Stormwater Management Assistance
(including TMDL compliance and SWMP development and implementation)
Description
OWP research staff have provided assistance with
guidance development and decision making for various aspects of stormwater management
and TMDL compliance. Program assistance has included developing guidelines for treatment
and erosion control BMP testing and implementation, suggesting general protocols for
stormwater monitoring, creating tools for designing effective BMPs and stormwater
management programs, and developing Stormwater Management Plans.
Experience
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Caltrans Stormwater Data Storage
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The OWP Data Management Group manages the monitoring data generated by the
Caltrans Stormwater Monitoring and Research Program. OWP provides technical
expertise in both data management and analytical chemistry methodology and quality
control. Existing data are maintained in an organized and structured way that allows
data consumers to perform complex queries and data mining. New data are entered into
the system after undergoing rigorous quality control checks to ensure that they
conform to the data quality standards established by the department. OWP also
assists the department and monitoring consultants with problems related to data
management and reporting, and with questions about laboratory methods and QA/QC
protocol.
OWP Tasks
- Provide Technical Expertise in Data Management
- Provide Technical Expertise in Analytical Chemistry
- Maintain Monitoring Data System
- Assist with QA/QC Protocol Inquiries
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Caltrans BMP Pilot Study Guidance Manual
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The Caltrans BMP Pilot Study Guidance Manual presents guidance for planning,
performing, evaluating, and reporting BMP pilot studies. The intent of this manual
is to ensure study objectives are clearly defined, studies are designed to meet the
study objectives, and there is consistency in the planning, execution, and
monitoring of pilot studies. The manual is used in conjunction with existing
Caltrans guidance manuals and protocols.
OWP Tasks
- Developed Preliminary Outline
- Developed Specific Guidance, Including Guidance on Study Design
- Provided Technical Review
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Caltrans Stormwater Monitoring Guidance Manual
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The Caltrans Stormwater Monitoring Guidance Manual was developed to provide
comprehensive, step-by-step guidelines for stormwater monitoring and related
activities. This document included guidance for every phase of monitoring, from
preliminary tasks such as equipment requirements and site selection to
post-monitoring activities such as data reporting. Since this manual was promulgated
in 2003 there were a number of changes in standard Caltrans monitoring methodology
and many suggestions were made to improve the quality of this document. In 2008 and
2009, the manual was rewritten in order to incorporate these changes and
suggestions.
OWP Tasks
- Coordinated Efforts Between the Writing Staff and the Review Team
- Performed Technical Review and Editing of Written Material
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Caltrans Stormwater Quality Handbooks - Maintenance Staff Guide
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The Caltrans Maintenance Staff Guide provides protocols for maintaining highway
infrastructure in a manner that is protective of water quality. In this project, OWP
assisted RBF Consulting in adding maintenance protocols for treatment BMPs to the
guide. The protocols were synthesized from the Caltrans BMP Retrofit Pilot Program
(Caltrans BMP Retrofit Pilot Study), the Caltrans Roadside Vegetated Treatment Site
(RVTS) Study (Caltrans Roadside Vegetated Treatment Sites (RVTS) Study), and other
Caltrans studies.
OWP Tasks
- Facilitated Review and Comment from Regional Caltrans Staff
- Rewrote Handbook Sections
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Caltrans Water Quality Planning Tool
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The goal of the WQPT is to provide planners with an easy-to-use website that has
watershed information needed to create and comply with stormwater permits. Users can
find a watershed through interactive maps or by entering the post-mile of a project
location. For each watershed the following information is displayed:
- Water bodies with TMDLs
- Water bodies on the 303(d) list
- Water quality standards based on the State Ocean Plan and Basin Plans
- Location of Caltrans facilities (highways/freeways, maintenance facilities,
park & ride lots, and rest areas)
- Maps and aerial photographs of the watershed
OWP Tasks
- Created Website Design and Graphics
- Created Database
- Created GIS Maps for the Website
- Programmed Website-Database-GIS Interface
- Updated Database and Website with New TMDLs and 303(d) Lists
- Maintained and Updated Web Server
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Caltrans Basin Sizer
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Basin Sizer is a software program that assists users in sizing stormwater basins
anywhere in California. The program calculates water quality volumes (WQVs) and
water quality flows (WQFs) using a variety of methods and data from rainfall
stations throughout the state. Project locations can be selected easily by zooming
and panning across a map.
OWP Tasks
- Calculated WQVs from over 200 Rain Gauges
- Calculated WQFs from over 700 Rain Gauges
- Developed the Basin Sizer Program
- Updated and Maintained the Program
- Distributed the Program from OWP's Website
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Caltrans Stormwater Treatment BMP Technology Report
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The Caltrans Treatment BMP Technology Report satisfies a regulatory requirement for
a new technology report. This report consolidates information for post-construction
technologies in a standardized manner by using a fact sheet format. The BMP fact
sheets summarize available design, construction, and performance information. This
document is used internally by Caltrans to identify and evaluate treatment BMP
technologies for potential use in the highway environment.
OWP Tasks
- Developed New Format Following Caltrans Direction
- Added New Fact Sheets
- Provided Technical Review
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Caltrans Hydrologic Utility Tool
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The Caltrans Hydrologic Utility is used to standardize calculations of storm event
and sampling parameters, and prepare hydrographs for stormwater-related studies
conducted by the Caltrans Division of Environmental Analysis. This revised version
of the Hydrologic Utility (3.0) added functionality and improved the calculation
methods. The Utility was developed as an add-in for Excel. Whenever possible,
calculations are done within the Excel worksheets so the methodologies can be easily
reviewed and transparent. Output can be uploaded into the Caltrans Storm Water
Information System (SWIS), and station information can be updated within the Utility
with the most recent data available from SWIS.
OWP Tasks
- Developed Algorithm for Hydrologic Parameters Based on Time Series Data
- Designed and Developed a Microsoft Excel Add-In
- Created User Manual
