Stormwater Management Program

Stormwater runoff is a significant source of pollutants to the Bay. Pollutants such as trash, litter, sand, sediment, petroleum products leaking from motor vehicles, heavy metals in the dust from motor vehicle brake pads and diesel exhaust, animal feces, excess fertilizers and pesticides, and others are carried to the Bay by urban runoff as a result of rain or excessive irrigation, or other sources of water in the urban environment. The major inputs of stormwater to San Diego Bay include the Sweetwater River, Otay River, Switzer Creek, Chollas Creek, Paradise Creek, and all the surface runoff from downtown San Diego and other urbanized areas discharged through approximately 200 storm drain outlets.

There are over 700 tenant leases and subleases in the Port tidelands, and the Environmental Services Department works with these tenants to prevent polluted storm water from enter San Diego Bay. In addition to assisting tenants, the Environmental Services Department is responsible for implementing appropriate Best Managment Practices and for monitoring the quality of stormwater runoff from the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal, the National City Marine Terminal, and the Cruise Ship Terminal. The Environmental Services Department also works with the Port General Services Department and Engineering Department to maintain the portions of the storm drain system that are owned by the Port. See also the Port's JURMP program.

For additional information on stormwater issues across the State of California and the nation, see:

• State Water Resources Control
• California Stormwater Quality Task Force
• California Coastal Commission
• Caltrans Stormwater Management Program
• U.S. EPA Non-Point Source Pollution Control Program