Environmental & Maintenance Services
Urban Watershed Management Program
Towards Cleaner Water
The City of Salinas’ Urban Watershed Management Program is an integrated effort involving municipal departments, Federal, State, and other local agencies, as well as the public. Programs seek to protect water resources by reducing or eliminating contaminants from entering our local creeks, the Salinas River, and eventually the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
Pollution Prevention Reporting (831) 758-7233
Urban Runoff
The surface water from our yards, driveways, and streets which flow through storm drains is the single greatest source of pollution to our creeks and the Monterey Bay. Unlike sewage and industrial discharges, urban runoff cannot always be treated adequately before it reaches the bay.
By reducing the quantity and improving the quality of runoff, we can lower levels of harmful bacteria, toxins, and other forms of pollutants affecting our creeks and the bay. Reducing urban runoff and amount of pollutants discharged are essential for the health and safety of our community. Urban runoff is a national, as well as local concern.
In 1990, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set forth regulations governing storm water discharges under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Program (NPDES).
In California, the NPDES Stormwater Program is administered by the State Water Resources Control Board through its nine regions. The City of Salinas lies within the Central Coast Region of the State Water Board and works with the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board 
with regards to the Federal Clean Water Act and the NPDES program.
In February, 2005, the City was issued its second five-year NPDES Stormwater Permit 
This permit includes requirements that affect private businesses, industrial operations, and residential activity, as well as governing many City practices. Attachment 4 identifies activities and new regulations that are part of the City’s new permit. These regulations are intended to have each person/business responsible for the stormwater they generate. This approach has been called “source control” and is the cornerstone philosophy of the City’s permit.
The state has also required the City to monitor water quality over time and use this information to take corrective action. Corrective action includes the City's partnering with the private sector to implement proven practices which reduce water pollution, which have been named Best Management Practices, or BMPs. The monitoring requirements include taking water quality samples and assessing program effectiveness. Attachment 5 contains the City’s monitoring program as required by the state.
To achieve cleaner water and to meet its NPDES Municipal Permit, the City has prepared a Stormwater Management Plan to protect resources. Public comments and questions are invited. Comments or questions regarding the Draft Plan may be addressed to Michael Ricker at (831) 758-7450.
Low Impact Development
The City of Salinas will be adopting new regulations regarding land-use development to protect downstream water resources. Regulations will limit and guide urban runoff by using design techniques. These techniques have been called Low Impact Development (LID).
Stormwater Management Plan
- Stormwater Management Plan - Complete Document (pdf, 26.8 MB)
Downloadable Documents
- 2008 - 2009 Annual Report (pdf, 22.83 MB)
- 2007 - 2008 Annual Report (pdf, 7.45 MB)
- 2006 - 2007 Annual Report (pdf, 10.56 MB)
- 2005 - 2006 Annual Report (pdf, 8.96 MB)
- City Stormwater Permit (pdf, 463 kb)
- Grading Standards (pdf, 1.43 MB)
- Monterey Bay Green Gardener Training Series English | Español (pdf, 206 kb)
- Quality Assurance Project Plan (pdf, 4.22 kb)
- Storm Drain Master Plan (pdf, 9.05 MB)
- Stormwater Ordinance (pdf, 100 kb)