures the amount of water contained in the snowpack and is a key component of DWR’s water supply forecast. A relatively dry January pushed the average down for the water year to below normal, heightening the need to be vigilant in conserving water and using water-smart practices.
On a positive note, DWR was able to increase the State Water Contractors supply allocation to 20% of requested supplies, which is a 5% increase from the prior December 2024 update. The increase was attributed to favorable runoff conditions and rises in storage reservoir levels, a result of beneficial rain and snow events in late November and December 2024.
