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SAN GABRIEL VALLEY COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS
One Valley. One Voice.
REGIONAL WATER RESILIENCY
The SGVCOG supports regional water resiliency and provides leadership in the implementation of Measure W and regional Watershed Management Programs (WMPs). The SGVCOG also assists member agencies in addressing water quality and complying with MS4 stormwater permit requirements. The SGVCOG advocates for regulatory and legislative changes that facilitate member agencies' ability to comply with water and stormwater regulations, secures funding for regional projects that promote water resiliency, and serves as a resource to member agencies in the delivery of large-scale capital projects.
Below is a list of documents and websites related to Measure W and the MS4 permit implementation:
Safe Clean Water Program Special Studies
The SGVCOG administers the following special studies, which are funded by Los Angeles County's Safe Clean Water Program (SCWP) and are designed to uphold the goals of the SCWP.
Maximizing the Impact of Minimum Control Measures
More details to follow
The Fire Effects Study
Upper Los Angeles River and Rio Hondo Watersheds
What is the Fire Effects Study?
A first-of-its kind regional scientific study led by participating cities of the Upper Los Angeles River (ULAR) and Rio Hondo Watershed Management Groups (WMGs) and the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG) identifying wildfire impacts on water quality. This study is funded by Los Angeles County’s Safe, Clean Water (SCW) program and is designed to uphold the goals of the SCW program. Key features of the study area are water quality monitoring and modeling to characterize pollutant loading, collaboration with the Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB), and coordination with research institutions to support project design and peer review.
Why is the Fire Effects Study important?
A first-of-its kind regional scientific study led by participating cities of the Upper Los Angeles River (ULAR) and Rio Hondo Watershed Management Groups (WMGs) and the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG) identifying wildfire impacts on water quality. This study is funded by Los Angeles County’s Safe, Clean Water (SCW) program and is designed to uphold the goals of the SCW program. Key features of the study area are water quality monitoring and modeling to characterize pollutant loading, collaboration with the Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB), and coordination with research institutions to support project design and peer review.
Special studies demonstrate an increase of pollutants in storm water after wildfires
Project Example:
Effects of California Wildfires on Storm Water
What are the goals of the Fire Effects Study?
Improve water quality and contribute to attainment of water quality requirements
Leverage other funding sources to maximize SCW program goals
Encourage innovation and adoption of new technologies and practices
Invest in scientific research
How does the Fire Effects Study help watershed managers?
The Fire Effects Study will provide data to answer key questions including how wildfires impact contaminant loading, how metals and nutrients concentrations compare between burned and non-burned areas, how runoff influences downstream receiving waters, and what factors influence the persistence of these impacts. Answering these questions provides ULAR and Rio Hondo stormwater managers with data to help select water quality treatment best management (BMP) projects and evaluate BMP performance based on wildfire conditions therefore, supporting more informed decisions that better protect water quality and help attain regulatory compliance.
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This study also initiates discussions with regulatory agencies on meeting compliance targets and potential regulatory relief from impending TMDLs, while providing information that other watershed management agencies can reference or use to model their own local wildfire study.
In Partnership with the following:
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The Load Reduction Strategy (LRS) Adaptation Implements a More Efficient and Effective Strategy to Address the Los Angeles River Bacteria TMDL
There are many sources of bacteria in the environment and although elevated concentrations of traditional fecal indicator bacteria may indicate a higher potential for human health risks, it is exposure to pathogens that can cause illness in recreational water users and threaten or impair beneficial uses. Human waste typically contains a higher concentration of pathogens, as compared to other sources, thereby increasing the risk of gastrointestinal illness (GI) through recreational exposure.
The LRS Adaptation Plan provides an effective framework to address human health risk from pathogen exposure, by focusing on eliminating sources of human waste to the municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4). The Plan helps to streamline efforts across the ULAR agencies and other stakeholders in the watershed.
The LRS Adaptation Plan was submitted to the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board for review and approval on August 2, 2021, and the revised Plan was submitted to the Regional Board on May 31, 2024.
What Is Contributing to the Problem?
Human sources of bacteria in our waterways that cause disease or sickness in recreators can originate from a variety of common sources, including the following:
Leaking Sewer Pipes & Sanitary Sewer Overflows
Leaking sewer pipes and sanitary sewer overflows release raw sewage into the environment. Common causes are blockages, line breaks, vandalism, sewer defects, and aging infrastructure.
Leaking/Failing Septic System
Residential septic systems leak/fail due to poor maintenance or design. Failing systems leak raw sewage into surrounding soil and can ultimately end up in nearby waterways.
Homeless Encampments
Homeless encampments can lead to increased trash and human waste entering nearby waterways through bathing or direct deposition.
Illegal Dumping
Illegal dumping refer to the disposal of trash or debris into waterways. These can include human waste contributions.
Illicit Connections/Illicit Discharges
Illicit connections or discharges refer to connections to the MS4 or discharges into the MS4 that are not authorized. These can include human waste contributions.
Source Investigation Framework
To identify human fecal sources within the high priority, areas of investigation (AOIs), the Group will implement a human waste source investigation (HWSI) with the following steps.
See Our Monitoring Team in Action
In Partnership with the following:
