Public Works Department
April 7, 2026
Amended and Restated National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Stormwater Permit Implementation Agreement
BACKGROUND
Current National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Stormwater Permit agreement is outdated; Adopted in 2002 Does not conform with pending and new stormwater permits as issued by the Santa Ana and San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Boards Amended agreement would conform with new stormwater permit requirements
NEED/WHY/BENEFITS
County of Orange will continue in role as lead permittee and continue to prepare annual stormwater permit implementation budget for countywide stormwater program.
Co-permittees (the 34 cities within Orange County and the Orange County Flood Control District) will implement programs as developed by the lead permittee as part of a cohesive countywide stormwater program designed to comply with regional stormwater permits.
Amended agreement would create framework for compliance with new stormwater permit requirements.
New stormwater permit requirements include a watershed-based compliance approach which identifies pollutants of concern or impairments to waterbodies within each watershed.
Amended agreement would create a framework to establish a cost-sharing mechanism for the development and implementation of watershed-based program/projects designed to address watershed-specific pollutants.
DETAILS
Amends current agreement to create a mechanism for watershed-based program/projects.
County will continue role as lead permittee responsible for development of compliance programs/projects and reporting to the Santa Ana and San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Boards.
City will work in cooperation with other agencies within the two watershed (Anaheim Bay-Huntington Harbour, Santa Ana River) that the City resides in to develop and implement watershed-specific programs/projects under amended agreement framework.
FUNDING/SCHEDULE
County of Orange as the lead permittee will prepare annual shared-costs budget for the development and implementation of countywide stormwater programs.
The City’s share of the shared costs budget is between $360,000 and $410,000 per fiscal year.
Additional funding may be required based on the development and implementation of watershed-based program/projects designed to address watershed specific pollutants. Staff will include these additional costs as part of the annual budget preparation process.
RECOMMENDATION
Approve and authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to execute the Amended and Restated National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Stormwater Permit Agreement
Questions?