By Robert Almy
Santa Barbara County Public Works Department

The CBC meeting in Santa Barbara began with a morning session focused on nonpoint source pollution in coastal areas. Federal, state, and local agencies presented their efforts to control this pollution both through new programs and local grassroots efforts.

Mr. Ken Harris (State Water Resources Control Board Storm Water Quality Section Manager) discussed the recent completion of the interagency Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Program for California. This program includes some 20 state regulatory and resource management agencies collaborating in a 15–year strategy to implement a wide range of measures. Ms. Jaime Kooser (California Coastal Commission) emphasized the importance of land use and the designation of critical coastal protection areas and the importance of local interests in achieving the objectives of the plan.

Speakers focused on local issues, like the public concern over creek and ocean pollution in Santa Barbara County stemming from a rash of local beach closures in 1998. Mr. Dan Reid (Santa Barbara County Public Health Department) along with Mr. Robert Almy (Santa Barbara County Public Works Department) explained the development and current focus of a community–driven plan preceding the regulations. Short–term objectives include reducing both surface water pollution and local beach closures due to bacteria.

To accomplish these objectives, Santa Barbara County and its cities have pursued the characterization and abatement of pollution sources, source reduction efforts including education campaigns, creek restoration, and storm–drain system retrofits.

Mr. Bill Douros (Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Superintendent) described the water quality program initiated by the Sanctuary. In 1992, a Memorandum of Understanding among eight agencies initiated this program in which 17 agencies now participate. The water quality program focuses on 11 major watersheds between Point Reyes and Big Sur (excluding the Sacramento/San Joaquin River system). The program was developed from the bottom up emphasizing stewardship at the individual landowner level. This time–consuming approach resulted in compromise by virtually all parties, in addition to improved buy–in and compliance with project objectives.

Council, panel, and audience members discussed a variety of strategies to gain public acceptance of new programs, the need for additional funding, the potential role of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the balance between local control and "top–down" regulations. The public acceptance of water quality programs depends on education and involvement of stakeholders so that the community feels an "ownership" of the program.

A watershed approach and a careful alignment of priorities provide an important sense of direction and a way to measure success. Since local agencies often face conflicting policy or regulatory direction and the most effective non-point source control, the group suggested that local interests are in a better position to determine how requirements should be incorporated into their community plans.