The South Bay Stormwater Program is administered by the South Bay Beaches Protection Partnership (SBBPP) which is comprised of the coastal cities of the South Bay as well as Caltrans.
Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL): A TMDL is the maximum amount of a pollutant that a water body can accept and still meet the water quality objectives designed to protect its uses.
The Santa Monica Bay currently has a TMDL for bacteria. The bacterial TMDL is a way to improve water quality within Santa Monica Bay and at the beaches.
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The purpose of this Project is to educate residential, commercial, and recreational populations on how their actions can lead to stormwater pollution. By encouraging, enhancing, and promoting Stormwater Pollution Prevention; focusing specifically on reducing bacteria generating behaviors within the Santa Monica Bay Watershed; this Project hopes to reduce stormwater pollution from bacteria. Stormwater pollution occurs when pollutants such as sediment, oil and grease, trash, and bacteria are transported into creeks, rivers, lakes, or oceans by rain water flowing over the ground surface. When these pollutants reach the water bodies, they can harm the natural environment and pose health problems to humans. Bacteria are known to cause human illnesses which can lead to:
Increasing public understanding of the connection between recreational activities, and residential or commercial activities with beach closures, encouraging good housekeeping practices, and improving compliance with existing ordinances among targeted populations, will improve water quality in Santa Monica Bay. |