TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager to execute a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Los Angeles Gateway Region Integrated Regional Water Management Joint Powers Authority (Authority) for the preparation of the Coyote Creek Metals Total Maximum Daily Load Implementation Plan, monitoring program and special studies for a term of 10 years, at an estimated annual cost of $15,000. (Districts 4,5)
DISCUSSION
In 1972, the Federal Clean Water Act (Act) was signed into law with the purpose of improving water quality in rivers, streams and lakes primarily through regulation of point source discharges. One aspect of the Act requires that State regulatory agencies implement Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) for specific impaired water bodies. A TMDL establishes a maximum threshold for certain pollutants that can enter the water body and requires that agencies with tributaries to these waters monitor the pollutants entering the water body, develop an implementation plan to reduce the pollutants, and conduct special studies to determine best practices to control the sources of these pollutants.
On March 26, 2007, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established the Total Maximum Daily Loads for Metals (Metals TMDL) for the San Gabriel River. The Metals TMDL affects the Cities of Artesia, Bellflower, Cerritos, Diamond Bar, Downey, Hawaiian Gardens, Lakewood, La Habra Heights, La Mirada, Long Beach, Norwalk, Santa Fe Springs, and Whittier (Watershed Entities), as well as Caltrans, as they are all a tributary source of runoff to the Coyote Creek and/or lower San Gabriel River. The Authority, with input from the Watershed Entities, has prepared a MOA to develop monitoring and implementation programs. These programs will include special studies to address scientific and technical issues resulting from establishment of the Metals TMDL.
According to the cost allocation in the MOA, Long Beach’s allocation is approximately $15,000 of the $25...
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