Watershed Management

The City of Santa Monica is part of the Santa Monica Bay Watershed, which is generally considered to span from the Santa Monica Mountains to the north, the Palos Verdes Peninsula to the south, and the Griffith Park area to the east. The city drains to the Santa Monica Bay by way of two sub-watersheds: Central Santa Monica Bay Jurisdictional Groups 2 & 3; and Ballona Creek. Only a small section in the northeast corner of the city drains to Ballona Creek. The Santa Monica Bay Watershed spans across jurisdictional lines and multiple agencies work together to monitor and mitigate pollutants entering the Santa Monica Bay. The City of Santa Monica has completed numerous capital projects as part of an on-going effort to reduce the volume of pollutants entering the ocean. Many of the capital projects were funded in whole or in part by "Measure V".

Background

In November 2006, the Clean Beaches and Ocean Parcel Tax, also known as “Measure V”, was passed by over two-thirds of voters in the City of Santa Monica. Measure V raises property tax revenue to be used solely for the purpose of implementing urban runoff water quality improvements in the City in accordance with the City’s Watershed Management Plan adopted in 2006. It Is the most equitable source of funding to pay for new urban runoff treatment projects that will prevent our unhealthful water pollution, from reaching Santa Monica beaches and the Santa Monica Bay.

Below is a list of Measure V projects. Click on project link below for more information:

SWIP (Sustainable Water Infrastructure Project)
Storm Drain Connection Pipe Screens
Clean Beaches Project
Los Amigos Park Retrofit
Marine Park Retrofit
SMBBB TMDL Implementation Plan
Pier Storm Drain Improvements (SP 2101)
Bicknell Avenue Green Street (SP 2051)
Pier Water Quality Improvement (SP 2158)
Ocean Park Blvd Green Street (SP 2131)
Permeable Alley Surfaces (SP 2194)

Clean Beaches & Ocean Parcel Tax Citizens' Oversight Committee

The Citizens Oversight Committee is comprised of five residents of the City of Santa Monica who are appointed by a majority vote of the City Council. The responsibilities of the Committee are advisory to the City Council and consist of: 1) review of proposed capital and operating expenditures from Measure V funds; 2) review of actual Measure V capital and operating expenditures; and 3) review of proposed Measure V capital projects to confirm consistency with the generally or specifically established water quality improvement goals of the program. Committee members meet quarterly on the second Wednesday of the month.

August 14, 2024 Meeting Agenda

May 22, 2024 Meeting Minutes

May 22, 2024 Meeting Agenda

May 8, 2024 Meeting Cancelation

Feb 21, 2024 Meeting Minutes

Feb 21, 2024 Meeting Agenda

Nov 8, 2023 Meeting Minutes

Nov 8, 2023 Meeting Agenda

Current Committee Members

Chair Benjamin Kay
Vice Chair Ashley Oelsen
Commissioner Mary Marlow
Commissioner Jim Kennedy
Commissioner Sami Rasromani

Committee Liaison:

Joshua Carvalho, P.E. Principal Civil Engineer / Watershed Manager

joshua.carvalho@santamonica.gov

Contact Us:

(310) 458-8721
sm.engineering@santamonica.gov

FAQ

Why is Measure V needed?

Pollutants are deposited on our beaches and into Santa Monica Bay every year through the City’s storm drain system as urban runoff. These pollutants are a problem during both wet weather (rain events) and dry weather (runoff from over-irrigation, washing of sidewalks, vehicles, and business equipment, and draining of pools) periods. Also, very strict pollution reduction regulations for storm drains have been enacted by the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board, the State agency responsible for protecting the beaches and ocean from storm drain pollution. Santa Monica may be in violation of these new regulations and subject to $10,000 per day fines without construction of new projects that will be funded by Measure V to reduce storm drain pollution.

What types of new projects and programs does Measure V pay for to keep unhealthful pollution off our beaches and protect the Santa Monica Bay?

Funding from Measure V allows for the construction and installation of needed devices to capture and treat stormwater and dry weather runoff pollution from within Santa Monica’s boundaries; to divert stormwater runoff to open areas and allow it to percolate naturally into the soil; to build cistern systems that will allow waste runoff to be re-used for landscape irrigation and other beneficial purposes; to construct systems to divert polluted dry-weather and some wet weather runoff to the sanitary sewer system where, like wastewater, it will be highly treated; to increase our inspection and enforcement activities to prevent pollution and catch polluters when they break the law; to increase public education and outreach activities that make sure residents and businesses are aware of the problem and what they can do to help solve it; and to increase the cleaning and maintenance of the storm drain pipes to remove more toxic pollutants and prevent flooding of streets and sidewalks.

How much money will Measure V raise and what is my cost?

Measure V raises approximately $2.3 million annually in tax revenues from Santa Monica property owners.

Does Measure V pay for the cleanup of the rest of Los Angeles County’s polluted storm water?

No. The funds are being used to solve our own pollution problems being created within Santa Monica’s boundaries. Every other city in Los Angeles County is responsible for compliance with the same requirements that face Santa Monica and will have to come up with their own funding measures to do so.

What department manages the implementation of the projects funded through Measure V?

The Public Works Department is responsible for the implementation of the Watershed Management Program and the expenditure of Measure V revenues on eligible projects with approval and oversight by the City Manager, City Council and the independent Citizen’s oversight committee.