CASQA Recognizes Excellence in Stormwater Quality Management

Awards Ceremony at 3rd Annual Stormwater Conference to Acknowledge Four Winners

September 10, 2007 — The California Stormwater Quality Association will present four awards at its 3rd Annual Stormwater Conference awards luncheon Tuesday, September 11, 2007 being held at the Hilton Hotel in Costa Mesa.  The CASQA awards program identifies and recognizes exemplary leadership, outstanding projects, activities and contributors in the field of stormwater quality management.

“These projects embody the California Stormwater Quality Association’s goals to advance stormwater quality management, science and regulation.  We are recognizing these projects because of their success, innovation and dedication to the improvement of stormwater quality in California,” said Jeff Endicott, awards committee chair.

This year’s four award recipients received recognition for excellence in four categories:

• The Treatment Control/Structural BMP Implementation Award will be presented to the City of Santa Monica for its Westside Water Quality Improvement project, which is a two-stage dry and wet weather runoff treatment facility that removes both gross and soluble pollutants. 
• The Source Control/Programmatic BMP Implementation Award will be presented to the Sacramento County Environmental Management Department for its commercial/industrial stormwater compliance program, which promotes consistency in education, enforcement and reporting throughout the region.
• The Outstanding Stormwater Research Project Award will be presented to the Irvine Ranch Water District for the Cienega Selenium and Nitrogen Treatment System Project, which examined the treatability of selenium-rich waters and succeeded in reducing pollutants that are usually difficult to address in urban runoff, such as selenium, nitrates and bacteria.
• The Outstanding Stormwater News, Information, Outreach, and Media Award will be presented to the San Mateo County Water Pollution Prevention Program for its Coastal Cleanup Day 2006.  The SMCWPPP implemented a community outreach plan in which it educated residents about disposable plastic bag consumption and its effects, and distributed 3,000 reusable shopping bags.  SMCWPP also used this outreach to further publicize Cleanup Day 2006, which experienced an increase in volunteer efforts by 60 percent due to its promotion prior to cleanup day.

  
CASQA awards are available to both public and private projects and individuals from public agencies and private businesses.  Award candidates must be nominated by a CASQA member and are evaluated on demonstrated excellence, ingenuity, creativity, professionalism and documented results.  Awards may be made at local, regional and statewide levels.

The CASQA 3rd Annual Stormwater Conference takes place September 10, 11 and 12 at the Hilton Hotel in Costa Mesa.  This year’s conference: Stormwater Management—Tools for success, Research, Policy, Planning, Implementation, and Assessment, will offer training workshops, presentations and exhibits to give attendees a better understanding of stormwater technologies, regulations, programs and community impacts.

About CASQA
The California Stormwater Quality Association, founded in 1989, helps develop stormwater management programs and regulations that are technically and economically feasible, provide significant environmental benefits and effect compliance with State and Federal laws.  Through its efforts to improve stormwater management practices, CASQA is on its way to creating cleaner waterways and beaches throughout California. 

The association collaborates with the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the California State Water Resources Control Board and Regional Water Quality Control Boards, municipalities, special districts and businesses to achieve effective stormwater quality management programs in California.  Membership consists of individuals and groups from government agencies, businesses, science organizations, development groups and construction groups.  For more information about CASQA or to become a member, please visit www.casqa.org.