Pollution Prevention Programs

Storm Water Pollution Prevention Division:
Watershed Management, Engineering and Municipal Activities

The City's Watershed Management program approach is to construct, upgrade and maintain a storm water conveyance system that conveys urban runoff-- rain water and runoff from human activities-- in a manner that maximizes water quality, protects life and property from flooding, and protects water quality in San Diego's unique creeks, beaches and bays. The City's watershed-based strategy relies on a holistic approach to addressing both storm water conveyance and water quality issues by combining management of the structural (storm drain pipes and concrete channels) and "natural" portions (urban canyons, creeks, and natural channels) of the City's storm water conveyance system. The watershed-based strategy employs a series of integrated solutions, including good housekeeping activities (e.g., education, enforcement, street sweeping), replacement and upgrades of aging and undersized portions of the storm drain system, installation of sediment and trash traps and other water quality controls, and restoration of concrete lined and eroded channels to a more natural, stable condition through concrete removal, creek widening, and revegetation.