Storm Water

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Report Spills, Illegal Dumping, and Sewer Back-ups

Where to report spills, dumping incidents and back-ups

The City storm drain system collects storm water runoff from City streets along gutters and through underground pipes to discharge into waterways and ocean. The system is designed for the control of flooding and does not provide any treatment to the storm water run off. Click here for information on Flood Insurance Premium Reduction

Storm water entering drains flows directly into local creeks and Monterey Bay without being treated. Here is where you can find information on what the City does to reduce pollution to the storm drains and creeks, and how you can help:

Storm Water Management Plan	Best Management Practices
Storm Water Annual Reports	Storm Water Requirements for Development
Storm Water Management Utility	Business Certification Programs
Clean River, Beaches and Ocean Fund	Retail and Commercial Pollution Prevention
Residential Information	Vehicle Service Pollution Prevention
Integrated Pest Management	Food Service Pollution Prevention
Other Related Information and Programs	Pharmaceuticals and Sharps Disposal
San Lorenzo River Watershed TMDL Reports

Storm Water Management Plan

Urban runoff and other “non-point source” discharges are regulated by the 1972 Federal Clean Water Act (CWA), through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program. The City of Santa Cruz (City) developed a Storm Water Management Program (SWMP) in order to fulfill the requirements of the Phase II NPDES General Permit for Discharges of Storm Water from Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) (General Permit) and to reduce the amount of pollutants discharged in urban runoff. The City’s program is based on the requirements and guidelines of the General Permit.

The City's SWMP is a comprehensive program that is designed to reduce the discharge of pollutants to the maximum extent practicable (MEP) and encompasses best practices for the following operational areas:

Municipal Operations/Pollution Prevention and Good Housekeeping
Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination
Public Participation
Public Education
Construction Site Storm Water Runoff Control
Post Construction Storm Water Management
Industrial Facilities
Commercial Facilities

In February 2013, the State Water Board reissued the Phase II Storm Water General Permit and required the submittal of a Guidance Document for coverage under the new permit. As part of the General Permit, the City also prepares annual reports detailing activities conducted throughout the year to minimize stormwater impacts. The City's SWMP, Guidance Document, and annual reports are available here: Storm Water Management Plan

Clean River, Beaches and Ocean Fund (Measure E) Implementation

Measure E established a Clean River, Beaches and Ocean Special Parcel Tax that is collected from owners of taxable property parcels in the City of Santa Cruz. Measure E was placed on the November 4, 2008 ballot by the Santa Cruz City Council to create a dedicated source of funding to pay for water quality programs that prevent pollution from reaching our waterways, beaches and the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Funds are used to support several projects and activities, including:

Cleaning, maintaining and improving our storm water collection systems to help keep trash and pollutants out of our waterways and beaches;
Meeting state and federal water quality requirements, thereby avoiding fines and penalties;
Enforcing new state rules to prevent pollution, including erosion, from construction projects and new developments;
Providing education and outreach activities to teach children, residents, businesses and visitors why and how to prevent water pollution;
Implementing programs to reduce pollution from homes, streets, businesses and industry, such as the Green Business Certification program;
Monitoring water quality in our creeks and the San Lorenzo River for compliance with State standards.

Click here for an overview of the Measure E fund expense for Fiscal Year 20 19-2020

Business Certification Programs

The City manages two environmental certification programs: the Clean Ocean Business Program and the Green Business Program. Clean Ocean Logo

The Clean Ocean Business Program recognizes vehicle service and food service facilities that follow best environmental practices to keep pollutants out of the storm drains and sewer system, thus helping to protect our waterways and the ocean.

The Green Business Program recognizes businesses that go the extra mile to reduce their carbon footprint, prevent pollution and conserve resources by: GreenBizLogo.3_web

Reducing water consumption,
Retrofitting lights and equipment to conserve energy,
Minimizing waste and recycling,
Implementing practices that reduce pollution and protect worker health.

Get Involved!

City Calendar of Events

There are many opportunities offered by our partner groups and organizations to learn more about our waterways and get involved in monitoring and clean-up events.

Adopt-A-Levee Program - The City and Save Our Shores (SOS) have partnered to launch a volunteer-based “Adopt-A-Levee Program” to help keep the San Lorenzo River clean and healthy. Through the Adopt-A-Levee Program, a community group or local business can “adopt” a specific section of the river levee between Highway 1 and the San Lorenzo River mouth.

Snapshot Day - Snapshot Day is an annual, water quality monitoring event held on the first Saturday in May. Since 2000, this event has been providing a one-day “Snapshot” of the health of the rivers and streams that flow into the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS).

Coastal Cleanup Day - Join Save Our Shores and more than 60,000 Californians as we clean our state’s beaches and waterways!

Beach and River Cleanups- Monthly beach cleanups are a fun, free, easy way to give back to your community by keeping pollution from entering the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

Other Related Information and Programs

Cigarette Butt "Bait Tank" Rebate Program:

Tired of all those cigarette butts around your business? bait tank

Here’s a way to tackle that problem and help keep our waterways clean! The City of Santa Cruz is offering a new and exciting rebate program for cigarette butt containers called “Bait Tanks.”

Bait Tanks are eye catching metal containers that can hold up to 2,000 cigarette butts each. In order to reduce water pollution caused by discarded cigarette butts, the City is offering a $200 or $250 rebate to businesses that want to buy, install and maintain a cigarette butt container on their property. In addition to helping keep our environment clean, having a Bait Tank will save you clean up time and show your customers that you care!

For More Information, please contact:

Suzanne Healy, City of Santa Cruz

Department of Public Works

831-420-5131

Email: shealy@cityofsantacruz.com