In California, the past 20 years have been the driest in over 1,000 years, but a deluge of storms in January and February 2023 brought more than 24.5 trillion gallons of water to the state. “In the past several years, we’ve said, ‘We welcome every drop we can get,’” Dudek hydrogeologist Jill Weinberger said. But
Perhaps inspiring Murphy’s later pronouncement, mathematician Augustus De Morgan said, “Whatever can happen, will happen if we make trials enough.” At some point, your flood infrastructure will be tested by a storm event equal to or larger than the event it was designed to withstand. The chance in any given year that a storm occurs
The City of Aliso Viejo’s (City’s) Dairy Fork wetland and habitat restoration project uses bio-filtration wetlands to naturally treat urban runoff from about 1,500 acres of mixed residential and commercial areas within South Orange County. Bio-Filtration Wetlands Best Practices Bio-filtration wetlands are the accepted best management practice for treating stormwater and urban runoff before it
The City of Aliso Viejo (City) has started construction on its third wetlands project to naturally treat water runoff and improve water quality and restore natural habitat near a local creek. The Dairy Fork wetlands water treatment project will restore natural habitat near Aliso Creek and reduce pollutants by up to 99% in water runoff
California’s 4-year drought may have further exacerbated rain- and drainage-related issues such as shrinking wood structures creating leak points; vegetation, debris, or sediment build-up that impedes drainage; and unnoticeable changes in upstream drainage patterns that may have downstream impacts. To protect property and structures from costly erosion and water damage anticipated due to El Niño’s
The potentially strong El Niño and exceptional rain this winter requires project owners pay special attention to Construction General Permit (CGP) and Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) regulations to ensure construction site compliance and avoid project delays and violations. Paul Walsh, a Qualified SWPPP Practitioner (QSP) with Dudek, said “The most effective SWPPP designs utilize
Students in the Encinitas Union School District (EUSD) are developing and writing campus Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPPs) as part of a year-long program. Support and enhanced education is provided by the cities of Encinitas and Carlsbad, Encina Wastewater Authority, Olivenhain Municipal Water District, and Dudek. Students Become SWPPP Interns Last year, EUSD hired Bill
We are in the midst of the California rainy season, and construction project sites must be compliant with the Construction General Permit (CGP) and Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) regulations to avoid project delays and violations. “The most effective SWPPP designs combine environmental knowledge to ensure regulatory compliance while minimizing SWPPP implementation and maintenance
Analyzing surface water issues when evaluating a solar site for development can play a pivotal role in successfully entitling, permitting, and operating a project. The following outlines three key considerations. Surface Water Analysis Requires Thorough Hydrology and Hydraulics Due Diligence Hydrology and hydraulics surface water analysis should go beyond a simple Federal Emergency Management Agency
Faced with increasing water quality regulations and tightening budgets, 21 co-permittees in San Diego are developing a strategic approach to guide water quality programs over the next 20 years. As most in the field of water resources are aware, the 1972 Clean Water Act (CWA) was promulgated to address sources of pollution contributing to the
