Stormwater Management and Reporting Program, City of Lompoc

EKI has provided SGMA, Hydrologic, and Stormwater management services to the City of Lompoc (City) since 2019.

The City is a member of the Western Management Area GSA (WMA GSA), which is one of three (3) GSAs in the Santa Ynez River Valley Groundwater Basin (Basin). During GSP preparation, EKI assisted the City by reviewing data, attending staff and GSA meetings, and providing input to the GSP. In 2022, EKI was retained by the City to assist the Santa Ynez River Conservation District apply for a Department of Water Resources (DWR) Prop 68 SGMA Implementation Grant. DWR awarded the basin $5.5 million in a highly competitive process and is funding eight (8) project components in the basin.

Component 6 of the 8 project components lays the groundwork for planning and design of one to three suitable stormwater capture and infiltration demonstration projects. EKI conducted a desktop study in which data and modeling was utilized to identify and screen candidate sites suitable for stormwater runoff capture. A pre-design field investigation to confirm candidate site suitability was carried out and a conceptual project plan and preliminary project design plans were prepared for the best suited sites. The goal of Component 6 is to have preliminary design plans that can be included in Santa Barbara County’s clean water stormwater program to permit and construct the projects more efficiently in the future.

EKI also supports the City of Lompoc with its stormwater management and reporting program to ensure compliance with their MS4 permit. Activities included upgrades to and implementation of their management database and dashboard, coordinating inspection and reporting plans between City departments, and helping manage the City’s Storm Water Applications and Report Tracking System (SMARTS) account with the State Water Board.

The EKI Team also reviewed and evaluated historical stormwater monitoring data to identify potential implications for the city if the proposed changes to the Basin Plan are approved by the State Board.

Outcome

EKI has successfully assisted the City with protecting local water quality by enforcing a Stormwater Management Ordinance, implementing Municipal & Industrial Permit programs, and conducting inspections, aiming to reduce pollution through Best Management Practices (BMPs) like erosion control and good housekeeping, with detailed plans like the Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) guiding construction site efforts. Our team confirms the City meet state requirements and coordinates with others, managing runoff to prevent flooding and environmental issues.