A Joint Effort
To Improve Water Quality

in the

Water Quality Issues

Urban growth and the resulting loss of permeable soil has led to the degradation of the Agua Hedionda Watershed. Recent growth and anticipated future development mean that a watershed that is already impaired could get even worse. Already,

• Notable bank undercutting, and bank erosion characterize creeks in the Agua Hedionda Watershed.
• Agua Hedionda Creek is listed as an impaired water body by the California State Water Resources Control Board for manganese, selenium, sulfates and excessive total dissolved solids.
• Water quality analysis shows high nitrate levels, coliform bacteria and the presence of a pesticide called diazinon.
• The Agua Hedionda Lagoon is also listed for excessive sedimentation/siltation, as well as coliform bacteria.

Working Together

Environmentalists, City officials, and other stakeholders in the Agua Hedionda Watershed agree that balancing land development and population growth with clean stream water and wildlife habitat preservation is possible with good data and a well though out plan.

Working together, the watershed stakeholders have begun to develop a comprehensive watershed management plan (WMP) that will be a blueprint for action for all stakeholders be they cities, environmentalists, and government agencies. The WMP will provide a wide range of benefits to the stakeholders. It will:

• Look at the whole watershed, and the cumulative impacts from the headwaters down to the lagoon. It won't stop at jurisdictional boundaries.
• Outline how to meet local concerns as well as regional water quality objectives.
• Recommend specific, scientifically-based actions so that for local governments and NGOs can apply for grants to fund projects such as steam restoration, stormwater best management practices (BMP), wetlands preservation, and critical lands protection.
• Evaluate the opportunities and constraints for using Low Impact Development (L(D) for future residential, commercial, and industrial development in the watershed based on the actual climate in the Agua Hedionda watershed as well as the soils, slope, erosion potential for developable land. The study will show the most promising LID techniques to use, design considerations, and estimates of BMP effectiveness. This should aid the local governments as they meet new requirements to adopt local standards for LID.
• Lay the foundation for long-term watershed management. It has management goals and objectives, and indicators for tracking success.

Progress Report

With funding from the State Water Resources Board and spearheaded by the City of Vista, a watershed management coordinator and a technical consulting team is laying the foundation for developing a long term management plan. We've made significant progress!

	Consensus building
	Grant Funding
	WPG Meetings and Presentations
	Water Quality Report
	Stream Characterization Tests
	Initial Draft Plan
	Public Dissemination
	Final Plan Review
	Plan Adoption
	Plan Implementation

Collaboration

The Watershed Planning Group (WMP), is made up of citizens, regulatory agencies, municipalities, environmental groups, as well as education and research institutions, is providing recommendations on watershed plan development.

Concurrently, a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) comprised of multidisciplinary technical experts from the various cities and the County is ensuring the technical accuracy of the watershed management plan and modeling assumptions..

Highlights

• WPG developed WMP goals and objectives.
• Water specialists conducted a series of stream characterization tests to determine what the stream bed looks like and how much of the stream is impaired.
• Consultant has prepared an Agua Hedionda Watershed Water Quality Analysis Report to review watershed and water quality data and provide recommendations for future water monitoring.

Time Frame

Much work has already been done over the first year since the inception and funding of this joint planning effort. The project will be complete in August of 2008.

The initial draft of the Agua Hedionda Watershed Management Plan will be available in June. After review and comments by the Watershed Planning Group and the Technical Advisory Committee the consultant will prepare a final version for adoption by cities and agencies.

About The Watershed Management Plan

Project consultants are focused on producing a Watershed Management Plan that will:

• Identify primary stressors for the watershed
• Develop a plan for restoring watershed health
• Recommend an implementation strategy
• Provide conceptual locations, designs, cost estimates for restoration projects
• Recommend a prioritized implementation schedule

In addition, the Watershed Management Plan will analyze current water quality data and develop a hydrologic model that will identify:

• Future monitoring of water quality
• Problematic erosion and sediment areas
• Potential land for acquisition and restoration

The Watershed Management Plan will include specific actionable, fundable efforts to:

• Reduce the impact of new development
• Restore stream channels, riparian buffers and wetlands
• Retrofit storm water flows
• Preserve and acquire land
• Monitor and evaluate implementation
• Encourage citizen stewardship
• Obtain funding for restoration

The plan will include specific watershed management actions such as initial working design of stream restoration projects

Agua Hedionda Watershed Management Plan will assist adoption and implementation by:

• Defining roles and responsibilities of cities, government agencies and other stakeholders.
• Suggesting timelines and milestones
• Estimating costs and financing of projects
• Estimating impacts and benefits of the recommended watershed management actions.

Click here fore more detailed information on Agua Hedionda WMP Grant.